New book explores colonial legacy in the Naga Hills

August 3, 2024 7 Views No Comment

Gandhinagar, August 3 (MExN): A new book titled “Chronicles of Colonialism: Navigating the Naga Hills” authored by Alok Kumar Kanungo and Prashant Kumar Singh from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar has been released.

The book is a sequel to Kanungo’s 2016 book German Anthropologists on the Naga Hills: An Annotated Bibliography on German Literature on the Nagas and a prelude to their forthcoming book “Christian Missionaries and the Cultural Transformation in the Naga Hills.”

Prof Kanungo observed, “North-eastern hills, especially Naga hills, have been extensively researched by scholars, covering different aspects of the socio-political lives of the communities living in that area, starting from the initial days of colonial encounters in the form of surveyors and explorers.” He added, “This overabundance of literature creates a problem of navigation, and it becomes difficult for researchers to understand the changing dynamics and attitudes of administrators towards the people over a period of time.”

The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITG) in its press communiqué stated that this book questions and opens up the discussion on the least discussed aspect of the over analysed Naga Community: that is the sacrosanct authority of colonial texts and their use and abuse in the context of colonialism.

The complex and multifaceted legacy of colonialism in the North-east frontiers of India, particularly the Naga Hills, is the focus of a groundbreaking new book “Chronicles of Colonialism: Navigating the Naga Hills” it stated.

This scholarly work offers a fresh perspective on the intricate interactions between British administrators, anthropologists, and the Indigenous Naga communities, critically analysing the transformation brought about by colonial interventions.

According to the press release the book meticulously traces a chronological sequence of events, shedding light on the attitudes and policies of the British administrators-cum-anthropologists who shaped the colonial narrative in the Naga Hills. It challenges conventional notions of ‘tribes’ and ‘identity’ and delves into the broader implications of these categories within the context of the region. By weaving together historical narratives and critical perspectives, the authors offer a comprehensive examination of the enduring impact of colonialism on the Naga identity and their cultural heritage.

“This book is essential for scholars, historians, anthropologists, and anyone interested in studying the deep and lasting impact of colonialism on the Naga Hills and is a critical addition to the discourse on (post)colonialism,” it also stated.

About the authors
Alok Kumar Kanungo, an associate research professor at IIT Gandhinagar and adjunct associate professor at Flinders University, brings over two and a half decades of experience documenting the Naga heritage both on the field and in museums across the UK, Europe, and India. His extensive work spans archaeology, ethnography, repatriation, indigenous community intellectual rights and the study of ancient Indian technologies.

Co-author Prashant Kumar Singh, a post-doctoral fellow at IIT Gandhinagar, specialises in anthropological theory and his research examines the relationship of self and civilizations.

The foreword to the book is given by Prof Kishor K Basa, Chairman of National Monuments Authority and Indian National Confederation and Academy of Anthropologists. He is the former Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, Vice Chancellor of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Director of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Indian Museum, and Anthropological Survey of India.

Prof Basa, with his extensive background in archaeology, museum studies, and cultural heritage, adds depth to the exploration of historiography and the analysis of cultural artifacts, particularly in the context of South and Southeast Asia.

A case study of Naga ancestral remains at PRM published
Last month, Kanungo along with a Naga PDF, Dr Alino Sumi, published a chapter titled “Signifier, Signified, and Sign: A Case Study of Naga Ancestral Remains at Pitt Rivers Museum,” in an Oxford University Press handbook on Indigenous Archaeology.

The chapter addresses the representation of Naga ancestral remains in museums. The authors critique the static and often stereotypical portrayal of the Nagas, advocating for a more nuanced understanding that includes the perspectives and knowledge systems of the Naga people.

Besides this, Kanungo and his team, that included another Naga scholar, Dr Rongsenzulu Jamir, have a dozen research publications on Naga culture.