Politics of Regionalism in North-East India

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This book 'Politics of Regionalism in North East India' consist of 11 articles varying from the role of regional parties in India to student's politics as well as insurgency. Although there are some articles focusing on regional politics in India, it focuses particularly the autonomous movement in the state of Mizoram.

The movement for greater autonomy and separate statehood among the hill district councils of Assam state are the main political activities during the late 1950s. Each hill districts are engaged in such politics.

Mizo District, previously known Lushai Hills was one of the districts of Assam and put under the District Superintendent during the colonial period. The Mizo also demand greater autonomy, separate Mizo state and moreover independence status.

Therefore, the present volume discusses about the political movements in north east India particularly focusing on the autonomy movements among some of the hill tribes of north east India.

MALSAWMLIANA (b. 1976), the Editor of this book obtained his MA (Ancient Indian History) from NEHU, Shillong (2000) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from NEHU in 2011. Currently, he is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of History, Government T. Romana College, Aizawl. He has published a number of research papers in Journals and contributed chapters/ articles in edited books. Besides, he edited 'Social, Economic and Political History of the Mizo' published by Eastern Book House, Guwahati in 2011. He also published two books in Mizo language i.e. 'South Sabual Chanchin (2002) and 'Thuziak Thlankhawm (2002).

LALSANGZELA PACHUAU (b. 1977), one of the Editors of this book, obtained his MA degree from MS University of Baroda, Vadodara in 1999, and M Phil degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, Chennai in 2007. He is presently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, Government T. Romana College, Aizawl.

The emergence and success of several regional political parties through India was one significant development in Indian politics during the late 1960s. The politics of regionalism is not a new phenomenon, since independence many regional parties have sprouted in India. Regionalism is the feeling and consciousness of the people inhabiting in a particular areas.

In north east India, the growth of regionalism has certain causes including economic backwardness, social-cultural difference and political ineffectiveness or insignificance of the North-East in the national politics. The feeling of neglect may also causes regionalism or separatist movements. Thus, the north east Indian states experienced the separatist movement and politics of regionalism till the present day.

Therefore, in view of this situation, we feel necessary to undertake more and in-depth studies on the politics of regionalism in North east India. Accordingly, the department of Political Science, Govt. T. Romana College organized two days national seminar on 'Politics of Regionalism in North East India' during June 16-17, 2011 at Aizawl in collaboration with Mizoram Political Science Association. The Seminar was fully financed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This book is the outcome of the seminar in which the papers presented are incorporated.

Thus, with the permission of the Coordinator and Seminar organising committee, the 'Research, Consultancy and Extension Committee' of the College has carried over all the tasks for the coming of this volume.

The Indian states located within the Northeastern Region, though diverse in many ways among themselves, have certain things in common, particularly in the context of their relatedness to the rest of Indian Union. They have a shared awareness of being separate and alienated from the rest of the Indian nation. This awareness have developed through the many stages of their histories and varied experiences. Some of them have longer and richer political experiences of the primordial stage of life, colonial rule and modem political development, and some have shorter periods of such experiences. This shared awareness has found expressions in their respective political movements which have led to their present state of affairs.

Various scholars from within and from outside the region have conducted studies of the political expressions and the ramifications of this awareness. The findings, observations and conclusions contained in those studies give us better and more comprehensive understanding of the politics of the states in the region, which is a necessity in governing our vast nation with justice, equity and faimess.

The universal phenomenon of the consciousness of being different from others develops from various factors. Ethnicity, culture, language, religion, economic disparity, lack of communication, geographical condition, historical experience, play their parts in developing self-consciousness among the people of the region. When this self-consciousness gives rise to a collective feeling, which finds an expression and political articulation, it results in regionalism.

Politics of regionalism, therefore, provides a subject of studies for Political Scientists. How such politics vibrates and sometimes explodes in Northeastern Region is an appropriate topic to which anyone who cares to bring peace, security and development to this region must care to pay attention.

**Contents and Sample Pages**