The Mythistory of Kajir Ronghangpi

Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a renowned national park in India, is well-known for its remarkable initiatives in wildlife conservation, and is also known for its one-horned rhinoceros. It is situated in the state of Assam. However, Kaziranga is closely connected to the oral tradition of the Karbis. The Karbis are an indigenous people from northeast India who live largely in two hill districts (KarbiAnglong and West KarbiAnglong) of Assam. KajirRonghangpi, a prominent mythical legendary figure in Karbi oral tradition, is associated with the etymology of Kaziranga. The name Kaziranga has several origins, but all agree that it is derived from the Karbi term KajirArong, which literally means 'territory of Kajir' (The territory of KajirRonghangpi). Yet, KajirRonghangpi's heritage is a dynamic process in the making of Karbi identity and history. In this context, this book aims to reaffirm the ecological, cultural, and spatial ideas of KajirRonghangpi, which can be elucidated by examining the oral narratives of the Karbis. This book provides a critical analysis of the oral traditions of the Karbis, while offering an alternate perspective on how the Kaziranga National Park can be 're-invented' by considering the insights of the 'Mythistory of Kajir Ronghangpi'.