Adivasis of Assam

A Contemporary History of Adivasis: History, Culture & Identity

By [P. LAKRA]

“We did not just bring our labor to Assam. We brought our gods, our rhythms, our stories. We made this land our home.”

This powerful and moving work tells the untold story of the Adivasi people in Assam—descendants of tribal communities brought to the Northeast as tea plantation laborers under colonial rule. For over 150 years, they have lived, worked, struggled, and contributed to the economic and cultural life of Assam, yet remained on the margins of history and policy.

A Contemporary History of Adivasis is a sweeping narrative that combines oral memory, grassroots experience, and scholarly insight. It journeys through colonial exploitation, cultural resilience, linguistic survival, economic marginalization, and political assertion. From the rich traditions of the Santhals and Oraons to the vibrant rhythms of Jhumur dance, from the battle for Scheduled Tribe status to the dreams of Adivasi youth—this book captures it all.

Inside the Book:

• The forced migration of Adivasis from Central India to Assam's tea plantations

• Cultural life in the "line bastis": languages, rituals, and resistance

• The fight for identity, education, and Scheduled Tribe recognition

• Adivasi women as cultural bearers and economic pillars

• Voices of poets, activists, and community leaders shaping a new future

This is not just a history book. It is a tribute to survival, a chronicle of belonging, and a call for justice.

If you care about indigenous identity, migration, social justice, or Northeast India, A Contemporary History of Adivasis is an essential read.