Identity crisis in the North East

“No death, no doom, no anguish can arouse the surpassing despair which flows from a loss of identity."

― H.P. Lovecraft

   Identity crisis in the North East is a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person's sense of identity becomes insecure.

  North-East India comprises of the seven states of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya. These all states are connected to each other because of several factors. The complete region is geographically separated from mainland India and is surrounded mostly by international borders and is slightly connected to the rest of India of a width of 23 km which is known as 'Chicken's neck' or 'Siliguri corridor'.

     The history of this region is much different from the rest of the country as North East came under the influence of the British much later. The ethnicity in terms of race, creed, language, customs etc. is extremely diverse.

Scenario: 

   The North-East comprises of tribals whose origins are Tibeto-Burman and Mongoloid. This region is a home to more than 220 ethnic groups who are linguistically and culturally distinct.

    North-East came under the influence of the British much later. Even under British rule, the area was loosely controlled and the tribals continued their traditional practices. When the British developed interest in tea industries, the tribals perceived this as a threat to them. The British began showing economic interests into the hilly areas.

 Nagas:

•  They were the first to raise the demand of self- determination under the banner of the Naga Nationalist Council (NNC) that declared independence on August 14, 1947, under the leadership of Phizo. 

•   States Reorganization Commission in 1951 integrated North-East to mainland India and authority was placed upon the Assam Government.

• Post-independence saw the emergence of an educated class of tribal elites who were conscious of their fading identities and so, they started demanding autonomy for the preservation of tribal heritage.

 Assam:

• Assam saw the anti-foreigner movement in the years 1979-1986 that was a violent reaction to the illegal immigration of Bangladeshis to the state.

• Identity crisis in Assam occurred due to migration.

• The laborers from Orissa and Jharkhand were brought to use them in tea plantation. As well as the 'Marwaris' who have a monopoly over trade, both wholesale and retail. These migrants came into Assam and occupied tracks of land for settlement. However these migrants, despite being considered ‘outsiders’ did not cause a threat to the Assamese sense of identity and economic independence.

• While the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam), on one hand, have been demanding a “Swadhin” Assam, on the other hand, autonomous demands of different ethnic groups have caused serious concern to the authorities at the respective centers. A sense of neglect and deprivation has created a crisis of identity or identity consciousness amongst different ethnic groups of the valley of Brahmaputra.

Bodos:

• Bodos are the numerically largest tribal group in the North-East clashed with Bengali Muslims in Assam in 2012.

• The main cause was the unchecked illegal immigration that has threatened the tribal's land resources.

• The Bodos continue, till date, demanding a separate state of Bodoland for the purpose of which groups like National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), 1989 has surfaced.

• NDFB has seen clashes with the "Muslim settlers" starting from the 1990s. 

• A peace accord was signed by the Centre with Bodo Liberation Tigers in 2003 that proceeded in the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD), governed by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), a semi-autonomous body.

Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and other states of North East :

• The states of Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, and other North Eastern states to witness clashes between different groups. 

• Right from the British period until now, the region has witnessed clashes among different tribal groups mainly to preserve their distinctive identities. 

• Apart from the issue of the identity crisis, the area has also largely failed in the development sector. Lack of credible leadership has hindered the development and progress.

• Corruption in political circles is a huge problem and poor governance has obstructed the people from achieving long-due benefits. 

• The international borders have powered discontentment amongst the people. It is also the factor behind the easy and smooth flow of arms and weapons and also narcotic substances. External support is received in this regard from the neighboring states like China and Pakistan and some safe areas in Myanmar. 

Conclusion:

• It is thus seen that North-East is mired with a host of problems that are connected with the common thread of "threat to identity".

• The Government has failed to resolve the identity crisis posed to the indigenous people in the different states.

• Although, steps like the update of the National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) have been initiated.

• The culture of conflict continues to flourish in the region. For several decades now, the Assam Government has been unable to completely fence the Indo-Bangla border.

• Vote-bank politics of the previous Congress-led Government in the state allowed many outsiders to establish their bases here through dishonest means.

• The regime of the current NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government who has initiated measures like "Act East Policy" seem promising in the deeper integration of this region with the rest of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also dubbed the North-East as the "gateway to Asia." 

• Most importantly, the inclusion of all stakeholders in the decision-making process that forms the core of good governance must be implemented to ensure the development of all ethnic groups.