Small Wars and Pacification in the British Empire: A Case Study of Lushai Hills, 1850-1900

The author examines the transition from indirect to direct British rule in the Lushai Hills (1850-1900). He distinguishes between 'small wars'—short, punitive military expeditions used to project power—and 'pacification,' a longer-term process involving both kinetic measures (paramilitary forces) and non-kinetic elements (infrastructure, education, and healthcare). The study argues that this 'winning hearts and minds' approach, backed by the threat of force, was more complex than simple brute force and served as a model for imperial consolidation.

• The author defines 'small war' as campaigns where an imperial power uses military force to expand into a stateless region, typically involving irregular forces and guerrilla tactics rather than set-piece battles or the capture of capital cities.
• Pacification is described as a long-term process of consolidation that follows small wars, combining the threat of force with non-kinetic social and economic programs to co-opt indigenous populations.
• Between 1850 and 1889, the British launched several short punitive expeditions in the Lushai Hills, such as the 1850 expedition under Lieutenant-Colonel Lister and the 1871-72 expedition, which used mountain artillery and light columns to destroy villages and deter raids.
• The British utilized a 'divide and rule' strategy by arming and co-opting the Kuki tribe, who had traditional enmity with the Lushais, to serve as a first line of defense.
• Kinetic pacification relied heavily on paramilitary formations and local corps rather than regular army units, as locals were better suited to the humid climate and terrain of North-East India.
• Non-kinetic pacification included the construction of roads and bridges to increase military mobility and trade, the establishment of government and mission schools, and the provision of free medical services to treat diseases like smallpox and cholera.
• The British attempted to sedentarise the Lushai tribes by encouraging them to abandon migratory 'jhum' (slash and burn) cultivation in favor of wet rice cultivation and cash crops like rubber, tea, and cotton.
• Political officers conducted extensive tours of the region to hear grievances and project imperial power, which simultaneously diminished the traditional prestige and authority of indigenous chiefs.

APA

Roy, K. (n.d.). Small Wars and Pacification in the British Empire: A Case Study of Lushai Hills, 1850-1900. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/67ddeabf-b9b5-4915-a1a1-1222de4f899c/FMain Document.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Roy, Kaushik. Small Wars and Pacification in the British Empire: A Case Study of Lushai Hills, 1850-1900. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/67ddeabf-b9b5-4915-a1a1-1222de4f899c/FMain Document.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roy |first1=Kaushik |title=Small Wars and Pacification in the British Empire: A Case Study of Lushai Hills, 1850-1900 |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/67ddeabf-b9b5-4915-a1a1-1222de4f899c/FMain Document.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{royndsmall, author = {Roy, Kaushik}, title = {{Small Wars and Pacification in the British Empire: A Case Study of Lushai Hills, 1850-1900}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/67ddeabf-b9b5-4915-a1a1-1222de4f899c/FMain Document.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }