The Unquiet River: Brahmaputra
From landscapes to livelihoods, the river Brahmaputra has shaped the history of Assam. In this lecture, historian Arupjyoti Saikia brought together history, geology and hydrology to present a comprehensive understanding of this mighty river. He spoke about how the river was formed, what makes it unique, and why it is important to think about its future. His lecture was based on his book by the same name.
About the Historian
Arupjyoti Saikia is currently a Professor in History at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Guwahati. He has a Ph.D from the University of Delhi and was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University. His research interests are primarily focused on the Economic, environmental and political history of modern Assam. His publications include A Century of Protests: Peasant Politics in Assam since 1900, Routledge, Delhi, 2014, Forests and Ecological History of Assam, 1826-2000, Oxford University Press, Delhi, 2011, and Jungles, Reserves, Wildlife: A History of Forests in Assam, Wildlife Area Development Trust, Guwahati, 2005. The Turbulent River: An Environmental Biography of the Brahmaputra, is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.
Connected Exhibits and Programmes
People and Water - photographs representing people and their relationship to water
Good Books with Arupjyoti Saikia - a book reading and discussion