Neglect of Northeast India

Despite its geographical importance, the Northeast has historically faced the challenge of isolation from the Indian mainland. The region has often faced neglect in terms of political attention, infrastructure, and other resources compared to the rest of India.^[3]

Origins[edit]

Climatic factors, including significant rainfall, snowfall, and low temperatures, have profoundly shaped the conduct of warfare and conquering in Assam, Bengal, and Sindh as far back as the Mughal era. The Northeastern region was first invaded by Mughal soldiers during a brief campaign led by Humayun in 1538–1539 but led to no sustained victories. From 1574 to 1612, the area was gradually and arduously taken over by Mughal troops commanded by Akbar and Jahangir (1605–1627), particularly the regions of Kamrup and Kuch.^[4]


Much of the area was heavily forested, and modern accounts state that Mughal soldiers faced formidable obstacles when conducting expeditions through these forests. Mughal commander Mirza Nathan said these forests were almost "impassable even for an ant." The main frontier of Assam at the time was the Ahom kingdom, which the Mughals fought four battles against over seven decades, with little lasting success. The Mughals' first attempt to invade Assam in 1615 ended in a military disaster that nearly destroyed their army. Before the arrival of the Mughals, intelligence about the manufacture and use of firearms had reached much of Southeast Asia from China. As a result of this technology transfer as Mirza Nathan noted, during the invasion, the king of Assam greeted the invading Mughal army with "many guns and many fireworks". The Assamese themselves were described as "sick and blood-thirsty". The last Mughal expedition against the Ahoms was launched in 1669, ultimately ending in a Mughal defeat in the crucial battle of Saraighat in 1671. Consequently, the Ahom kingdom became the dominating force in the region as the Mughals withdrew from Assam and subsequently lost control of their domains in Kamrup and Kuch. Northeast India remained distinct and autonomous, standing apart from the greater Indian Mughal empire. This independence had lasting effects in shaping the unique identity and historical trajectory of Northeast India.^[4]


During the British occupation of the Indian subcontinent, the Ahom kingdom and Assam were officially annexed into the British Empire in 1838. The British in Northeast India generally adopted a non-intervention policy. Despite this, the region had a history of resistance against colonization, with rebellions against tax imposition in 1860 and 1862, and raiding of British posts. During this time, there was an increasing resistance to the dominance of the Assamese language and culture. The economic policies of the British rulers in Northeast India had profound cultural and social repercussions. Their focus on modernising agriculture demanded increased crop cultivation, land reclamation, and the introduction of cash crops like tea, mustard seeds, and jute. To meet labour demands, the British sought an affordable and accessible workforce, leading to the migration of Bengali Muslim cultivators from East Bengal and tribal labourers for tea plantation work.


The British significantly altered land distribution by leasing land to plantation owners and fellow British citizens, leading to a demographic shift as labourers and migrants flocked to the region. A significant portion of Assam's population stemmed from tea garden immigrants. The economic opportunities created through the construction of railways further attracted Marwari and Bihari labourers to Assam. However, the British paid scant attention to the social and cultural consequences of these migrations. The 'inner line' policy was imposed in regions like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram, restricting land ownership and population movement. While supporting Christian missionaries, the British government made little effort to address the accompanying societal and cultural changes. Furthermore, during tensions between indigenous people and immigrant Muslims over land rights, the British chose segregation over socialization or adjustment, drawing lines to settle immigrants in separate areas.^[3] This policy failed to consider the long tradition of socialization between different communities in the region. This economic exploitation, demographic changes, segregation, and a failure to address cultural shifts demonstrate how the neglect of the region was a direct result of the colonial powers' limited understanding and inadequate consideration of the distinctive needs and identities of Northeast India and its people.


India's post-independence neglect of Northeast India can be attributed to several factors. Post-1947, the Indian ruling elite had a Western-oriented perspective due to its colonial ties. Northeast India did not hold much value economically. It was underdeveloped, as were the surrounding Southeast Asian countries until the 1970s, which rendered trade prospects similarly unattractive. India's protectionist economic policies and blocked overland linkages further hindered engagement. Political differences during the Cold War era also strained relations. Many Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia were allied with the US while India was more closely aligned with the Soviets.^[5]