Northeast India

Northeast India
Location of Northeast India within India
Population	38,857,769
Area	262,230 km2 (101,250 sq mi)
Population density	148 /km2 (380 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
States and territories	Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura
Largest cities (2008)	Guwahati, dimapur, Agartala, Shillong, Aizawl,
Religion	Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam

Northeast India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal (districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Koch Bihar). Northeast India is ethnically distinct from the rest of India and has strong ethnic and cultural ties with East Asia and Southeast Asia, with strong ethnic cultures that had escaped Sanskritization in the ethnic groups of Kuki and some other tribes. Linguistically the region is distinguished by a preponderance of Tibeto-Burman languages. It is officially recognized that the eight states form a special category: the North Eastern Council (NEC) was constituted in 1971 as the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the eight states, the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) was incorporated on August 9, 1995 and the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) was set up in September 2001.

Among the North Eastern states, Sikkim became an Indian protectorate in 1947 and a full state in 1975. The Siliguri Corridor in West Bengal, with an average width of 21 km to 40 km, connects the north eastern region with the rest of India. More than 2000 km of boundary is shared with other countries: including Nepal, China, Bhutan, Burma and Bangladesh.

History

Map of Assam state in 1950s

A ferocious lion excavated in Madan Kamdev close to Baihata Chariali in Assam representing the powerful Kamarupa-Palas (c. 9th–10th century A.D.)

See also: Political integration of India

After the Indian Independence from British Rule in 1947, the Northeastern region of British India consisted of Assam and the princely states of Manipur and Tripura. Later independent movements such as Swatantra Tripura Committee were formed against grouping all the north eastern states under Assam. The states of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram were formed in the 1960-70s. From Shillong, the capital of Assam was shifted to Dispur, now a part of Guwahati. Shillong became the capital of Meghalaya. Most of these areas had been incorporated into mainstream India during the British Raj when colonial authorities annexed traditionally separate border states into Indian territory to form a buffer between their colony and external powers (i.e.: Assam, Manipur and Tripura in the Northeast, and Balochistan and the North West Frontier Province in the northwest). After independence in 1947, extension of the Indian state and political apparatus has been a challenge.

A region called South Tibet, which makes up most of the land governed by Arunachal Pradesh, is claimed by China. Sino-Indian relations degraded during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The cause of the escalation into war is still disputed by both Chinese and Indian sources. During the war in 1962, the PRC captured much of the NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency) created by India in 1954. However,China soon declared ceasfire and due to Soviet veto in UN withdrew back to the McMahon Line and returned Indian prisoners of war in 1963.

The region is known for its unique culture, handicrafts, martial arts, and scenic beauty. Problems include insurgency, unemployment, and lack of infrastructure. Since the beginning of the economic liberalization in the 1990s, studies have shown that this region is lagging behind the others in terms of development.

Demographics

Largest cities according to population of census 2011 -

• Guwahati
• Agartala
• Dibrugarh
• Dimapur
• Aizawl
• Shillong
• Imphal
• Jorhat
• Kohima
• Gangtok
• Silchar

Geography

Northeast India has a predominantly humid sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers, severe monsoons and mild winters. Along with the west coast of India, this region has some of the Indian sub-continent's last remaining rain forests. The states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have a montane climate with cold, snowy winters and mild summers.

Wild life

Namdapha National Park

Main article: Namdapha National Park

Spread over an area of 1985 sq. kilometres in Arunachal Pradesh, Namdapha National Park is the largest national park of the northeast region. Situated 150 kilometres from Miao (district headquarter on the Indo-Burma border), Namdapha National Park is also one of the largest wildlife protected areas in India. The landscape altitude rises from 200 metres to 4500 metres in the snow capped mountains. The ecosystem abounds in more than 150 species of timber. Important rare fauna speices include Pinus Merkusi, Abies Delavavi, Blue Vanda and Mishimi Teeta. The Namdapha Tiger reserve in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, spread in an area of 1850 sq. kilometres rugged terrain, is home to feline species such as Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Snow Leopard and Lesser cats. Primates such as Assamese Macaque, pig-tailed Macaque, stump-tailed Macaque, Hoolock Gibbon, Ape besides other mammals (Elephant, Asian black bear, Indian bison, Deer), birds (White-winged wood duck, Great Indian hornbill, Jungle fowl, Pheasant) and reptiles also add to the rich fauna diversity.

Manas National Park

Main article: Manas National Park

Wildlife sanctuary and a World Heritage Site (declared by UNESCO), situated in the Barpeta district of Assam and partly along Bhutan foothills, the Manas National Park is shelter to rare species of as many as 55 mammals, 50 reptiles, 380 birds and 3 amphibians. Besides tiger, elephant, rhinocerosand wild water buffalo, leopard, pigmy hog, red panda, swamp deer, capped langur, sambar, hispid hare, golden langur, fowl, bulbul, brahminy duck, Indian Grey Hornbill and roofed turtle are protected in the Manas National Park. It is also an Elephant Reserve and Biosphere Reserve.

Kaziranga National Park

Main article: Kaziranga National Park

Spread over an area of approximately 430 sq. kilometres, at a distance of 217 kilometres from Guwahati, with annual rainrfall of 2300 mm, Kaziranga National Park on the bank of Brahmaputra river with its swamps and tall thickets of elephant-grass, is home to world's largest population of Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, largest of the three Asian rhinos.. The grasslands of semi-evergreen forest is also inhabited by leopard, elephant, barasingha or swamp deer, barking deer, wild boar, hog deer, bison, otter, Hoolock Gibbon, Golden langur, wild water buffalo, capped langur, pygmy hog, bear, grey-headed fish eagle, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Crested serpent eagle, Swamp partridge, Red jungle fowl, Bengal florican, Whistling Teal, Pelican, Red-breasted Parakeet, Black-necked stork, Adjutant Stork, Open-bill stork, Egret, Heron, White-winged wood duck,Rock python, monitor lizard, turtle and other commonly found species.

Orang National Park

Main article: Orang National Park

Also known as 'Mini Kaziranga', the Orang National Park is situated on the northern bank of the river Brahmaputra, in the state of Assam, covering an area of 78.81 sq. kilometres. Established as a sanctuary in 1985 and declared a National Park in 1999, it is 32 kilometres from Tezpur and 120 kilometres from Guwahati. The terrain slopes gently from north to south covered with natural forest vegetation like Bombax ceiba, Dalbergia sisoo, Sterculia villosa, Trewia nudiflora, Zizypphus jujuba, Litsaea polyantha and other non-aquatic grassland species. One-horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic elephant, hog deer, wild boar, civet, leopard, hare, porcupines and commonly found birds and reptiles in the region. Orang National Park is an important habitat of the Bengal florican.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Main article: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated in the Morigaon district of Assam, at a distance of about 50 kilometres from Guwahati, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 38.8 sq. kilometres and is famous for Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros. The sanctuary also protects Asian Buffalo, Leopard, Wild bear, civet, various reptiles and some 2000 migratory birds.

Keibul Lamjoa National Park

Main article: Keibul Lamjao National Park

Keibul Lamjao National Park is about 53 kilometres from Imphal in Manipur. Temperatures range from a maximum of 34.4ºC to a minimum of 1.7ºC. Established as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1966, it became a National Park in 1977. The whole area of the park, about 40 sq. kilometre, mostly comprises of wetlands overgrown with 1.5 metre deep floating vegetation called Phumdi. Loktak lake, the largest fresh water lake in India, also falls primarily within the park. Brow-antlered deer (sangai in Meitei dialect) is particularly popular among the different species of deer that abounds here. Extremely rare lesser cats like the marbled cat and Temminck's golden cat, Himalayan black bear, Malayan Bear, Black eagle, Shaheen Falcon, Great white pelican, Bamboo-partridge and Green Peafowl, Hooded Crane, Brown Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Great Pied Hornbill (Great Indian Hornbill) constitute the diverse fauna in the park.

Political unrest

States and capitals in Northeast India

See also: Insurgency in Northeast India

The isolation of the Northeastern states began earlier as a result of British imperialism, when the region was cut-off from its traditional trading partners (Bhutan, Myanmar and Indo-China). In 1947 Indian independence and partition made this a landlocked region, exacerbating the isolation that is being recognized lately, but not studied yet. Soon it became a captive market for mainstream India.

The northeastern states, having a comparatively small electorate (3.8% of India's total population) are alloted just 25 out of a total of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha (4.6% of the total number of seats).

The northeastern states are home to many ethnic groups, that are engaged in self-preservation^{[citation needed]}. In recent times, some of these struggles have turned violent, leading to proliferation of armed insurgent groups, like the ULFA, NLFT., NDFB and NSCN. Soon after the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and especially after the rise of insurgency in the region, security influence on policies has increased.

Naga girl from Nagaland.

Of late there is a wide recognition among policy makers and economists of the region that the main stumbling block for economic development of the Northeastern region is the disadvantageous geographical location. The coming of globalisation propagates deterritorialisation and a borderless world which is often associated with economic integration. With 98 percent of its borders with China, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal, Northeast India has better scope for development in the era of globalisation. As a result, a new policy developed among intellectuals and politicians that one direction the Northeastern region must be looking to as a new way of development lies with political integration with the rest of India and economic integration with the rest of Asia, with East and Southeast Asia in particular as the policy of economic integration with the rest of India did not yield much dividends. With the development of this new policy the Government of India directed its Look East policy towards developing the Northeastern region. This policy is reflected in the Year End Review 2004 of the Ministry of External Affairs, which stated that: “India’s Look East Policy has now been given a new dimension by the UPA Government. India is now looking towards a partnership with the ASEAN countries, both within BIMSTEC and the India-ASEAN Summit dialogue as integrally linked to economic and security interests, particularly for India’s East and North East region.”

Communities

Naga tribal dancer

Bihu dance of Assam

Rasa Lila in Manipuri dance style

• Assamese
• Bengali
• Bishnupriya Manipuri
• Chakma
• Bodo
• Dimasa
• Garo
• Karbi
• Khasi
• Kuki
• Meitei people
• Mizo
• Naga
• Rabha
• Koch Rajbongshi
• Mishing
• Sylheti
• Tiwa
• Tripuri
• Bengali
• Nepali
• Hmar
• Zeme Naga
• Purvottar Maithili
• Adivasi

See also

• Seven Sister States
• List of Christian denominations in North East India
• Literature from North East India
• Eastern Fare Music Foundation
• Music of Mizoram
• Music of Nagaland
• Music of Assam
• Music of Sikkim
• Battle of the Tennis Court
• Brahmaputra River
• Bodoland Territorial Council
• Kamarupa
• Assam tea
• List of educational institutions in Shillong
• Manipuri dance

External links

• [1] Cropping Pattern Changes in the North-Eastern Region of India: A Study on Influencing Factors (2010) by Phanindra Goyari
• North-East India on Facebook - an Eastern Fare initiative
• Eastern Panorama – North East India's 1st News Magazine
• North-East India on Facebook - The Telegraph
• Infobase of the indigenous Hmar people in NE India
• Sinlung – News of North East India
• Sinlung Network – Northeast Business Directory
• Beautiful People of North East India
• Northeast Vigil – the largest and oldest information repository of information on the Northeast
• Arts of the tribal groups in the Northeast
• Books on North East India
• Photographs from the Seven Sister States of North East India
• The Bishnupriya Manipuri
• The North East India Newsline
• Brief description about North-East India States
• North East India Imarat Shariah and Nadwatuth Tameer

Northeast India travel guide from Wikitravel