SHILLONG, July 19: A new book exploring the historical and cultural ties between the Khasi-Jaintia and Karbi communities was released on Saturday at the Karbi Hemtun (Karbi Anglong Guest House) in Shillong.
Titled Khasi-Jaintia and Karbis: From Symbiotic History to an Ongoing False Dispute—Karbi Youth Festival as the Confluence of Two Communities, the work is authored by Hirolfsberg Rongphar, an Assistant Professor at Nehru College and a doctoral scholar at Assam University, Diphu Campus.
According to a statement here, the event was attended by Paiem Laborious Manik S. Syiem and Jones Ingti Kathar, IAS (Retd), as chief guest and guest of honour respectively. Also present as special guests were Deivica Dkhar, president of the KSU Assam University unit, and John Engti Kathar, president of the Karbi Students’ Association, Shillong.
It may be mentioned that Rongphar’s work examines the deep-seated historic relationship between the two groups and positions the Karbi Youth Festival as a shared cultural bridge.
The book also seeks to counter contemporary narratives of division by documenting a long-standing heritage of symbiotic coexistence.
The event also brought together scholars and community leaders from both Diphu and Shillong to discuss the importance of preserving ethnic unity in the region.
