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.

この記事は The New Indian Express の December 05, 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The New Indian Express の December 05, 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESSのその他の記事すべて表示
A concrete idea
The New Indian Express

A concrete idea

IMAGINE owning a home that's ready in just days.

time-read
3 分  |
December 10, 2024
A PEEK INTO A POET'S LEGACY
The New Indian Express

A PEEK INTO A POET'S LEGACY

E who writes poetry is not a poet. He whose poetry has become his life, and who has made his life his poetry – it is he who is a poet.

time-read
2 分  |
December 10, 2024
4AM PIT STOPS
The New Indian Express

4AM PIT STOPS

Before the day fully unfurls itself, the streets of the Chennai is wrapped in the rustles of newspapers, the gurgles in tea and coffee kettles, never-ending chatters of friends, and the quite weaving of garland vendors. Does this city ever sleep?

time-read
4 分  |
December 10, 2024
The New Indian Express

POLLUTION AND STRESS EMERGE AS MAJOR RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE

While hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and smoking remain significant risk factors for stroke, new contributors like sedentary lifestyles and air pollution are taking centre stage.

time-read
1 min  |
December 10, 2024
Respiratory health under threat from poor air quality
The New Indian Express

Respiratory health under threat from poor air quality

Air quality plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being.

time-read
1 min  |
December 10, 2024
SUBTLE SIGNS MAY INDICATE EARLY ONSET
The New Indian Express

SUBTLE SIGNS MAY INDICATE EARLY ONSET

SUMI (name changed) was in high school when her parents noticed a marked shift in her behaviour towards them and her peers.

time-read
3 分  |
December 10, 2024
The New Indian Express

Vimal to lead TN U23 team

VIMAL Khumar was named captain of the Tamil Nadu U23 squad for the BCCI one-day tournament (2024-25) to be played in Thiruvananthapuram from December 17-27, 2024.

time-read
1 min  |
December 10, 2024
Amit is a humble and team-first player: TN Dragons coach Van Eijk
The New Indian Express

Amit is a humble and team-first player: TN Dragons coach Van Eijk

TAMIL Nadu Dragon's head coach Rein van Eijk has been in charge of developing the next generation of hockey players in Germany. Now, with the Hockey India League, he has the challenge to make the Dragons ready for the competition starting in Rourkela on December 28. He spoke with this daily about inclusion of a few players, his hopes for the season and more.

time-read
2 分  |
December 10, 2024
The New Indian Express

CL: Real, Man City in danger zone

The enlarged first stage of the revamped Champions League was supposed to be a stroll for giants of European soccer like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

time-read
1 min  |
December 10, 2024
Problems aplenty as India hit nets on 'day 5' in Adelaide
The New Indian Express

Problems aplenty as India hit nets on 'day 5' in Adelaide

BY the time the dawn breaks in India on Tuesday, Rohit Sharma and Co would be at the Adelaide Oval. Except, it will not be for the fifth day of the second Test against Australia, which is what it was supposed to be.

time-read
2 分  |
December 10, 2024