Book Review: A History of Assam by Edward A. Gait
Publisher: Eastern Book House Publishers
Originally Published: 1906
Book Blurb: Assam is in many ways a country of exceptional interest. Hemmed in as India is, by the sea on the south-east and south-west, and by the lofty chain of the Himalayas on the north, the only routes between it and the rest of Asia which are practicable for migration on a large scale, lie on its north-west and north-east confines, the so-called Aryans, and many later invaders, such as the Greeks, the Huns, the Pathans, and the Mughals from the north-east, through Assam, have come successive hordes of immigrants from the great hive of the Mongolian race in Western China. Many of these immigrants passed on to Bengal, but in that province, they have, as a rule, become merged with the earlier population. Their influence is seen in the modified physical type of the present inhabitants who are classed as Mongolo- Dravidians.
Introduction: This book is divided into twenty-three chapters and covers roughly covers the timeline from prehistoric times to the growth of the tea industry in Assam.
Recommendation: Readers who wish to explore the history of Assam and North-East India. Completed in 1905, this book has been considered a textbook for generations of scholars working on Assam and North-East India and is a celebrated work of historiography.
It covers the History of Assam by following chapters Prehistoric and Traditional Rulers. The period from the 4th to the 12th Centuries, Events of 13th to 15th Centuries. The Koch Kings, The Rise of the Ahom Kingdom, The Period of Muhammadan Wars, The Climacteric of Ahom Rule, The Decay and Fall of the Ahom Kingdom, System of Government, Social Conditions, Economic Conditions, Literature, Religion, Fine Arts, The Kacharis, The Jaintia Kings, Manipur, Sylhet, The Burmese War, Consolidation of British Rule, Relations with frontier Tribes, Important Events of recent Times, Growth of the Tea Industry.
It also covers the following Appendices, Dates of some Assam Dynasties, The Ahom system of Chronology, Translation of an old Copperplate Inscription, Description of Ahom Manu scripts Records, Formalities observed by Ambassadors, Explanation of Titles of the Ahom Kings and Nobles, Origin of the Word Assam.
Book Review: Historians of Medieval India: Studies in Indo-Muslim Historical Writings by Peter Hardy
Sir Edward Gait was a British Officer who wrote this book through the material he collected over the years of his service in Assam. he meticulously worked and pushed for the documentation of the history of Assam and its surrounding areas.
Though this work should receive its due credit, there are also some criticisms given by modern historians like Prof M. I. Borah, who have pointed out that Gait’s information has some inaccuracy due to his lack of knowledge of the Persian language which led him to depend on local munshis.
Furthermore, the author has highlighted the Mughal-Ahom Wars as a decisive moment that led to the Muslim settlements in Assam, however, Prof Yasmin Saikia has pointed out that Ibn Battuta in his Rehla has written about his interactions with the Muslim community in Kamrup.
This book is a good start for those who wish to venture into the history of Assam and North- east India but don’t know where to begin. Happy Reading!
