Economic Impact of Raids on the Shifting Cultivators of Tripura

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Aspects of Lushai raids on Tripura. 3. Economic consequences of the Lushai raids on the shifting cultivators of Tripura. 4. Modern day extremist raids on the shifting cultivators of Tripura. 5. Policy measures in the past and at present. Appendices: i. Some first hand accounts of Lushai raids in Tripura. ii. Lushai raids in British India that had a bearing on Tripura. iii. Engineering false raids to decoy followers. Bibliography.

"The shifting cultivators of Tripura were the victims of repeated raids by the Lushais till the late nineteenth century. The monograph analyses the economic impact of Lushai raids on the shifting cultivators of Tripura in the late nineteenth century. It also documents instances of Lushai raids on the shifting cultivators of Tripura, examines the nature of these raids, analyses their causes and records the measures that were taken to ameliorate the economic conditions of the raid-affected shifting cultivators of the state.

The present-day shifting cultivators of Tripura have become the victims of raids by various extremist outfits operating in the state. The monograph also deals with the incidence of extremist raids on the shifting cultivators of Tripura today. The nature, causes and the economic impact of extremist raids on the present-day shifting cultivators of the state are also studied in the monograph. Differences in the nature and causes of raids and in the economic impact of raids on the shifting cultivators of Tripura that are separated by more than a century are highlighted, reasons for these differences are examined and measures for the amelioration of the economic conditions of the raid-affected present-day shifting cultivators of Tripura are suggested, taking a cue from the lessons that can be learnt from history in this regard." (jacket)