Contesting Marginality: Ethnicity, Insurgency and Subnationalism in North-east India

Over the years, north-east India has become synonymous with secessionism, insurgency, violence and turbulence. Gateway for the migratory waves from South-East and East Asia, the region is inhabited by a number of tribal communities-some relatively advanced while others proto-historic. The years under the British caused upheaval in their socio-cultural life. They experienced momentous changes in every aspect of their life from food to faith, dress to discourses. But the 'abrupt' withdrawal of the British compelled these 'apolitical' people to be drawn into bourgeois political system. Neither sure of their true identity, nor the nation state they would like to belong to; confused by the prevalent nationalist discourses and frightened by the prospect of being submerged by a numerical majority, they faced a massive existential crisis.