New Delhi, November 6, 2007: A 279-pages book authored by Prof. Lal Dena, "In Search of Identity: Hmars of the Northeast India" has been released by Pu L. Keivom, IFS (Retd.) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi on November 03, 2007.

The book has been published by MP Misra for Akansha Publishing House, New Delhi and is priced at Rs 700 per copy. The book is dedicated to Isaac L Hmar, the author's son who was murdered at Beraw Tlang, Aizawl on April 18, 2006.

"In Search of Identity: Hmars of the Northeast India" is a collection of seminar papers on Hmars of the Mizo group presented at different regional and national seminars during the last 35 years.

The book is divided into two parts.

Part I discusses the origin of the Hmars, including their so-called Israelite origin, socio-political development, leadership pattern, literary development, position of Mizo women, interaction with Indo-Japanese soldiers during the World War II, the Mizo integration movement, conflict with the Kukis in 1958-1960, and with the Dimasas in 2002-2004, and the history of their political movements including the HPC movement in Mizoram.

Part II deals with some of the pressing issues and problems faced by the tribal people in general in North East India. It includes the marginalisation of hill people, tribalism or detribalization, the controversial Tipaimukh Dam, peace efforts of AMCO and roots of the alienation of North East India.

Prof. Lal Dena is an alumnus of JNU and has been serving at the Dept. of History, Manipur University since 1973. He has visited the UK, France, South Korea and Malaysia for various seminars.

He was also visiting professor to Dibrugarh University and President of the North East India History Association during 2002-2003. He has to his credit more than 50 research papers published in different national and international journals.

Some of the publication includes

• British Policy, 1891-1919 (1984);
• History of Modern Manipur, 1826-1949 (1991);
• Hmar Folk Tales (1995); and
• History of Zawlkhawpui (2004).