Traditional and Representative Institution in the Lushai Hills

Contents: 1. Introduction : socio-economic and political profile of the Lushai Hills. 2. The Lushai chief and his administration in the pre-British period. 3. Status of the Lushai chiefs under the British rule. 4. Unfriendliness to Lushai chiefs. 5. Birth of representative institution and its impact in the Lushai society. 6. New rules and regulations under the representative institution. Conclusion.

The book presents a pen picture of the socio-economic and political way of life of the Lushai in the pre and post British rule in the Lushai Hills. It lays emphasis on how the institution of the Lushai chieftainship originated and the powers of the Chief in relation to the administration of the village before the annexation of the Lushai Hills to the British authority. It also presents the various factors leading to a feeling of resentment of the people against the traditional Chiefs which resulted in the launching of Civil Disobedience Movement against the traditional Chiefs supported by the British authority. It also discusses how the resentment of the people gave birth to a political party which finally led to the declaration of the Lushai Hills as one of the Autonomous District Councils of Assam.