NORTH EAST INDIA

For many people, north-east India remains an enigma. All we know is upto Assam. Or Asom (did you know it is now officially called Asom and not Assam?). For all those who are in the dark about our uttar-purva Bharath, here are some facts.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH - Itanagar
Famous for its mountaneous landscapes, the name translates into "land of the dawn-lit mountains". Major part of it is also claimed by China, and they refer to the disputed land south of Tibet as Zangnan. There is also another LOC or Line Of Control here, disputed by India and China.

ASOM - Tezpur
Pre-Independence Assam was a large state which broke off in the 60s and 70s into Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya. Insurgent rebels are fighting for their "freedom" and do have a separate control and way of life over many areas. Asom is noted for its tea estates, oil reserves (the largest oil reserves in India), and forests. Kaziranga and Manas wildlife sanctuaries are declared as world heritage sites. It is also famous for its Rhinos.

NAGALAND - Kohima
Did you know that Nagaland is one state in India where the official language is English? Their lifestyle significantly differs from the rest of India. Christianity accounts for 90% of the population and the largest of churches of Asia are found in Kohima. Even after granting statehood after a bitter fight with the Naga tribes in 1963, insurgency has since re-erupted demanding greater autonomy.

TRIPURA - Agartala
A predominantly Hindu kingdom, Tripura traces its history and culture back to the mythological era of Mahabharatha and the Puranas. Tripura is rich in cash crops and a wonderful history of tradition and culture. Teeming with temples and heritage, Tripura too had its share of insurgency problems with the rise of National Liberation Front of Tripura, and others.

MIZORAM - Aizawl
It has a literacy rate of 89%, the second highest in India- yet it is grossly neglected. "Freedom fighters" have been active in this erstwhile union district of Assam, then a union territory and finally given full statehood status in 1987. The city of Aizawl was bombed using fighter jets by the government of India in 1966 to quell insurgency- the first and perhaps the only instance where Indian government used army to attack its own territory.

MEGHALAYA - Shillong
Literally meaning "the abode of clouds", Meghalaya boasts of a rich flora and fauna- it has 2 national parks and 3 wildlife sanctuaries. Meghalaya is nature personified, with forests and mountains all over. Cherrapunjee, the world's rainiest place is located in Meghalaya.

MANIPUR - Imphal
The tricolour as we know it today was first unfurled on Indian soil on April 14, 1944 in Moirang, Manipur by Colonel Malik, of Indian National Army (INA). The game "POLO" originated in Manipur, which the British took to other parts of the world. Allied forces defeated Japan and Subash Chandras Bose on the outskirts of Imphal which is one of the turning points of the second world war in the eastern front. One of the major Indian classical dances, Manipuri originates from Manipur.

SIKKIM - Gangtok
After a referendum in 1975, the independent kingdom of Sikkim chose to unite with India. It todays stands out as the least populous state, but rich in its geographical diversity and cultures. Nestled right on the mighty Himalayas, Sikkim is home to a mountaneous menagerie of peaks, most notable among them being Kanchenjunga, the highest peak in India.

One thing about North-eastern states is understood. They are all in some way or the other plagued by the ingurgency problem creeping. Why is this happening? Is it because the Indian government is neglecting the north-east? More of this would be understood if we take the historical account of events. Tripura for instance was a independant monarchist state which merged with India in 1949. It was however affected heavily by the partition of India, when Hindu Bengalis migrated to Tripura- a move which heavily reduced the proportion of native Tripuris. Many insurgent factions rose against the Bengalis, and thus a problem was created which is active till this day.

Nagaland's Naga tribes share a deep socio-economic and political similarity with Assam, and current situation in Nagaland has its roots to over 150 years in history. Largely under oppression initially under Myanmar and later the British (who also converted most Naga tribes to Christianity), Nagaland remained a part of Assam after Independence. Nationalist ideas rose among the Naga tribes who demanded their ancestral property and rebelled against Indian government to separate from Assam. After much military and diplomatic intervention, Nagaland was declared as a Union territory in 1957. Statehood was officially declared in 1963, to appease the Naga tribes. However, violence and internal conflicts amongst the tribes have since erupted in the 80s and 90s.

Mizo tribes a Mongloid-Chinese race migrated to India in the 18th and 19th centuries and occupied the foothills. Factions between various tribes and then oppression by the British, Mizo tribes accepted autonomy after independence-only to revolt later. Their fight for a "greater Mizoram state" gained ugly proportions with Indian army bombing Aizawl in 1966. Mizo hills area was converted into a Union territory in 1971, and was made a state in 1987, ending the hostilities.

An independent kingdom, Manipur was dragged into conflict between Thailand and Burma. British defeated Burma in 1891 and annexed Manipur into the British empire. Manipur also saw grim battles in the second world war in 1944-45, between allied forces and INA. After Independence, Manipur became an independent kingdom once again, only to be joining India in 1949 as a C state. It became a union territory in 1956, and a state in 1972.

Arunachal Pradesh was a bone of contention for both India and China. The McMahon line drawn separating it from Tibet was believed to be the border separating the two nations. But China claiming soveriegnity over Tibet, refused to accept the border as it contended such a border could not be drawn with China's consent. Situation worsened after independence, and the formation of People's Republic of China, and it resulted in the Sino-Indian war of 1962, and barter trade ties with Tibet were severed after the war. India and China operate on a line of control.

Tribal insurgency is perhaps the least in Meghalaya, though it is plagued with problems of infrastructure and basic amenities. Assam on the other hand is the mother state under which other kingdoms were formerly a part of. As the main north-eastern state, rebels and insurgents are also found here, each fighting for their own autonomy. Most notable factions include the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the Bodo militants.

All the erstwhile kingdoms/princely states have some issues with "independence"- for most of the Indian masses, this problem is only evident in the case of Kashmir. Whereas, the north-eastern states are completely ignored. They hold a magnitude of rich natural beauty and wealth- only left to ruin by sheer neglect. When I look at the attitude of the general Indian public towards the people from the north-east, it is no secret that we don't consider them as "Indians". This is chiefly due to the fact that they mostly comprise tribal people and areas; and the fact that they dont quite "look" like Indians. Isn't it time that we take more notice of them? Or else we might have to pay a much serious price. You know what I am thinking about.