...Jayeeta Sharma Fragmented Memories: Struggling to Be Tai-Ahom in India . By Yasmin Saikia . Durham, N.C. : Duke University Press , 2004 . xviii , 327 pp. $84.95 (cloth). Copyright © The Association for Asian Studies, Inc. 2007 2007 Yasmin Saikia's Fragmented Memories...

... . London : School of Oriental and African Studies . Chatthip Narthsupha . 1995 . “ The State of Knowledge of Ahom History .” Tai 1 : 11 – 17 . Chatthip Narthsupha . 1996 . “ On the Study of Tai Cultural History .” Thai-Yunnan Project Newsletter , no. 32: 14 – 15 . Curzon Collection...

... alluvial deposits of great agricultural potential,” Aijazuddin Ahmad noted ( 1999 , 81). Peasant culture flourished in the “perennial nuclear region” (Ahmad 1999 , 82) of the Brahmaputra Valley. It provided the template for medieval states under Kamrup (Koch Hajo) and the Ahom swargadeos (kings). Yasmin...

... ethnologized groups. Naga chiefs, she notes, were relicts of an old Ahom monastic bureaucracy, while colonial records identify the Lushai as groups or bands of militant warriors, ascetics, and bairagis . Despite the recognition of certain differences among these groups and identifying colonial processes...

... these two processes is not clearly indicated. Instead, Chatterjee emphasizes the colonial use of preexisting words, such as Naga , Lushai , Cosseah , and others, to define different ethnologized groups. Naga chiefs, she notes, were relicts of an old Ahom monastic bureaucracy, while colonial records...

..., and Burmese epigraphy in the early twelfth century. It is still written in modern Burmese as Shydm but pronounced as Shan. Some scholars thought Assam and Ahom had roots in Syam. 468 THE JOURNAL OF ASIAN STUDIES In Tai Mau and Tai No, tai means "west" and na means "east," so mat) tai khotj and mat) n$ khot...

... Tradition of Sikhism prevailing in Punjab. The second chapter is devoted to the study of Assamese literature. The presence of about ve hundred Sikh soldiers in Assam goes back to the late eighteenth century when there was a revolt in the Ahom kingdom, followed by a Burmese invasion and the annexation...

.... Diller writes with broad sweep on the historical situations of the Tai speakers in the northwestern Indian state of Assam. He provides phonological and syntactic sketches of Khamti, Phake, Aiton, and Ahom, while including a sample text from a Tai-Aiton tale. Luo offers evidence of Sino-Tibetan sources...

..., and ethnohistory. B. J. Terweil's essay explores the Ahom's claim to ethnic distinction in Assam by examining their method of beer production and consumption, comparing their usage to that of other ethnic groups in Assam and with other Thai groups in mainland Southeast Asia. Donald Gibson focusses on a disease...

... that there is "a widespread perception that the Assam movement had its strongest support among ethnic Assamese 'upper' castes" (p. 136), such as the Ahoms. If so, it does not represent civil society whatever that is but an elite group. An attempt at identifying the social base of the movement, or even a portrait of the AGP...

... centuries with its capital at Selan and, later, Mongmau. The word Syam occurs in Cham, Cambojan, and Burmese epigraphy in the early twelfth century. It is still written in modern Burmese as Shydm but pronounced as Shan. Some scholars thought Assam and Ahom had roots in Syam. ...

...). This applies especially to her discussion of the relation between satra and state under the Ahom rulers. Despite shortcomings, this is an important book. It is a good introduction to Assamese society and it fills a gap in our understanding of South Asia. SANJIB BARUAH Bard College ...

... context, one aspect of this question that has been completely ignored so far. I also have the impression that Mr. Rao has exaggerated the intensity of the relations between the Ahom kingdom of Assam and the NEFA tribal communities in order to make his point about the frontier area being traditionally part...

... Studies, Inc. 1969 1969 616 JOURNAL OF ASIAN STUDIES torical context, one aspect of this question that has been completely ignored so far. I also have the impression that Mr. Rao has exaggerated the intensity of the relations between the Ahom kingdom of Assam and the NEFA tribal communities in order...

.... . Bathing ceremony. JSS 42 (July 1954), 41-53. 1954), 31-37. LTMAN, ALBERT. The judicial system of . Me Pesop, the rice mother. JSS 43 Thailand. FEER 18 (June 30,1955), 809- (1955), 55-61. 12. . A note on "Divination by Ahom PARKINSON, F. From Berlin to Bangkok. Deodhais." JSS 43 (1955), 53. Year book...

..., performers, or local critics. Pandit mentions Santhals, Biharis, and Ahoms (p. xvii), but in the context of a theoretical intervention into the nature of performance and community formation. Regarding Muslims, the population that made up the majority of residents of colonial Bengal, Pandit rightfully...

... that the Assam movement had its strongest support among ethnic Assamese 'upper' castes" (p. 136), such as the Ahoms. If so, it does not represent civil society whatever that is but an elite group. An attempt at identifying the social base of the movement, or even a portrait of the AGP Chief Minister, Mahanta...

... on the historical situations of the Tai speakers in the northwestern Indian state of Assam. He provides phonological and syntactic sketches of Khamti, Phake, Aiton, and Ahom, while including a sample text from a Tai-Aiton tale. Luo offers evidence of Sino-Tibetan sources for Kam-Tai lexical items as counter...

... that "on certain areas such as South Asia, we had to include rather elementary elements of information required for the French public" (p. ix). Some of this information, I am afraid, is not accurate. The Assamese Muslims are neither a "handful" nor are they "converted Ahoms" (p. 203). Cliches such as "Muslims...

... with the Great Tradition of Sikhism prevailing in Punjab. The second chapter is devoted to the study of Assamese literature. The presence of about ve hundred Sikh soldiers in Assam goes back to the late eighteenth century when there was a revolt in the Ahom kingdom, followed by a Burmese invasion...