Layers of History: Essays on the Khasi Jaintias

by Syiemlieh, D R

ISBN: 9789351308065
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Imprint : Regency Publications
Year : 2021
Price : Rs. 5495.00
Biblio : xii+157p., figs., 25 cm

Author Profile

David R. Syiemlieh joined the Department of History, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in 1979. He was the Head of the Department of History, 2002–2005. He was Honorary Director of the Indian Council of Social Science Research–North Eastern Regional Centre (ICSSR-NERC). A member and for many years Treasurer and Secretary of the North East India History Association. He was nominated in 2005 as Council Member of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi and served two terms as Member of the ICHR. Professor Syiemlieh is former Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University. Professor Syiemlieh has edited numerous books including volumes of Proceedings of the North East India History Association and On the Edge of Empire: Four British Plans for North East India (2014). Professor Syiemlieh is presently Member, Union Public Service Commission.

About The Book

The seventeen essays in this collection relate to the Khasi-Jaintias of Meghalaya in North East India and cover a time span from their pre-colonial past, through the colonial era and into more contemporary times. All but one of the essays in this collection were researched and published during the author’s years at NEHU. All the essays have been looked at afresh and updated. The essays do not purport to be a complete modern history of the tribe-there are several areas of their history that have not been covered in this collection as they have been studied by other colleagues and scholars. The collection starts with an essay on the division of history of the region into time phases and critiques the applicability of these divisions. Several essays in the collection relate to the trade and economic activity of the Khasi-Jaintias. Four essays in the collection focus on the Khasi states - British policy toward the states, Syiemship succession, the federation of the Khasis states and the incorporation of states into the Khasi- Jaintia Hills district and India. The collection includes essays on David Scott, Tirot Sing, Thomas Jones, Hajom Kissor Singh and David Roy. Of the many more significant and silent makers of its history several stand out prominently. A rather long article takes the discussion to the traditional governance of the Khasi hills and brings it up to more recent times. The last essay provides a perspective of the people, the land and the state.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii Preface ix 1. Periodizing North East India History 1 2. Sources on the History of the Khasi-Jaintias in Libraries and Archives in the United Kingdom 7 3. Technology and Socio-Economic Linkages of the Khasi-Jaintias in Pre-Colonial Times 17 4. Control of the Foothills: Khasi-Jaintia Trade and Markets in the Late Eighteenth Century 29 5. Trade and Markets in the Khasi Jaintia Hills: Changed Conditions in the 19th and 20th Centuries 37 6. Colonialism and Syiemship Succession: A Study of Cherra State (1901-1902) 47 7. British Policy Towards the Khasi States 55 8. The Federation of Khasi States: Three Phases of its History 65 9. The Integration of the Khasi States into the Indian Union 71 10. Call of Freedom from the Hills: Tirot Sing and his Significance in the Freedom Struggle 79 11. The Last Days of David Scott 87 12. Remembering Thomas Jones 95 13. Among Many Writers: Contribution of Homiwell Lyngdoh to Khasi History 101 14. Indigenous Roots: Hajom Kissor Singh and the Founding of Unitarianism in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills 109 15. David Roy: Notes on the Khasis 115 16. Traditional Institutions of Governance in the Hills of North East India: The Khasi Experience 125 17. The North East: Home of many Tribes and Communities 139