The frontier areas bordering Assam have a rich and complex history, shaped by geography, tribal cultures, colonial policies, and post-independence developments. These areas include parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and even parts of Bhutan and Myanmar.
Ancient and Medieval Period.
In ancient times, the hills surrounding Assam were inhabited by diverse tribal communities like the Mishmis, Daflas (Nyishis), Nagas, Kukis, and Mizos. These groups maintained limited contact with the Ahom kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley. Their social structures were largely independent, governed by customary laws and tribal chiefs.
British Colonial Period.
With the British annexation of Assam in the 19th century, frontier management became critical. The British created the concept of the "Inner Line" (under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873) to control entry into tribal areas. This was intended to isolate the tribal populations and prevent conflicts between them and plains settlers.
The British treated many of these frontier areas as Excluded or Partially Excluded Areas, giving them special administrative status with limited governance by colonial authorities. Missionary activities, particularly among the Nagas and Mizos, brought education and Christianity, transforming tribal societies. Post-Independence Era.
After 1947, India adopted a policy of gradual integration and development of the frontier regions. The North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) was established (now Arunachal Pradesh), while other regions gained statehood (Nagaland in 1963, Meghalaya in 1972, etc.). However, identity politics, autonomy demands, and ethnic insurgencies led to prolonged unrest in some areas.
The frontier continues to be geopolitically sensitive due to proximity to China, Myanmar, and Bhutan, and remains culturally distinct and strategically significant for India.
These notes, which have been compiled in my spare time as Governor of Assam, from 1937 to 1942 are an attempt to bring that invaluable work of reference, Sir Alexander Mackenzie's "History of the Relations of the Government with the Hill Tribes of the North-East Frontier of Bengal" up to date so far as it touches on the frontier districts of Assam, ie, taking them from south, by east, round to the north,
The Lushai Hills;
Manipur State;
The Naga Hills;
Sadiya Frontier Tract;
Balipara Frontier Tract.
Mackenzie's work was published by the Home Department Press, Calcutta in 1884 and his history of these areas stops short at that year or in some instances earlier.
The information contained in these notes has been almost entirely compiled from official sources except for occasional references to books such as Sir Henry Cotton's "Indian and Home Memories", Sir James Johnstone's "My Experiences in Manipur and the Naga Hills" or Mrs. Grimwood's "My three years in Manipur".
For the notes on Manipur, I am indebted for much good advice and information to Mr. J. C. Higgins, C.I.E., L.C.S., lately retired, who served for nearly 20 years in that State and to his successor Mr. C. Gimson, 1.c.s., who has served for more than 10 years in the State.
For those on the Naga Hills, I have had the assistance as regards facts, policy and nomenclature first of Mr. J. P. Mills, C.I.E., I.C.S., Governor's Secretary throughout my term of office, who served for many years in that district and who, besides being an able administrator, has made himself an authority on Naga custom and folklore and secondly, of Mr. C. R. Pawsey, M.C., I.C.S., the present Deputy Commissioner of the Naga Hills, of which area he has had 10 years' experience. So far as the history of the Lushai Hills is concerned, Major A. G. McCall, 1.c.s., Superintendent of the Lushai Hills from 1932 to 1942, has checked the manuscript, supplied information from his own records and experience, and given most useful advice on the subject of the spelling of names.
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