The Quest for Modern Assam: A History
The Quest for Modern Assam: A History

Author: Arupjyoti Saikia

Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited

Published: 2023-08-28

Total Pages: 607

ISBN-13: 9357082123

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'A model work of historical scholarship'-Ramachandra Guha 'The most well-researched, comprehensive history of contemporary Assam ever written'-Partha Chatterjee The crucial battles of World War II fought in India's north-east-followed soon after by Independence and Partition-had a critical impact on the making of modern Assam. In the three decades following 1947, the state of Assam underwent massive political turmoil, geographical instability, and social and demographic upheaval, among others. Later, the truncated state suffered widespread unrest as various groups believed their cultural identity and political leverage were under threat. New social energies and political forces were unleashed and came to the fore. Definitive, comprehensive and unputdownable, The Quest for Modern Assam explores the interconnected layers of political, environmental, economic and cultural processes that shaped the development of Assam since the 1940s. It offers an authoritative account that sets new standards in the writing of regional political history. Not to be missed by any one keen on Assam, India, Asia or world history in the twentieth century.

People Of India - Assam -Part Ii:
People Of India - Assam -Part Ii:

Author: K. S. Singh

Publisher:

Published: 2003-09

Total Pages: 530

ISBN-13:

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The Anthropological Survey of India launched the People of India project on 2nd October 1985 to generate an anthropological profile of all communities of India, the impact on them of change and the development process, and the links that bring them together. As part of this all India project, the ethnographic survey of all the 115 communities in Assam was taken up for the first time in collaboration with local scholars. The results of this survey were discussed at the workshops held in Shillong/ Guwahati in May 1988. The space now known as Assam emerged as a distinct econo-cultural region early in history. It was peopled by the legendary kirata, whose descendants still identify themselves with the Mahabharata tradition, and with tantricism and shaktism. It has been a melting pot of ethnic streams, the most important being the Mongoloid and the Caucasoid, the Australoids constitute the substratum of most Assam population.s. Medieval Assam saw the rise of Assamese as language, neo-vashnavism propounded by Mahapurush Shankar Dev and the rise of a powerful state established by the Ahoms in the Brahmaputrs Valley. Assam is linguistically heterogeneous with 45 languages/ dialects being spoken by the speakers of the Tibeto-Burman language family and of the Indo-Aryan language families. Ecology determines the settlement pattern and house types, the distribution of peasants and fisherfolk. Assam s identity is defined by language, territory, dress, cuisine, festivals such as Bihu, connected with fertility. The other features are availability of land and abundance of water, immigration of people, vegetarianism with fish, fish and all pervading fishing culture, settled cultivation, visibility of women in all roles, vibrant folk tradition, flourishing crafts, near absence of untouchability and rigidity of jati and varna structure, and a greater social intercourse among the communities. Assam has taken steps to grant autonomy to tribal communities. Maintenance of the integrity of Assam is integral to the peace and stability in the region.