The Mughals and the North-East: Encounter and Assimilation in Medieval India

The book "The Mughal Empire and North-East India" asserts that north-east India had a "medieval past" through linkage with the dominant central power in India, the Mughals. The eastern frontier of the Mughal Empire included states like Bengal, Koch Bihar, Assam, Manipur, Dimasa, Jaintia, Cachar, Tripura, Khasi confederation, Chittagong, Lushai, and the Nagas. Despite not being a formal part of the empire, the Mughal presence impacted society, economy, polity, and culture, generating trade and commerce and leading to a substantial Muslim population growth. The region also has numerous Islamic and syncretic institutions, cultures, and shrines.

Format: Hardback
Length: 538 pages
Publication date: 17 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The perception that the region of north-east India maintained its 'splendid isolation and remained outside the reach of the Mughals and did not have a pre-colonial past is inaccurate. The present book aims to challenge and dismantle this notion by asserting that north-east India had a 'medieval past' through its linkage with the dominant central power in India, the Mughals. The eastern frontier of this Mughal Empire was constituted by a number of states, including Bengal, Koch Bihar, Assam, Manipur, Dimasa, Jaintia, Cachar, Tripura, Khasi confederation, Chittagong, Lushai, and the Nagas. While some areas, such as Bengal, were integral parts of the Mughal Empire, others, like Koch Bihar and Assam, were in and out of the empire. Tripura, Manipur, Jaintia, and Cachar were frequently overrun by the Mughals when the State was short of revenue and withdrew soon without incorporating them into the state.

Despite not being a formal part of the Mughal Empire, the society, economy, polity, and culture of north-east India had been significantly impacted by the Mughal presence. The brief but effective advent of the Mughals had supplanted certain political and revenue institutions in various states. It generated trade and commerce, linking the region to the rest of India. A number of wondering Sufi saints, Islamic missionaries, imprisoned Mughal soldiers, and officers were settled in various states, resulting in a substantial Muslim population growth in the region. Besides the population, numerous Islamic and syncretic institutions, cultures, and shrines dot the entire region.

In conclusion, the perception that north-east India maintained its 'splendid isolation and remained outside the reach of the Mughals and did not have a pre-colonial past is inaccurate. The region had a 'medieval past' through its linkage with the dominant central power in India, the Mughals. The Mughal Empire's eastern frontier was constituted by a number of states, and while some areas were integral parts of the empire, others were in and out. The Mughal presence had significant impacts on the society, economy, polity, and culture of north-east India, generating trade and commerce, linking the region to the rest of India, and resulting in a substantial Muslim population growth. Additionally, numerous Islamic and syncretic institutions, cultures, and shrines dot the entire region.

Weight: 1160g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032523040