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HOW THE NORTHEAST EMERGED

Creation of ‘Northeast India’

• The term ‘Northeast India’ gained prominence in the 1970s.
• Enactment of two pivotal laws on December 30, 1971:
• North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act and
• North-Eastern Council Act.

Northeast Composition and Development

• Officially comprises eight states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.
• Part of the North-Eastern Council, a statutory advisory body for development planning.

Source: Wikimedia

Historical Background: ‘Frontier Province’ and Integration

• Colonial Assam was a ‘frontier province’ akin to the North West Frontier Province in British India.
• ‘Excluded areas’ acted as buffers between settled districts and international borders.
• Post-Independence, Northeast India faced unique governance challenges and security concerns.

Integration into Indian State and Governance Shift

• India’s postcolonial efforts transformed the imperial frontier into a national space.
• Concerns over national security intensified after 1947, with 98% of the region’s borders becoming international.
• 1960s marked by India-China war, Naga independence movement, and Mizo rebellion, prompting governance changes.

Legislative Changes (1971-1987)

• North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act (1971) led to Manipur and Tripura gaining statehood.
• Meghalaya and Mizoram emerged as states from autonomous districts in Assam.
• Arunachal Pradesh, formerly North East Frontier Agency, became a union territory, later achieving full statehood in 1987.

Impact of Naming and Identity

• Adoption of the directional name ‘Northeast’ reinforced a hierarchical relation between the region and the Indian heartland.
• Introduction of racialized categories like ‘Northeasterner’ led to identity challenges and stereotypes.
• The naming process, a result of muddling through without considering consequences, created as many problems as solutions.