A book titled The Khasi States: A Brief Historical Timeline 1771-2017 co-authored by John F Kharshiing and Bodhi S Ranee was released to commemorate 50 years of the statehood of Meghalaya at a function held in Shillong College yesterday.
The book is a follow-up to the Federation of Khasi States: History, Epistemology and Politics which was released in 2019.
The authors in a note said the new book is an attempt to bring out the dates, years and events while leaving out any interpretation or analysis. It is the first such timeline of 246 years of Khasi history where the records have been established.
“This way of presenting the text, we believe, will provide an easy read for political and thought leaders of the Hynñiewtrep society and will also be an informative archival material for academicians engaging in the said subject domain,” they said.
“Throughout the text you will find the documentation of historical facts and descriptions of minute administrative details about very important and extremely critical events in the life of the Khasi communities in general and the history of the Khasi Chiefs and their Himas in particular,” the statement said.
The authors said that all data were sourced out from archives collected over the years from various sources, which is available in John Kharshiing Library – Records Centre of the Khasi States, Demthring, Shillong.
Shillong College principa, Evarkorlang Kharkongor said the book encapsulates the history and events of Khasi society for more than 100 years. She urged the students of the college to help in popularising this book.
Others present on the occasion included Shillong College vice-principal B. Syiem and the head of the Khasi department, Ailynti Nongbri.
