Book “On Edge of empire…” released

SHILLONG, APR 15: North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) vice chancellor Prof P Shukla released a book entitled – “On the Edge of Empire: Four British Plans for North East India 1941-194”, edited by Prof David R Syiemlieh, who is presently the member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Published by Sage India in February, the book is the product of many years of research in archives and libraries in NEHU, Delhi, Oxford, Cambridge and London. It largely relates to a discussion in support of and later the collapse of the crown colony plan for North East India and Burma.

Addressing at the function at the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICCSR-NER) on Tuesday, Prof Sukalpa highlighted the significance of the four notes and the plans of these British officials on the administration of the hill tribes of North East India shortly before and after India’s independence.

Sukalpa spoke highly of the author for having researched on the subject and to also have chosen the university and the ICSSR for its release.

Attended by faculty, scholars and officers, the function was an opportunity for Prof Syiemlieh to also brief visit his old workplace where he served as Pro- Vice Chancellor and Honorary Director ICSSR- NERC.

In view of India’s independence, the British plans also projected the manner in which the hill tribes of the region should be administered using their traditional institutions.- By Our Reporter