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
Reliance Industries biggest wealth creator, Adani Green fastest: Motilal Oswal study
RELIANCE Industries, Adani Green and Linde India - biggest, fastest, and most consistent wealth creator, respectively, between 2019 and 2024, as per Motilal Oswal's 29th Annual Wealth Creation Study which was released on Tuesday.
Adani opts out of US funding for its Colombo Port
BILLIONAIRE Gautam Adani-led conglomerate on Tuesday said it will use its own resources to fund a Sri Lankan port project and not seek US funding.
Sebi extends optional T+0 settlement cycle to top 500 stocks in cash market
MARKETS regulator Securities and Exchange Board (Sebi) on Tuesday extended the scope of optional T+0 rolling settlement cycle in equity cash markets to the top 500 stocks and said stock brokers can charge differential brokerage for T+0 and T+1 settlement cycles, within regulatory limit.
Choksi's assets worth ₹2,566 cr to be auctioned
PROPERTIES worth ₹2,566 crore of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi would now be ready for auctioning after a special Mumbai court order.
RBI approves Burmans' open offer to acquire 26% stake in Religare
THE Reserve Bank on Tuesday approved the open offer of Burman family, the promoters of FMCG major Dabur, to acquire an additional 26% stake in NBFC firm Religare Enterprises Ltd (REL).
Equity fund inflows decline 14% to ₹35,943 crore in November
DESPITE muted market performance leading to a steep 14% fall in fund flows into equity mutual funds and a steeper 26% slump in inflows to large-cap funds and the red-hot SIPs taking a break with inflows remaining flat in the month, the overall mutual funds industry added ₹0.82 lakh crore to their AUM at ₹68.08 lakh crore in November.
Amazon set to enter quick commerce with pilot in B'luru
AMAZON is set to enter the quick commerce space with its 15-min delivery service ready to begin from this month on a pilot basis.
Rate cut cycle coming closer: Experts
With FinMin insider taking helm at RBI, shift towards accommodative policy expected, says Nomura
26-yr-old arrested for murder of US insurance company's CEO
A 26-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder on Monday in the targeted killing of a health insurance firm's CEO on a New York street, along with other violations.
Ceasefire talks on, but Netanyahu says won't stop war in Gaza now
ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not stop the war in Gaza \"now\", with renewed efforts towards a ceasefire underway.