Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. History and historiography vis-à-vis folklore and folkloristics. 3. Folklore’s concern with the past and the present: obvious affinities with history. 4. History of the people: a dimly lit area. 5. Collaboration between historian and folklorist: the common ground. 6. Writing of an integrated history of North-East India: traditional local material of historical value. 7. Mythological and legendary material vis-à-vis North-East Indian history. Conclusion. Appendices. Bibliography.

    "The contributions of North-East India towards the history and civilisation of the country had not received proper recognition or even attention from scholars and experts. This imbalance certainly needs to be corrected, not only for the sake of the region but also for that of the nation as a whole.

    The different components of the history of this region could be given a firmer foothold if scholars from Assam and Manipur put their heads together, either to identify newly admissible material, or to verify already identified material with the help of cross-references to Assamese and Manipuri traditional accounts."