“The years of insurgency in Mizoram remain the darkest period in the known history of the land and its people. The very nature of the counter operations – restricting freedom of expression and annihilating existing records – have made it even more difficult to access the history [of] this recent past. In the twenty-five years since the conclusion of peace, mouths that were previously gagged have been loosened and we now have a small body of work that may safely be called `insurgency literature’. This book, by an acknowledged expert and authority on the subject, is a welcome addition to this body of work . . . [The book] gives the reader an additional insight into the state of affairs ignited by the [Mizo National Front (MNF)] insurrection. Told from the differing perspectives of the two authors – one who was a witness and the other initiated by interest – the book offers astute observations on pertinent issues including Village Grouping, implementation of the [Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)] and the use of air power in the operations. Although historical, the book is formatted not on chronology, but rather on issues the authors have sought to highlight, making it especially helpful for a study of the insurgency. The many personal accounts and recounting of witnesses to life-changing events make it interesting, and the readable language also contributes to making the book an essential addition to any collection of literature on revolt and the process of peace.”– Dr. Tawnenga, Principal, Pachhunga University College, Aizawl, Mizoram“Dr. J. V. Hluna and Rini Tochhawng have painstakingly collected the Assembly Proceedings which chronicle the sequence of developments in the hill state and how they were viewed, questioned and debated by the legislators. It also recorded the Government’s response to the crisis. Dr. J. V. Hluna is a very senior Mizo historian, who not only has actually seen the troubled times, but has meticulously collected and preserved the documents of the period which were destroyed during army raids in their original office. Dr. Hluna has already written extensively on various aspects of the twenty year insurgency period and is a known name in Mizo history. This time he is joined by his worthy daughter Rini Tochhawng, and jointly, they have put together this immensely important volume of documents which recorded the developments. It is a minefield of information . . . an invaluable piece of work for researcher[s] and a repository of information for the general reader. [R]esearchers and readers of Mizo history now have ready material in one book and need not search [through] the archives. I congratulate the authors for rendering this service to the discipline of history and strongly recommend it to the growing community of researchers on the history and politics of north east India.”– Sajal Nag, Professor of History, Assam University, Silchar