Political Development in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya (1835-1972)

by W R Kharlukhi

ISBN: 9789371701532
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Imprint : Regency Publications
Year : 2026
Price : Rs. 6950.00
Biblio : x., 153pg., tbls., fig., ind., 25cm.,

Author Profile

Dr. Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi was born and brought up in Jowai and did his schooling in his home town. He finished his degree from St. Anthony's College and continued with his Masters in North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. Thereafter he pursued his teaching career as a Lecturer in History in Synod College and simultaneously completed his Ph.D. He presently stays in Shillong with his family. As a young person he was very active in the students' movement and had held the post of President of the Jaintia Students' Union. In the later part of the 70s and early part of the 80s he was privileged to have been able to be a part of the North East Region Students' Union (NERSU) as its Joint Secretary. Having developed a penchant for politics he became a member of some political parties, most notable being the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of which he became elected as its State Unit President from 2007-2012 and later on as the State President of the National People's Party (NPP), Meghalaya State Unit from 2012 to 2023. During the course of his active involvement in politics he was entrusted with the post of Chairman of Forest Development Corporation (2001-2002), Chairman of Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (2002-2003) and Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board (2008-2009). Presently, he is the Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from the State of Meghalaya since June 2020. He has also been Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development (2020-2022) and currently he is Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs.

About The Book

The publication of this book, 'Political Development in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya (1835-1972)' has been a long cherished desire. The book comprehensively deals with the various political developments that took place in the then Jaintia Hills (which now forms the eastern part of the State of Meghalaya, India) in the nineteenth and twentieth century. As newer political and administrative developments swept the Jaintia Hills in the last two centuries and changes took place, what has remained constant has been the people's desire to preserve and safeguard their rights by the authority in power, both traditional as well as modern. To be inclusive, the book has delved into examining the traditional social and political institutions that existed before the eighteenth century (pre-British period). It also briefly looks at the Jaintia-Anglo relations and the annexation of the Jaintia kingdom in 1835 by the British, the changed position of the existing traditional social and political institutions in their relations with the British authorities and the impact therein, particularly the Anglo-Jaintia resistance movement in the 1860s. The book also examines the awakening of political and social consciousness as a result of external influences and the emergence of social organizations, particularly the Jaintia Durbar. The remaining chapters of the book look into the engagement of leaders and the people of the Jaintia Hills in the movement demanding for a separate Hill state to be carved out of the province of Assam, while simultaneously demanding for the creation of an Autonomous District Council for the Jowai sub-division within the then United Khasi and Jaintia Hills district under Assam.

Table of Contents

Foreword v Preface vii 1. Introduction 1 Linguistic variations of the Jaintia; Religious beliefs of the Jaintia; Social life of the Jaintia; Kinship and socio-political organisation among the Jaintia; Landscape of the Jaintia Hills; Traditional Political organisations among the Jaintia 2. British Annexation 23 Ram Singh Syiem II (1798-1832); Rajendera Singh Syiem (1832-1835); The Agent to the Governor-General: Demand for Tribute from the Jaintia Kingdom; Robertson’s Assessment of Jaintia Revenue; Kidnapping Incident; Jenkins: Settling Disputes between the Syiem and the Daloi of Nartiang; Jenkins on the Tribute and Kidnapping case; Land Disputes; Annexation; The Supreme Government and the Court of Directors on the affairs of Jaintia; The Court of Directors; Immediate Reaction to the Annexation 3. Freedom Struggle 39 Causes of the 1862 Movement; Religious; Other Causes; Course of the Resistance Movement; The proclamation of March 26, 1862; Administration under the British; Conclusion x 4. Jaintia Durbar 57 The Jaintia Durbar; Structure of The Jaintia Durbar; Power And Functions; Organisation of The Jaintia Durbar; Composition and Role of the Jaintia Durbar; The Anti-Reforms movement in Jaintia Hills; Official Views; The Reform beginning form 1st April 1937; Safeguards by the Governor; Advantages of the Reform Act; Disadvantages of the Reform Act; Activities of the Jaintia Durbar 5. Movement for a Separate Autonomous District Council 81 Recommendation of The Bordoloi Committee; The Sixth Schedule; Working of The Autonomous District Council; Conduct and Procedure of Business; Powers and Functions of the Autonomous District Council; Disadvantages of remaining in the United Khasi-Jaintia Hill Autonomous District Council; Advantages of having a Separate Autonomous District Council for the Jowai Sub-Division 6. Hill State Movement and Jaintia Hills 107 Representations before the States Reorganisation Commission; Eastern India Tribal Union; Khasi-Jaintia Hills Tribal Union; Hill State Movement after 1957; The All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC); Meghalaya - From Autonomous State to a full fledged State 7. Conclusion 131 Glossary 139 Bibliography 143 Acknowledgements 149 Index 151