Qualifications

• Postdoctoral Fellow, 2013–14 – Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), New Delhi
• Postdoctoral Fellow, 2008 – University of Cambridge, Cambridge
• Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004–05 – Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Ph.D., 1986 – North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong
• M.Phil., 1983 – North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong
• M.A. (History), 1980 – North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong
• B.A., 1978 – North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong

Academic Experience:

• 40 years

Research (Outside Teaching):

• 45 Years

Research Interest:

• Modern Indian History, Modern and Contemporary History of North-East India, with deep engagements in ethnic conflict, nationalism and sub-national movements, environmental change, and historiographic methods with broad theoretical frameworks in history, identity, and politics.

Paper Publications in Journals:

• 126 Research Papers

Books Published:

• 18 Books
• The Guindinliu Uprising in British India: Encountering the Millenarian, Routledge, New York, 2024.
• Nation and Its Modes of Oppression in South Asia, Routledge, 2022.
• The Uprising: Colonial State, Christian Missionaries, and Anti-Slavery Movement in North East India, 1907–1950, Oxford University Press, 2016.
• Bridging State and Nation: Politics of Peace in Nagaland and Mizoram, with Rita Manchanda and Tapan Bose, Sage, 2015.
• Blending Region and Nation: Essays in Honour of Prof. Amalendu Guha, Primus, 2019.
• The Beleaguered Nation: Making and Unmaking of the Assamese Nationality, Manohar, New Delhi, 2016.
• Pied Pipers in North East India: Bamboo Flowers, Rat Famine and Politics of Philanthropy, Manohar, Delhi, 2008.
• Playing with Nature: History and Politics of Environment in North East India, Manohar and Routledge, Delhi, 2016.
• Forces of Nature: Essays in History and Politics of Environment in India, Manohar and Routledge, Delhi, 2016.
• Contesting Marginality: Ethnicity, Insurgency and Sub Nationalism in North East India, Manohar, Delhi, 2002.
• Making of the Union: Integration of Princely States and Excluded Areas 1947–50, Akansha, 2004 (being made into a serial for Jio TV).
• Mughals and the North East: Encounter and Assimilation in Medieval India, Manohar and Routledge, 2023.
• Black Magic, Witchcraft and Occult: Secret Cultural Practices in India, Manohar and Routledge, 2023.
• Encounter and Interventions: Christian Missionaries in Colonial North-East India, Manohar and Routledge, 2023.

Books Chapter Published:

• 55 Book Chapters

Books Edited:

• 9 Books

Projects Undertaken:

• 4 Projects

Any Other Achievements/Awards:

• President of Modern Indian Section of Indian History Congress held in Warangal in 2023.
• Sneh Mahajan Best Book Award.
• First Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Distinguished Professor of Social Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata.
• Senior Fellow, Centre for Contemporary Studies, NMML, New Delhi.
• Commonwealth Fellow, Queens University, Belfast, 2004–05.
• Charles Wallace Fellow, Centre for South Asian Studies, University of Cambridge, 2008.

NCC/NSS Association:

• Naval Wing NCC