British historical records on NE flawed…?

Are historical records by British officials on North-East devoid of a historical perspective? Well, this is the view of Prof M.G. S. Narayanan, Chairman, Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR). Inaugurating a three-day national seminar at Itanagar on ‘Sources of History of Arunachal Pradesh’, the learned Professor said much significance cannot be attached to the British records on the region as these were not based on source materials like archaeological finding. “The Brits also neglected the oral history of the people and their culture”.

The seminar was organised by ICRH, North East Regional Centre, Guwahati and Arunachal University.
Anthropological findings by the British had a colonial approach, the ICHR Chairman said, adding that accounts by tourists, festivals, archaeological remains, oral literature and mythological relics could be used as sources for writing history. ICHR’s Member Secretary Dr R C Agarwal referred to the archaeological remains found at Bhismak Nagar in Lohit district’s Debang valley and said since Buddhism’s Mahayana and Hinayana sects flourished in Arunachal Pradesh and a majority of the population were worshippers of Donyi-Poloism (Sun and Moon Gods), these connected strongly this area with the rest of the country in the matter or religion and cultural heritage.

Former vice-chancellor of Tripura University Prof J B Ganguly termed as tragedy the neglect of tribal people’s history and was appreciative of the belated efforts though by the ICHR to undo the wrong done to them. Arunachal Pradesh Minister for Revenue, Excise and Urban Development T. C. Teli said smudging of tribal history over the years was the reason behind the people of the region feeling alienated.
   
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