History And Ethnic Identity Formation In North-East India

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Prof. J.V. Hluna graduated with Honours in History from St. Anthon's College, Shillong in 1972, M.A. (History) from Gauhati University in 1974 and Ph.D. from GU in 1986. He is one of the Founder Lecturers of Government Aizawl College, Founder Secretary of Government Hrangbana College, Founder Principal of Government T. Romana College. He joined Pachhunga University College as Lecturer in History in 1977 and attained his Professorship in 2011. He is also the Founder and Acting Head of Department, Department of History and Ethonography. Mizoram University.

Hluna is active social worker and headed Mizo Zirlai Pawl (the largest Mizo Students Organisation) as its President in 1976-78. He is also the Founder President of YMCA in Mizoram and Founder Vice President of Mizo History Association. He had four books in English and four books in Mizo and many other research papers to his credit. His latest and outstanding work in English, co-authored with his daughter, Rini Tochhawng, published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 12 Back Chapman Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2XX, UK in 2012 is entitled THE MIZO UPRISING.

Dr. Hluna is one of the Founder of People's Conference Party and became MLA in Mizoram Legislative Assembly (1993-98).

In 1992, the Department of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Mizoram took up the challenge of organizing the International Seminar at Aizawl on minority nationalities of Northeast India with special reference to Mizos. The scholars and researchers fruitfully interchanged knowledge and ideas through the deliberations.

It is gratifying to have been able to put as many as thirty-papers in print which included six papers from abroad. While some papers are not included and some other papers which are not presented but important for the Mizos History are included in this publication. As the map of India shows, Mizoram is virtually the end of India. One narrow entry corridor allows no easy communications and no exit elsewhere.

Mizoram is fenced by international boundaries where 75 per cent of her boundary perimeter is sandwiched between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The very fact that many renowned scholars has indeed flocked to this difficult spot Aizawl, braving hazardous and time wasting journey is deeply appreciated.

Ethno-culturally the Mizos are strikingly similar to the tribes of south-east Asia while politically they are the sons of India. Tracing this aspect of the Mizo people scholars have presented a number of papers Of late there appears to be an attempt to present a western theory about the origin of the Mizos from Israel This volume thus presents a cross-current of the issues relating to the origin of the Mizos and the editor have no say on such views of the authors.

Mizo history and culture being uncomprehensive so far the limitations have to be compromised. Our approach to Mizo studies has, therefore, to be multi-disciplinary and comparative and the papers represent scholars of different disciplines The dimensions have been focussed in several papers relating to pre-Christian relation, myths and realities, social changes, historical sources, hill economy and late political impacts on the Mizo people The vastness of the topics speaks for itself and there could be hardly any editing except some minor changes here and there Of course I have reserved the editorial privilege where it is necessary.

The Directorate of Higher and Technical Education who is sponsoring the international Seminar is not a professional institution of research and study: Yet it has taken up this challenge with courage and conviction to put the entire dimensions of Mizo studies on an international level. I am afraid and have every reason to believe that these seminar papers might not ever come to light once the Seminar is over. Hence, I have decided to put it in print and took the permission of the Department.

I, therefore, really grateful to Dr. H.L. Malsawma, Director Higherand Technical Education, Government of Mizroam for the issue of official permission vide No F. 14016/1/2012-DTE (HTE), Dated Aizawl, the 6th January, 2012.

**Contents and Sample Pages**