There is not much information available on the history of Arunachal Pradesh. The earliest recorded history dates back to 16th century AD when Ahom rulers of Assam extended their kingdom to this region.
The Ahom rulers had a tradition of not interfering in the affairs of the tribes of this region. The British continued this policy, and in 1873, they banned entry of outsiders to this region.
The Government of India continued this policy until 1962, when China attacked this region. After 1962, steps were taken to counter future border disputes with China, and roads, electricity, modern democratic institutions, and cash economy were introduced here.
Before 1962, the state was known as Northeast Frontier Agency and was constitutionally a part of Assam. Because of its strategic importance, it was administered by the Ministry of External Affairs until 1965 and subsequently by the Ministry of Home Affairs through the governor of Assam. In 1972, Arunachal Pradesh was constituted as a union territory, and, in 1987, it became the 24th state of the Indian Union.
The earliest references to Arunachal are found in the Indian epic Mahabharata, Ramayana and other Vedic legends. Several characters from the region, such as Princess Rukmini, King Bhismaka and Lord Parashuram were referred to as people from the region in the epic. According to traditional accounts Princess Rukmini birth in the family of Bhismaka. (Mahabharata Adi 67.156). Rukmini was the daughter of King Bhismaka of Kundil in Upper Assam(now Sadia). Krishna fought against king Bhismaka in his bid to marry Bhismaka's daughter Rukmini. Bhismaka was the vassal of King Jarasandha of Magadha. The Dibang Valley lying to the extreme north of the state is close to the Chinese border.It was the ancient kingdom of Bhismaka where Rukmini was given in marriage to Lord Krishna. Malinithan a small town has strong historical links with Lord Krishna and his consort Rukmini. Parashuram was born to saint Jamadagni and Rebuka in Lohit valley and Parshuram Kund in Lohit district, which is believed to be the lake where Parshuram washed away all his sins.
The first ancestors of the tribal groups migrated from Tibet during the prehistoric period, and were joined by Thai-Burmese counterparts later. Except for the northwestern parts of the state, little is known about the history of Arunachal Pradesh, although the Adi tribe had legendary knowledge of the history. Recorded history was only available in the Ahom chronicles during the 16th century. The tribal Monpa and Sherdukpen do keep historical records of the existence of local chiefdoms in the northwest as well. Northwestern parts of this area came under the control of the Monpa kingdom of Monyul, which flourished between 500 B.C. and 600 A.D. This region then came under the loose control of Tibet and Bhutan, especially in the Northern areas. The remaining parts of the state, especially those bordering Myanmar, came under the control of the Ahom and the Assamese until the annexation of India by the British in 1858.
Recent excavations of ruins of Hindu temples such as the 14th Malinithan at the foot of the Siang hills in West Siang shed new light on the ancient history of Arunachal Pradesh. Paintings of the Hindu gods and altars remained untouched for many years. They attracted many local pilgrims. Another notable heritage site, Bhismaknagar, suggested that the Idu Mishmi had a local civilisation. The third heritage site, the 400-year-old Tawang monastery in the Tawang district, also provides historical evidence of the Buddhist tribal peoples. Historically, the area had a close relationship with Tibetan people and Tibetan culture, for example the sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso was born in Tawang.
In 1913-14 British administrator, Sir Henry McMahon, drew up the 550 mile (890 km) McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet during the Simla Conference, as Britain sought to advance its line of control and establish buffer zones around its colony in South Asia. The Tibetan and British representatives at the conference agreed to the line, which ceded Tawang and other Tibetan areas to British India; however the Chinese representative refused to accept the line owing to domestic pressures. The Chinese position since then has been that since China was sovereign over Tibet, the line was invalid without Chinese agreement. Furthermore, by refusing to sign the Simla documents, the Chinese Government had escaped according any recognition to the validity of the McMahon Line.
