The 44th Annual Session of the North East India History Association (NEIHA) began on Monday at Bodoland University in Kokrajhar, bringing together historians, researchers and academicians from across the Northeast and beyond for a three-day conference.
The inaugural programme opened with a welcome address from Registrar Dr Subung Basumatary, who highlighted the significance of hosting the event on the university campus. Vice-Chancellor Prof. B. L. Ahuja delivered the inaugural speech and commended NEIHA’s contribution to historical scholarship in the region, urging scholars to adopt interdisciplinary methods to understand the Northeast’s complex past.
NEIHA General Secretary Prof. Amena N. Passah presented the annual report, reaffirming the association’s mission to promote rigorous research, document indigenous histories and strengthen academic collaboration. Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, delivering a special address, stressed the importance of preserving the region’s heritage through scholarly engagement.
President Prof. Salam Irene introduced the President-Elect, followed by a Presidential Address from Prof. Sudhir Kumar Singh, who outlined plans to expand NEIHA’s academic visibility and support emerging scholars. The inaugural day also saw the release of the NEIHA Proceedings and several new books, reflecting the association’s continued commitment to enriching regional research.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Local Secretary Dr Joydip Narzary. In the second half of the day, scholars presented papers on themes including regional historiography, identity, community histories, linguistic traditions and contemporary socio-political issues. Academic discussions will continue until the session concludes on 19 November.
