Concept:Paiks were the system of forced labour used by the Ahom state in medieval Assam.
Explanation:The Ahom kingdom relied on compulsory service from its subjects.
Every village had to supply a certain number of Paiks on a rotation basis.
A census of the population was conducted to manage this system.
People from densely populated areas were often relocated to less populated regions.
This broke up traditional Ahom clan structures.
By the 17th century, the administration had become highly centralised around this forced labour system.
Thus, Paiks were essentially forced labourers who worked for the state without payment.
Answer:Option A: forced labourers