International Journal of Contemporary Research in Multidisciplinary

Abstract:

This paper explores the historical trajectory through which the British colonial state in India inducted tribal communities from Northeast India, specifically the Nagas, Lushais (Mizos), and Kukis into their military forces. Originally resistant to colonial incursions, these hill communities were gradually integrated into the British Indian Army, particularly through auxiliary units such as the Assam Rifles. This study analyses the transformation of indigenous martial traditions, and the Socio-Political impacts of this militarization. Drawing on colonial records, military documents, and secondary literature, the paper highlights how colonial military strategies intersected with tribal identities, laying the foundation for their continued involvement in postcolonial armed forces.

Keywords:

Nagas, Lushais, Kukis, British Colonial Army, Assam Rifles, Martial Race Theory, Northeast India, Indigenous Militarisation.

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