42nd Session of North-East India History Association gets underway in Assam

DIPHU — A three-day conference of the 42nd Session of the North-East India History Association (NEIHA) got underway at Langkung Habe Memorial Auditorium (Town hall) in Diphu on Thursday.

Organized by Assam University Diphu Campus in collaboration with Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), the event will conclude on November 25.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, KAAC, Chief Executive Member (CEM), Tuliram Ronghang expressed hope that the mega-academic gathering would widen the perspectives of the participants.

“I hope we will get the chance to collaborate more in the future so that we may combine our resources and support one another’s development. I believe this will be a great first step towards strengthening our bond and partnerships,” he said.

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Maintaining that the NEIHA is known for drawing members from across the country and beyond, he said ‘the conference will greatly benefit the local academic community’.

‘In the Karbi context, various authors have attempted to learn and write about the past. Our history has been passed down through songs and tales. It is customary for our forefathers to compose a song for every place they passed through, and events they encountered as they travelled. Much of these songs and tales, sadly, are forgotten,’ he lamented.

‘A great amount of work remains to be done. North East India History Association is playing a pivotal role in building connections, and bridging gaps across communities in this region,’ he added.

Pro. Vice Chancellor of Assam University, Diphu Campus, Prof. Sivasis Biswas said that more than 300 delegates from Northeast India have attended the programme, and that the “history of the Karbi has to be known to the unknown”.

General Secretary of NEIHA, Prof. Amena N. Passah, shared about the growth of the association, saying that its members have grown from 69 when it was formed in 1979, to over 1600 today.

‘More than 90 percent are life members. The members are from eight states of the northeast and other good numbers also from the other parts of the country and even from other countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Japan, Taiwan, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia and the USA,’ she said, while thanking the KAAC authority for hosting the event.

Former professor of History at NEHU, David R. Syiemlieh, who is also one of the founding members and former President of NEIHA, as well as served as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission of India, spoke at the programme.

Two books, namely ‘Slavery and Servitude in pre-colonial East India’ by Prof. A.K Thakur and ‘History of North-East India & New Research and Perspectives’ by Dr. Rusievam Shangphiang were released during the inaugural session.