North East India through the ages : a transdisciplinary perspective on prehistory, history, and oral history

This volume explores the rich pre-history, history, and oral history of the northeast region of India––a land-locked region that is home to over 350 ethnolinguistic communities. Despite its uniqueness and diversity, little is known to the outside world. The book studies the vibrant and diverse socio-political and cultural history of this region through a transdisciplinary perspective, covering a wide range of topics such as the pre-history, medieval and colonial histories of Assam, the geopolitics of the creation of independent states from undivided Assam, oral narratives from Manipur, prehistoric cultures of Meghalaya, the Naga National Movement, Sikkim’s Namgyal dynasty, and Tripura’s transition from monarchy to democracy. It also discusses the invaluable contributions made by Professor Mohammad Taher (1931–2015), who laid the foundation of geography in Northeast India. A compelling exploration of this geo-politically contested space, this volume will be of interest to students and researchers of anthropology, archaeology, history, human geography, South Asian studies, and minority studies. This volume explores the rich pre-history, history, and oral history of the North East region of India –– a land-locked region that is home to over 350 ethnolinguistic communities. Cover 1 Endorsement 2 Half Title 4 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Table of Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Biographical Notes 13 Contributors 14 Foreword 19 Acknowledgements 21 Chapter 1 Northeast India Through the Ages 24 Chapter 2 Professor Mohammed Taher: A Brief Profile of his Life and Works 40 Chapter 3 Assam from Prehistory to History 50 Chapter 4 Revisiting the History of Medieval Assam 85 Chapter 5 Assam in the Colonial Period 135 Chapter 6 Reorganisation and Changing Territorial Framework of Assam since India’s Independence 160 Chapter 7 Prehistoric Dwellers of the Meghalaya Plateau 178 Chapter 8 A History of Meghalaya: A Saga of Three Fascinating Tribes 197 Chapter 9 Incorporation of Oral Tradition in Archaeological studies in Nagaland: An Overview 214 Chapter 10 03 August 2015 Framework Agreement, Naga National Movement, and confused road ahead 235 Chapter 11 Oral narratives of Manipur as the source of historical reconstruction 271 Chapter 12 Manipur: The Sociocultural continuum 304 Chapter 13 Mizoram through the ages 329 Chapter 14 Tripura’s nuanced history to the present 355 Chapter 15 Sikkim through the Ages 378 Index 398 Northeast,India;,Ages;,Assam;,History;,Colonial,Period;,Reorganisation;,Independence;,Meghalaya;,Tribes;,Old,Tradition;,Manipur;,Mizoram;,Sikkim Northeast India,Ages,Assam,History,Colonial Period,Reorganisation,Independence,Meghalaya,Tribes,Old Tradition,Manipur,Mizoram,Sikkim "This volume explores the rich pre-history, history, and oral history of the North East region of India -- a land-locked region that is home to over 350 ethnolinguistic communities. Despite its uniqueness and diversity, little is known to the outside world. The book studies the vibrant and diverse socio-political and cultural history of this region through a transdisciplinary perspective, covering a wide range of topics such as the pre-history, medieval and colonial history of Assam, the geopolitics of the creation of independent states from undivided Assam, oral narratives from Manipur, prehistoric cultures of Meghalaya, the Naga National Movement, Sikkim's Namgyal dynasty, and Tripura's transition from monarchy to democracy. It also discusses the invaluable contributions made by Professor Mohammad Taher (1931-2015), who laid the foundation of geography in North East India. A compelling exploration of this geo-politically contested space; this volume will be of interest to students and researchers of anthropology, archaeology, history, human geography, South Asian studies, and minority studies"-- Provided by publisher