CONTENTS: List of Illustrations, Preface, Introduction, 1. State Formation in Theoretical Perspective, 2. The Geo-Historical Location and Social Background of the Precolonial Tista-Brahmaputra Region, 3. From Chiefdom to Kingdom: The Political Societies of the Tisa-Brahmaputra Valley till 1540, 4. Consolidation, Segmentation and Survival of the Koch Kingdom, 1540-1773, 5. Economic Sustainability of the Koch Kingdom, 6. Institutionalization of Leadership and Centralization of Power and Administration, 7. State Formation, Legitimacy and Cultural Change, Conclusion.