The Majuli Island  (English, Paperback, Nath D.)

The book is a critical historical and sociological account of the famous river-island Majuli created centuries ago by the river Brahmaputra. Separated from the mainland society of Assam being encompassed all around by a large water body of that great river, the island nurtures a typical traditional social and culture systems that crystallized since the Middle Ages when the rulers of Assam made it a land of the Vaishnava preachers and founded there, on their behalf, grand religious institutions called Satra. In the 20th century, especially in the post colonial period, geography and society of the island, its institutional structure and social stratifications have been significantly impacted upon by the forces of change created mainly by modernization, demographic change and globalization. The work looks at the evolution of the society in the island and its value systems during the last few centuries, and its response to the forces of changes in the modern times.
Table of Contents :
Forward Preface Abbreviations INTRODUCTION Geography Vaishnavism Population Economy Location and Extent Antiquity Tracing the Geographical Background Ecology and Environment SOCIETY Caste-Class Divisions Food Dresses and Wears of the People Position of Women Health and Family Planning Flood and Majuli Erosion in Majuli: Some Implications Decades Back─A Winter In Majuli Religion Education and Literature ECONOMY Agriculture, Occupation and Crafts Land System Agriculture Craft and Industries Labour Employment as Occupation Development of Communication System Urban Growth and Emergence of New Trends in Economy SATRAS OF MAJULI The Neo Vaishnavite Institutions and Practices Early History Classification of Satras Inmate of the Satras: From Traditionalism to Modernism Satra and Society Perfomaing Art in Satra Fine Arts in the Satras Satras─Internal Changes Satra and Women CULTURAL LIFE Religious Festivals and Secular Celebrations Palnam Ras Lila Janmastami Guru Tithis Phalgutsav/Phakuwa/Dual Yatra Barsik Bhaona-Sabah/Bar Sabha Bihu Ali-Aye-Lrigang MAJULI IN THE STATE POLITY Earliest Times to 20th Century Majuli in Tradition and History: Earliest Times to 1228 Majuli in Historical Times: 1228-1769 Majuli in the Moamariya Revolt: 1769-1805 Majuli During The Burmese Rule Majuli in the Colonial Period (1826-1947) Post-Independence Majuli EPILOGUE Majuli ─ Past and Present APPENDICES 1. Gaon Panchayatwise Village List And Population Figure of Majuli, 2001 2. Decennial Growth of Population in Majuli, 1901-2001 3. List of Revenue Bils in Majuli 4. Medical and Health Facilities in Majuli 5. Road and Bridge Records of Majuli 6. Market Growth in the Ratanpur Nayabazar Area, 2005 (A Survey) 7. List of the Satras of Majuli (Past and Present) 8. Annual Cultural Programme of the Satras 9. List of Select Manuscripts Preserved in a few Satras of Majuli 10. List of Freedom Fighters in Majuli 11. Memorandum submitted by the Auniatiya Satradhikara to His Excellency Andrew Gourlay Clow, The Commissioner of Assam 12. Table Showing Women’s Literary Rate, 2004-2005 13. Photo Copy of the Letter of Pitambardeva Goswami to Dehiram Nath (Ms.), Dated 13 Kartik, 1883 Saka 14. Open Letter to Sri Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India, From Pitambar Deva Goswami 15. A Cover Page from the Asam Bilasinee (12th Issue, 5th Year, March, 1876) 16. A Part from the Leaflet titled Kartipakshya, Janasadharan aru Eke Pathar Pathik Guru Sakalar Ocharat Mor Antarar Bhav Nivedan, 18 Bohag, 1878 Sak (used in the present work as Confession) by Pitambardeva Goswami, Satradhikara of Garamura Satra. Bibliography Glossary Index
About author :
Dr.D.Nath is presently holding the prestidgious Shri Shri Aniruddhadeva Chair Professorship in the Department of History, Dibrugarh University. Known for his work on the medieval history of Assam, Dr. Nath has to his credit a number of acclaimed research works in form of both books and articles on polity, society and culture of the Brahmaputra valley. He has also edited the work Opening of the Stilwell Road-Prospects and Problems. Dr. Nath is currently working on religion and religious societies in Assam with special reference to the Vaishnava movement and its institutions.