This book could not have been possible were it not for the generous cooperation of people from around the world who came forward to assist me with many relevant inputs and insights – I am deeply indebted to each one of them. Without the kind and consistent cooperation I received from Kaushalya Baruah, Nishinath Changkakati, Brigadier Navajyoti Deka (retd.), Lt. Col. C. Konwar, merchant navy officer Babul Kalita, Dr Amalendu Guha, Dr Jnyndendra Nath Sarmah, Rupam Kakoti, Dr Mafuza Rahman, Ashraf Zaman, Paban Kumar Singhal, Shankar Agarwalla, Wang Shoo Sinh, Deep Saikia, Manoj Manoki, Raju Dahotiya, Pramod Vengra and Dr Arupjyoti Saikia, my efforts would have remained far too inadequate. I remain ever grateful to to Bhaskar Dutta Goswami, Pradeep Baishya, Manash Kumar Mahanta, Mukul Kalita, Sabita Lahkar, Dilip Gogoi, Jayanta Sarmah and Uddipan Dutta for their valued contribution. The liberal assistance offered by the respective librarians of Cotton College Library and Assam Assembly Library, as well as the officers and staff of Assam State Archives, my mother Molina Choudhury, my husband Chandramohan Patowary, brother Gautam Choudhury, my daughter Kristi and son Abhiruk, went a long way in making my dream come true. I must mention with fond remembrance the selfless help of the late Abdul Nasser, Dipak Barman, Herembo Rai, Tag Bahadur Chetri, Gauri Seal and Lakhiram Bodo.

My deepest gratitude to the people in Hong Kong whom I met in the course of my research – especially Tham Mei Tang, Ting San Ho, Lt. Leung Mei Ho, and Wong Fung Siu. Thanks to my friends in Tinsukia: Man Khee Ho, Man Chung Ho, Tutu Loi, Willy Ho, John Wang, Chung Wa Wong, Ameng Tham, Laileen Tham, Tung Chin Tham, Dipak Tham.

Last but not least, a special thank you to Teesta Guha Sarkar at Pan Macmillan India for believing in this book and publishing it in English translation. Thank you to Ronnie Kuriakose for being a wonderful publicist. Thanks also to Mr Nagen Sarmah at Jyoti Prakashan for publishing Makam in 2010 and ensuring it was widely read.

In spite of my best efforts, there are still some names left out, whose invaluable contribution towards the completion of this book and its final incarnation would always deserve my sincere apology and unreserved gratitude.

I also thank all those authors whose books and articles I freely took recourse to whenever I felt the need. Above all, I thank all my readers, who have always remained my primary inspiration.