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Indological studies, during the colonial era, largely emphasized the differences between the various regions, linguistic groups, religious persuasions, etc. Even after the Independence, the trend seems to continue and the 'divisive studies'-at the author terms them-far outnumber the 'integrative studies' (again, a term coined by the author). The present work is an attempt towards such 'integrative studies'. Kamarupa, Kalinga and Mithila are three civilisational regions that developed close links with each other from the epic times till the medieval period. These links as reflected in their political history, art and religious traditions had been so strong that the author calls them an alignment rather than merely 'close links'. The author examines the relevant materials available in the old texts, epigraphs, archaeological remains and art objects, collates them with the Puranic and folk legends and traditions current in the three regions and, finally, combining them with his personal field observations arrives at the significant conclusion that a politico-cultural alignment of the three regions did, indeed, exist for a very long period of time. The author finally underlines the need for further research in the matter and, indicating its scope, suggests the desirability of including Bengal into its ambit to make it a truly comprehensive study of eastern India. About the Author: Chandra Dhar Tripathi (b-1937 at Basti, U.P., India) belongs to the long tradition of scholar-civil servants-both European and India-to whose insights and labours the Indian historiography and archaeology owe so much. He has a record of thirty five years of distinguished service (1962-1977) as a member of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre of the Indian Administrative Service from which he retired as a Secretary to the Government of India in 1997. After retirement he served as the Director, Vrindavan Research Institute, Vrindavan in 1998-1999. He was a Fellow of the IIAS from June 2000 to June 2003 when he carried out the research work for the present volume. He has edited/co-edited (i) two volumes of papers/reports relating to the history and archaeology of Assam and the North-East (Guwahati, 1984), (ii) a volume of hitherto unknown Sanskrit hymns dedicated to Gopala discovered from manuscripts preserved at VRI (Vrindavan,1999), (iii) a volume of papers on the history and culture of Uttaranchal (Adi0Badri, 1989) and (iv) a volume of papers on Jawaharlal Nehru and the Disadvantaged (Shillong, 1991). Three lectures delivered by him as a Visiting Professor at IIAS in 1999 have been published under the title Aspects of the Medieval History of Assam (IIAS, 2002). Besides the research papers relating to the history, culture and archaeology of Assam, the papers published by him relate to subjects as diverse as the Thai studies, collective violence, personnel selection and Apabhramsa poetry. He is also a broadcaster and writer of essays and satire in Hindi and a translator. Chandra Dhar Tripathi lives in Delhi with his scholar wife Dr. Aruna Tripathi.
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