FKS releases e-Book documenting events of the Khasi states

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 30, 2021

An e-book entitled ‘The Federation of Khasi States – History, Epistemology and Politics’ was released on Sunday. 

“The release of this historical book is our attempt to put together the History -Epistemology and Politics of the Federation of Khasi States co-authored with Professor Bodhi S Ranee, (presently a Professor at Tata Institute of Social Science(TISS -Mumbai) and we are grateful for his association and contribution in this very important documentation,” FKS adviser & spokesperson John F Kharshiing said in a statement.

It may be recalled that Prof. Ranee’s thesis for Phd was also the “The Federation of Khasi States”.  

The co-authoring of this book “The Federation of Khasi States – History-Epistemology and Politics” the First Edition cronicles documents events and history of the Khasi States since 1773 (first sylhet records 1773 ) onwards leading to the years of 1835 right upto 2017.  

This book is published under the umbrella of the Tribal Intellectual Collective India (www.ticijournals.org)  an association of tribal teachers and academicians from various Universities in India and across the globe.  

“We are also extremely privileged to have the foreward from renowned Professor Virginius Xaxa, former Professor of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics. This detail documentation writing of the history-epistemology and politics of the Khasi States is to also help benefit future students/scholars as we have seen in the past many scholars throughout the years from state universities, other universities from across India including scholars from universities abroad have sought documents and history from us in their scholarly works from time to time on the  history-epistemology and politics of the Khasi States,” Kharshiing said.   

He said this ebook attempts to capture and document the events of the Khasi Hima or the Khasi States their history-epistemology and politics starting from 1773 (First Sylhet Records 1773)  documenting the pre and post arrival and invasion occupation by the British, the Independence of the Khasi States during August 1947-January1950,  The emergence of the Federation of Khasi States, the election and constitution of the Constituent Assembly, the Standstill Arrangements, the unfolding and signing of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement of 17 August 1948 OA & AA, election and inauguration of the National Assembly of The Khasi States Constitution Making Dorbar by the Governor of Assam on July  1949, the forceful inclusion of the Khasi States within Assam under the First Schedule, sixth Scheduled, creating a constitutional anomaly within the Constitution of India  from 26 January 1950, the Hill States Movement, the fateful separation of the United Khasi & Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, the creation of Meghalaya State, and the ongoing movement and challenges faced by the Khasi uptill 2017. 

Kharshiing also informed that the first edition has been made available as an eBook  and one can download/ print for free. Due to the current situation, availability of a hardcopy format will take more time. 

“We are presently writing the Second Edition which we hope to continue to cover the history-epistemology and politics of the Federation of Khasi States upto 2021 which we hope to publish in 2022 coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Meghalaya State, where we hope to make available the second edition in hard copies for all to access online,” he said adding that the objective is to also ensure archiving of all these historical records and documents for posterity.