THE NORTHEAST DARES INDIA TO REINVENT ITSELF
The New Indian Express|December 05, 2024
The attitude of treating the Northeast as an alien territory started with British colonialism. Today, it challenges the independent nation's capacity to fuse its fringes with the mainstream
PRADIP PHANJOUBAM
THE NORTHEAST DARES INDIA TO REINVENT ITSELF

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.

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.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESSAlle anzeigen
The New Indian Express

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.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 06, 2024
'Sad' Mbappe pays penalty as Bilbao beat Real Madrid
The New Indian Express

'Sad' Mbappe pays penalty as Bilbao beat Real Madrid

REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Kylian Mbappe was \"sad\" after missing another penalty as champions Real Madrid fell to a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Wednesday.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06, 2024
The New Indian Express

TN finish SMAT campaign with 94-run victory over Uttarakhand

HAVING already been knocked out of the tournament, Tamil Nadu registered a 94-run win against Uttarakhand in their last match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Thursday.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06, 2024
The New Indian Express

Schutt takes five; Oz ease past India

INDIA slumped to their lowest ODI score against Australia since 2012 in the first ODI as veteran pacer Megan Schutt took five wickets to help the hosts draw first blood in Brisbane.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06, 2024
The New Indian Express

WFI to discuss RSPB's call to skip nationals

AS the National Wrestling Championships begins in Bengaluru on Friday, all eyes will be on the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) scheduled on the last day (Sunday).

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 06, 2024
The New Indian Express

CT 2025: ICC meeting postponed

EVEN as the delay in finalising the hosts and schedule of the 2025 Champions Trophy continues, the ICC Board meeting, which was supposed to happen on Thursday, got postponed at the last minute.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06, 2024
TWILIGHT SAGA BECKONS
The New Indian Express

TWILIGHT SAGA BECKONS

Having taken a 1-0 lead, Rohit & Co will look to repeat all the things they did right in Perth

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 06, 2024
Alt fuels saved ₹1.09L cr in forex
The New Indian Express

Alt fuels saved ₹1.09L cr in forex

INDIA has saved nearly ₹1.09 lakh crore in foreign exchange from Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2013-14 to ESY2023-24 by promoting the use of ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) and other alternative fuels.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06, 2024
Hyundai announces car price hike, other carmakers could follow suit
The New Indian Express

Hyundai announces car price hike, other carmakers could follow suit

HYUNDAI Motor India Limited (HMIL), country's second-largest carmaker, will increase prices across its model range by up to ₹25,000, effective January 1, 2025.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06, 2024
Vishal Mega Mart's ₹8,000 crore public offer opens on December 11
The New Indian Express

Vishal Mega Mart's ₹8,000 crore public offer opens on December 11

LEADING supermarket player Vishal Mega Mart's ₹8,000 crore initial public offer will be opening on December 11.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06, 2024