Chiefly political aspects of the study.

Mizoram is situated at a unique cusp in North East India, in terms of both physical and social contexts. It shares its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, while cultural influences range from the indigenous to the Western. This book offers an alternative understanding of the modern history of Mizoram through an analysis of its cultural practices through language, music, poetry and festivals. It explores the roots of modern cultural works not just in Christianity, but also in precolonial Mizo traditional practices. The authors closely examine text, performance and sculptural images, including the first handwritten newspaper Mizo Chanchin Laisuih (1898) and the Puma Zai festival (1907–11) from the early colonial period along with a contemporary sculptural image. They argue that cultural works open up to new forms of interpretations and responses over time. The book indicates that the Mizo creative sensibility enmeshed in theological, capitalistic-material and political/ideological regimes informs its modern enclosures, be it region, religion or nation. This book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of cultural studies, literature, media, history, politics, sociology and social anthropology, area studies, North East India studies and South Asian studies.

This book delves deep into the remarkable journey of the Mizo National Front (MNF), from its origin to what it has become today. With meticulous research and keen analysis, the book offers a compelling narrative of how a marginalized group transformed into a political force that reshaped the destiny of an entire region and an entire race. Through a lens finely tuned to historical context and cultural nuances, the book unearths the motivations and aspirations that propelled the Mizo people to rally behind the MNF's call for autonomy, and ultimately, statehood. Whether you are a political scholar, history aficionado, or simply curious about the transformative power of political parties in regional contexts, this book offers a compelling narrative that unveils the multifaceted layers of the Mizo National Front's legacy. It serves as an indispensable resource for anyone seeking a profound understanding of the interplay between patriotism and nationalism, political ambition, cultural identity and the pursuit of a better future.

Papers In The Volume Attempt To Study Issues Relating To Modernisation/Development Of Mizoram In Analysing The Problems And Constraints, The Socio-Economic Development Such As Urbanisation, Utilisation Of Local Resources, Improvement Of Infrastructure And Facilities, Local Self Government Etc. The 74Th Constitutional Amendment Is The Subject Of One Of The Papers.

This book examines the trends, perspectives and changes witnessed in the previously undocumented communities of India’s northeast, emphasising the continuity and transformations of these societies. Each chapter questions the nature of change, and highlights issues which are not a matter of choice but of conviction of the society. This volume will be informative to students and researchers in area studies programmes, anthropology, sociology, history, political science, law, public administration, and ethnology.

Located in the domain of cultural politics, the book with rich ethnographical data from Mizoram, a lesser known and understood state, brings the community, state and culture to centre-stage, along with family and stratification of the sociological discourse in education. The book argues for a re-look at school education in Mizoram, besides providing critical insights into the North East region as a whole. It also points to the dilemmas of development in that region and suggests possible ways out of the impasse. Marking a significant departure from conventional thinking on education as 'human capital' as reflected in North-East Vision: 2020, the book strongly advocates the need for critical pedagogies based on learning from conflict; inculcating the values of tolerance and compassion as a precursor to peace; reconceptualising `development, not merely as 'economic' but as indicator of national happiness and valuing lives equally besides respect for traditional institutions, thus marking a break from the much resented paternalism that underpins all state interventions in education. One of the first studies of its kind regarding experience and practice of education, the book makes an important contribution to the role that education can play to usher in peace and promote respect for differences.