TheStudyof theTai peoplesinAssam State, India:From “Primordialism” to“Racistnationalism” and“Situationalethnicity”

Abstract

Scholars from Thailand have been paid attention to the study of
the Tai peoples in Assam State, India since 1890s, which based on
"primordialism" when they described history from the same origin of
any Tai people in each region outside Thailand. In 1923, the idea of
"Tai Race" became popular according to the work of William Clifton
Dodd on "The Tai Race: Elder brother of the Chinese. It also influenced
on Thailand Government that shaped the idea to "racist nationalism"
which sought out Tai origin, language and culture. After 1978, the
cooperation between scholars from Thailand and India was growing
up. More studies were opened to the issues of history, literature, belief
system, cultural and social change, and political context. This moved
forward to the idea of "situational ethnicity", consequently the process
of cultural revitalization of the Tai in India has been an issue of
interest.