The ‘Bhuyans’ were a group of:

The correct answer is: c) Tribal chieftains.

The Bhuyans were a group of tribal chieftains who ruled over the Brahmaputra valley in the 13th and 14th centuries. They were originally from the Kachari kingdom, which was located in the present-day state of Assam. The Bhuyans were a powerful and independent group, and they often fought against the Ahom kingdom, which was also located in Assam. The Bhuyans were eventually defeated by the Ahoms in the 16th century, but they continued to play an important role in the history of Assam.

The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:

• Option (a), “Powerful merchant families”, is incorrect because the Bhuyans were not merchant families. They were tribal chieftains.
• Option (b), “Buddhist monks”, is incorrect because the Bhuyans were not Buddhist monks. They were tribal chieftains.
• Option (d), “Ahom kingdom officials”, is incorrect because the Bhuyans were not Ahom kingdom officials. They were tribal chieftains.