Buddhism in North-East India

Contents: Preface. I. General: 1. Introduction/Sristidhar Dutta and Byomakesh Tripathy. 2. Some observations/C.C. Singpho. II. History of Buddhism: 3. Buddhism in North-East India/Yan Tikhak. 4. A note on the Theory of Buddhism in Manipur/John Parratt. 5. Growth of Theravada Buddhism among the Tikhak Tangsas of East Arunachal Pradesh/Narayan Singh Rao. 6. Buddhism in ancient Assam: a survey/Byomakesh Tripathy. 7. Buddhism in Tripura: a historical study/Satyadeo Poddar. 8. Buddhism in Mizoram as practised by the Chakmas/N.K. Laskar. 9. Buddhism (Lamaism) among the Sherpas of Sikkim/Manis Kumar Raha. 10. Theravada Buddhism among the Khamtis of Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh/Jajati K. Pattnaik. 11. Buddhism among the Singphos/Tana Showren. III. Buddhist art and architecture: 12. Buddhist Stupas of Arunachal Pradesh: a survey/Sristidhar Dutta and Byomakesh Tripathy. 13. Lhagyala Gompa and its importance in the history of Arunachal Pradesh/R. Dondrup and D.K. Duarah. 14. Rupa Gompa: a historical survey/Sasikant Dash. 15. Recent discovery of cruciform Buddhist remains at Pillak, South Tripura/G.C. Chauley. 16. Buddhist remains in Tripura/S. Jamal Hasan and B. Sinha. 17. Ane Gompas of Tawang/Byomakesh Tripathy and Sristidhar Dutta. 18. Some pre-requisite structural components of Tai Buddhist Monasteries in North-East India/Jaya Buragohain. IV. Buddhism and its socio-economic impact: 19. Mahayana sect of Buddhists of Arunachal Pradesh: a study in social geography/Nishamani Kar. 20. Impact of Tibetan form of Mahayana Buddhism among the Monpas and Sherdukpens/R. Dondrup. 21. The Monpas: their social, economic and religious institutions/Rinchen Dorjee. 22. The Membas: their social, economic and religious institutions/D.K. Dutta. 23. Role of Buddhist arts and crafts in the socio-economic development of the Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh/D.K. Dutta and D.K. Duarah. 24. Buddhist contributions to art forms of Arunachal: influence of Buddhism on the Monpas and Sherdukpens/K. Dey. 25. Buddhism, Buddhist monasteries and the societies of the Monyul: a historical study/Braj Narain Jha. 26. Polity of pre-colonial Arunachal Pradesh: interactions in trade, culture, state ad Buddhism/Amarendra Kr. Thakur. 27. A note on New year festival Sanken/Ven. Agadhamma. Index.

"The North-Eastern India occupies an important place in the history and culture of India. It is the house of a large number of ethnic groups residing in the plains as well as on the hills with distinct socio-cultural and religious identities.

Buddhism has played an unique role, which is well-reflected in nicely-decorated Buddhist monasteries, stupas, minor religious structures, traditional arts and crafts, rituals, festivals and dances.

This book, containing 27 papers by experts in their fields, is the first attempt to study the history of Buddhism, Buddhist art and architecture and its impact on socio-cultural and religious life of the people of North East India. The book throws light on Theravada as well as Mahayana form of Buddhism, as practised by some tribes of the area. The work unfurls different aspects of culture of North-Eastern India in general and Buddhism in particular. The study will prove to be useful to scholars as well as readers interested in the subject." (jacket)