The idea of the Northeast is intriguing. It indicates a direction; therefore, it should have remained as an adjectival clause—‘northeast.’ It indeed does, to some extent, but increasingly the hyphen is dropped for it to become a single-word proper noun with many layers of nuanced meanings. Among the many images evoked are of wilderness, exotic customs, pristine landscapes, insurgency, incomprehensible tribal feuds, underdevelopment, etc.
The name also conjures up the picture of a composite geography of eight states, including Sikkim, after this former Himalayan kingdom became a part of India in 1975. In spirit, probably North Bengal/Darjeeling should also be included, as this peripheral extension of West Bengal geographically, culturally, and psychologically shares many affinities with this region.
How did a term signifying a coordinate come to be so intimately associated with the character and personality of a region? The question will necessarily invoke a legacy from British colonial rule. If the anchor of this coordinate were India’s national capital, the region should have been just east and not northeast, for the place lies directly to the east of New Delhi. Obviously, the anchor was different when the region first came to be taken cognizance of on the Indian map, which is after Assam’s formal annexation into British India by the Treaty of Yandaboo, 1826, signed with Burma (Ava kingdom), ending a devastating invasion and occupation of Assam by the latter.
After annexation, this new territory was merged into Bengal and remained so till 1874, when Assam was separated and made a separate chief commissioner’s province. It then constituted almost the entire Northeast, with the exception of Tripura and Manipur, separate principalities. From the then British India capital of Calcutta, Northeast was indeed to the north-east.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 05, 2024-Ausgabe von The New Indian Express.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 05, 2024-Ausgabe von The New Indian Express.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Class XII boy shoots school principal dead in MP district
IN a horrific incident, the principal of a government school was allegedly shot dead by a Class XII student on the school premises in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday.
The Great Wall Of India-China Agreements
First came decades of talks and pacts starting in 1993. Then came a 54-month standoff. Now that a new beginning is being signaled, what happens to the earlier covenants?
Scientists Discover Fast-Growing Glacier
A group of scientists recently discovered a new glacier in Uttarakhand that was found to be rapidly expanding in size.
Bitcoin Beats Regulatory Hurdles, Hits $100k Level
DESPITE regulatory uncertainties around the globe, Bitcoin prices on Thursday breached the psychologically important level of $100,000, surging nearly 133% over the last one year.
AI can help slash healthcare spending by $360 billion
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based healthcare breakthroughs that support and enhance the capabilities of healthcare practitioners have now become a necessity.
Telegram makes a U-Turn on child protection: What this means
In a significant policy shift, Telegram has agreed to work with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a leading organization focused on identifying and removing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.
Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Telangana most affected by malware, says report
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi are the top three regions most affected by malware, according to the India Cyber Threat Report 2025.
STAY ALERT DURING HOLIDAY SEASON
PHISHING SITES LURE SHOPPERS WITH ENTICING DEALS
How broadcast of ongoing title tie was arranged
IN the weeks after Singapore won the right to host the World Championship, they had two main requests.
After chaotic two rounds, Game Nine takes quiet turn
IF Tuesday and Wednesday were allaction from the getgo, Thursday was more of a slow burn without the final pay-off.