The main objective of the Kohima Institute is to engage in research and facilitate the diffusion of knowledge among and benefiting communities inhabiting the Zomia region. Specific aims include the collection, conservation and open dissemination of knowledge and scholarly resources; the provision of a world-class pedagogical platform for postgraduate academic advancement; and the provision of spaces and infrastructure designed and maintained to foster exploration, interaction, and conversation among junior and senior writers, researchers and visiting scholars from a variety of disciplines. The geographical term 'Zomia' coined by Willem Van Schendel includes the highlands of Indochina, Thailand, Burma, Southwestern China and Northeast India, the Tibetan plateau, and in some instances may stretch as far west as the tribal areas in the Pak-Afghan borderlands. See WIKIPEDIA for a detailed discussion of Zomia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zomia_(geography)