TODAY -

E-Pao! Opinions - North East India The Forgotten Region

NORTH EAST INDIA THE FORGOTTEN REGION
By: Concern Citizen*



The 'Seven Rainbow States' that makes up the North Easten part of India can best be described as 'Asia in miniature'. India's North East is a part of a great tropical rainforest that stretches from the foot-hills of the Himalayas to the tip of the Malaysian Peninsulas and the mouth of the Mekong river as it flows into the Gulf of Tonkin.

The North East Region is a place where the Brown and the Yellow people (races) meet and mingle. And the people inhabiting the Seven states of this region are all of Mongoloid descent, and are completely different from the Conventional Indian in physical appearance and outlook. Culturally and linguistically, the affinity of the people of this region is more with their brothers and sisters of the South East Asian Region and the rest of Asia. There is nothing Indian about this region and its people except of the fact that is a part of the Repbulic of India.

History has been a mute witness to the fact that New Delhi doesn't give much heed and importance to the region, as long as it remains a part of the Indian Union A Buffer state just good enough to keep China The Dragon at bay. This Step Motherly treatment meted out to 'Our beloved North East' can be ascertained from the fact that even if a dozens are killed in the North East Region, New Delhi is silent, doesn't a damned and is least bothered. While on the other hand, a single loss of life in Jammu and Kashmir and it makes it to the headlines of the major Newspapers across the Country, and often led to a hue and cry in the Parliament. A truly forgotten and uncared for is our beloved North East!

When other States are making rapid strides toward progress and development in all spheres of life. The North East Region is still what it was a few decades ago A Stagnant Pool. The Central Government is not doing enough to develop the region and to bring it on par with the other states of the Indian mainland. Time and again, New Delhi has often cited the presence of 'Many Revolutionary Groups' in the region as one of the main reason for not releasing adequate funds to the region. For instace, The Manipur State Budget is less than the annual budget of one single department under the Andhra Pradesh Government. This glaring fact only goes to show that the Central Government is not at all interested in the development of the region, but it is no doubt interested in the 'genuine exploitation of the Region's Natural Resources. Where is the 'Right to Equality' enshrined in the Constitution of India???

The Central Government- irrespective of the Political Pary in power, have always looked down upon the people of region and is not at all interested in their welfare. The Goverenment at Delhi is more concernced about the "Oil-Fields' of Assam than the all around development of the North East and its people. The Indian Govt should try and overcome the Insurgent Groups operating in the region through good will and development of the region and genuine concern for its people. And not through the use of brutal and excessive force, ill-conceived adhoc policies mean only to opress and itimidate the people of this region. The imposition of the Draconian Law The Armed Forces Special Act in few states of the North East Region is a testimony enough to this fact.

Only when the People Republic of China makes an 'unlawful intrusion' into the North East Region, and claims a part of it as its own -Will the Babus and aging politicians, and the Mandarins in New Delhi's corridor of power sit up and take notice and starts showing 'a genuine interest' in the North East Region. The Root cause for Insurgency in this region lies in New Delhi Step Motherly Treatment and apparent lack of concern for the North East and its people.

Having taken a clue from their old Colonial Master The Britishers. New Delhi is effectively putting in practice the policy of "Divide and Rule" among the various communities of the Region through its Research and Analysis Wing ( R.A.W). No wonder the North Easternes have always been give a 'R.A.W' Deal by the Central Govt. This only goes to show that 'A North Easterner's Life' doesn't mean a thing to the Central Government.

The Ignorant attitude of the Mainland India towards the region as a whole can be gauged from the fact that there are still some Indians who think that Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur are Independent Countries. Ignorance is indeed a Crime! And many High Headed North Indians fins it hard to accept us as Indias with all its privilages and facilities. No wonder, we are often referred to on the basis of our physical appearances CHINKIS, mainly in the Northern Part of India.

Fifty Years we have been under the Indian Union, and there is still not much development that we could boast of. It might have been better had we been a part of CHINA, Who Knows?? We might have been able to reap the benefits of the 'Shangai Boom' and China's growing economy!

The arrogant North Indians takes pride in calling us CHINKIS, which I believe is a word meant to refer people with small eyes or people of any mongoloid descent. The word CHINKIS, seems to have been taken off from 'C-H-I-N-A". Maybe its time, we North Easterners shed our Indianess and replace the Indian Constitution with 'Chairman Mao's Red Book'.

In a region where Jacky Chan is more famous than Hrithik Roshan, and where Ahn Jung Hwan is more idolized than Tendulkar. And where Rock Music is more popular than Bhajans or Ghazals. The North East India is truely a region different from the mainland Indian and its most valued asset is:- Its Uniqueness.

No wonder as the Crow flies, the Region is closer to Hanoi than New Delhi and it won't be an exagerration to add here that even Beijing is not really far away.


* The writer can be reached at [email protected]


* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Early History of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad #3
  • Violence in Manipur 2023-2026 : Timeline
  • Oken Amakcham (19622026)
  • Tribute to football coach Oja Kamini Kumar
  • Tobacco products demand in Manipur
  • Live Laser Proctology Surgery performed
  • Film Appreciation Course at MSFTI
  • Tripura Wins Best National Costume 2026
  • Demonstrating merit of team work
  • The Forgotten Kings : A Hearthside Story
  • Linthoi Chanambam : Gold at Asian Judo
  • 4th Phase "Ningol Van" at Golapati Hatta
  • We are just 33 lakh
  • Monsoon skincare tips for babies
  • Call for closed door meeting with CSOs
  • Trouble makers with an agenda
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #2
  • The politics of devotion & syncretism
  • Sunita- Best Manipuri Film @72nd Nat'l Award
  • China-Myanmar with a Shared Future
  • North East India Festival 2026 at UK
  • A gory slaughter :: Poem
  • Kang Chingba @Thangal Keithel : Gallery
  • A World Cup football final 40 years ago
  • Manipur needs a livelihood policy, not relief
  • The Puzzle Unsolved :: Poem
  • IndiGo from T2 Terminal Guwahati Airport
  • Manipur Electricity Regulations, 2026 draft
  • India's Tribal Perspective to 19th UN EMRIP
  • Imphal, Delhi : Losing the plot
  • Kang Chingba @Govindajee Temple : Gallery
  • Kanto Sabal & security questions
  • Rights of Freedom of religions & beliefs
  • Lord Jagannatha's processional chariot fest
  • Condemns Kanto Sabal Arson Attack
  • Love Will Find a Way :: Poem
  • Naga Peace Process: Indo-Naga Talk: Timeline
  • The killing and anti-AFSPA stand
  • 77th Republic Day @ Kangla #3: Gallery
  • 2004 Kangla Protest: Anti-Repression Day
  • Make every effort to do what leads to peace
  • 'Trust Deficit Towards Govt of India'
  • On the grand road of Puri
  • Day 2: Hands On Training- Yelhou Hidak 2026
  • 23rd Technothlon at Techniche IIT Guwahati
  • Playing the victim card will not do
  • 63rd Mr Manipur @ MU #5 : Gallery
  • Thotmungam, Taibanganba, Reichan : Eming
  • Thank you, Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Ethics of financing armed groups in Manipur
  • Dylan Thokchom @ Badminton Asia C'Ship II
  • What do recent initiatives of young people say?
  • Day 1: Hands On Training- Yelhou Hidak 2026
  • Of health, water & power supply
  • Cultural @ Beating of Retreat #3 : Gallery
  • Underpaid nurses : A look at pathetic salaries
  • Manipur : Living under shadow of violence
  • Wild Nature :: Poem
  • Fulfil the 2027 #EndTB commitments
  • Walking Lens 3.0 concluded
  • Up in flames since May of 2023
  • Seasonal Fishes @Ima Keithel #3: Gallery
  • Meetei Mayek High School : Subroto Cup
  • Trend of mislabelling in recent times
  • AI revolutionize early disease detection in crop
  • Khemchand the Sardar Patel
  • 4-year integrated teacher education (ITEP)
  • Fibre Economy: India's next big opportunity
  • Right under the nose of Army : Leimakhong
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #1
  • The names behind the arrest
  • 2026 FIFA World Cup - new global standard
  • 10th NE Int'l Fashion Week 2026 announced
  • A girl in the temple :: Poem
  • 'Overwhelming Meetei Support For ST Status'
  • Oncology OPD Services launched
  • 77th Republic Day @ Kangla #2: Gallery
  • National Drone Innovation Challenge 2025-26
  • The Next Market Day :: Poem
  • Manipur airfare crisis: Way out is beyond reach
  • Posts @ Dept of Art & Culture, Manipur
  • Monsoons beauty
  • Transformative journey on Reform Express
  • Reading the stand of the Kuki CSO leader
  • Early History of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad #2
  • 35th NAMA Annual Convention at New Jersey
  • British Coin Puzzle
  • The story of Citrus
  • Pride Ride 2026 Pedals in Agartala
  • BRICS & the New Geography of Agri-Trade
  • Seeing, treating all as equals
  • Unravelling the knot: Reclaiming Thaksi-Khasi
  • The making of a Social Worker
  • Enough is Enough :: Poem
  • Online submission- Class XI & XII to COHSEM
  • Rising above HIV diagnosis
  • 12 years of Science in service of India
  • Six Naga men : The hurt, pain still lingers
  • Solo Dance: Wahengbam Debina #2: Gallery
  • Dylan Thokchom @ Badminton Asia C'Ship
  • 'Imp-Jiri Highway to Be Ready by Dec 2026'
  • Reassessing Manipur's geopolitical conflict
  • A Walking Life :: Poem
  • Something on Scrub Typhus
  • Making it to the news for right reasons
  • Yumjao Lairembi Haraoba #2 : Gallery
  • Border Flames: CoBRA, Crisis in Kamjong
  • A Fool's Cry :: Poem
  • Manipur Displacement Crisis- Security Failure
  • Why are we still not on track to end TB
  • Development Vision for Assam & North-East
  • Delhi: Noting new area of conflict
  • 63rd Mr Manipur @ MU #4 : Gallery
  • Hundred Flowers Institute of Medical Sciences
  • 3rd 'Ningol Van' Tree Plantation at Kongba
  • Possible way out of festering conflict
  • Draft Electoral Rolls for Imphal West
  • 3 ACs - Draft Electoral Rolls for Senapati
  • Draft Electoral Rolls for Imphal East
  • The sunshine of civilization :: Poem
  • Working on a Saturday
  • Present signature for February 30 !
  • Boy Who Dredged the Rivers: Taothingmang
  • Day 3 : Yaoshang Festivities : Gallery
  • Golden Jubilee of JNMDA (Prod Unit)
  • The failure of selective liberalism
  • Apatani's Next Top Model 2026 : Grand Finale
  • The Faithful Pen :: Poem
  • Obesity - Mother of many lifestyle disorders
  • Fuzzy Clearances in Mapithel Project
  • E20 Petrol in India: Controversy Behind Biofuel
  • Ratify UN Convention Against Torture
  • When Manipur University says No to Drugs
  • Teaching : The most judged profession
  • Cloud of Death: Tobacco's Global Shadow
  • Time to show there is a Govt in place
  • World Environment @Lamdeng #2 : Gallery
  • Why Kuki failed to co-exist with communities
  • Apatani Fashion Week 2026 at Hija
  • Admission Notice : Dhanamanjuri University
  • 41 yrs of healing lives & strengthening Manipur
  • Smart protected cultivation : For climate smart
  • Heatwave makeup guide
  • Call for conscientious voting
  • Ningol Phida @Shumang Leela #1 : Gallery
  • Two civil society reports on violence in Manipur
  • Influenza : A potential for another pandemic ?
  • Who Shapes Whom ? :: Poem
  • Rejects KZC's June 25 Press Conference
  • Science behind the RSS Shakha
  • Paradox of devotion, power of babas & justice
  • Impact of inter-district blockade
  • Day 3 : Yaoshang Sports : Gallery
  • World Motor Cycle Day @Andro : Gallery
  • SoO & selective law application
  • New thaw of Indo-Myanmar relationship ?
  • Transparency in rehabilitation centre evaluation
  • Mother Earth :: Poem
  • Patriarchal resistance in Africa- gender equality
  • After Sharda who, is the question
  • Sillam Sintha Jagoi @ATINGA : Gallery
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2026 #3: Gallery
  • Constitutional and federal discourses
  • Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme 2026-2027
  • The Personal MBA is no less than an MBA
  • A surge of love :: Poem
  • Walking Lens - 3rd Edition
  • Selling false sense of normalcy
  • Ethnic conflicts & effects on local fisheries
  • July Calendar for Year 2026 : Tools
  • Seminar: NE Traditional Knowledge System
  • Youth, Education & the Road to Peace
  • I Will Not Be a Footnote :: Poem
  • Rejects KZC's Contradictory Statements
  • Being Indian/Manipuri citizens
  • The politics of shutdown & blockade
  • 360° panoramic view of spots in Manipur
  • Tangkhul Meiphung: The wounds of Time
  • Arambai Tenggol & the law of defence
  • SWC Khongman Mourns Demise of Founder
  • A New Skyline for Imphal
  • Legal for Inmates of Manipur Central Jail
  • Demands Abrogation of SoO
  • How Football Connects Us Across Generations
  • Homecoming @ Washington DC : Gallery
  • BSc (Horticulture) State Govt Nominee
  • The World Drug Problem
  • Senior Media Delegation Visits Karkinos
  • Why is interest on education high ?
  • Guwahati Airport Emergency Response
  • Admission without a shred of guilt
  • ANSAM Rally demanding justice : Gallery
  • Imokanta's Shumang Lila of Manipur : Review
  • Drug addiction is a disease that can be beaten
  • KZC's 25 June PR Exposes Brutality
  • Awareness Programme on Drug Abuse
  • Three-day Rise Up Summer Camp 2026
  • Tips for healthy & beautiful nails in summer
  • The yarn about return of peace
  • Workshop- 'AI in Journalism' : Gallery
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self - Book Launch
  • The Great Regression of Manipuri Cinema
  • A venture on culinary enterpreneurs
  • A convoy that deepened fears of proxy war
  • Offering :: Poem
  • Forgotten dialogues convened at Delhi
  • 25th The Great June Uprising #2 : Gallery
  • Day 2 : Yaoshang Mei Loukhatpa : Gallery
  • How Manipuri Cinema is Reimagining Future
  • A Dime A Dozen # 1 : Author's Warning Note
  • 3 yrs on, Manipur demand an honest reckoning
  • Financial traps you should avoid
  • NE India Infrastructure Summit 2026
  • Stand to contest coming Assembly polls
  • Manipuris (Meitei) and Bishnupriyas
  • Kamesh Salam Recognized by Business Today
  • Manipur's children are watching
  • Nungshiba Leinamna : Weaves Love & Legacy
  • The albatross of mid-June :: Poem
  • On Working Committee, NNPG's statement
  • Workshop : Application of AI in Journalism
  • Emergency shutdown politics of CoTU
  • 26th Death Anniv : Arambam Somorendra
  • Yaoshang Pechakari @ Govindaji: Gallery
  • Understanding infertility in a changing world
  • The Cry of My Six Brothers :: Poem
  • ANSAM rally at Imphal : Call of indigenes
  • Candle Light Vigil @ New Checkon : Gallery
  • B.Sc @ CMC College of Nursing, Koirengei
  • Cultural @ Beating of Retreat #2 : Gallery
  • Tree Plantation Drive @ Mekola : Gallery
  • 35th State Thang-ta Championship 2026
  • 25th The Great June Uprising #1 : Gallery
  • AMD Academic Accelerator Program, Pune
  • Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri
  • June 18 : A Day of Unity, Sacrifice
  • Protest erupted @RIMS [15 Jun] : Gallery
  • Massacres perpetrated by Kukis during British
  • Khuiyoi Tompok & Sound of the Drum
  • 28th Meira Paibee Numit @Khurai : Gallery
  • 3rd anniv- Khamenlok 'massacre' : Gallery
  • Healthcare for Manipuris in Bangalore
  • AI : Explore 25+ yrs of Manipur archives
  • Remains of 6 Naga hostages @JNIMS: Gallery
  • The Lost Paradise
  • Moirangthem Chandra's collection of Puyas
  • What Manipur conflict reveal about oppression
  • 'No NRC Update No Census' Rally : Gallery
  • Yaoshang Mei Loukhatpa #3 : Gallery
  • Showcasing Manipur @Switzerland : Gallery
  • 1st Peaceful Coexistence Award 2026
  • Events- Kuki militant & Naga village volunteer
  • Martyrs' Day @ Cheiraoching #3 : Gallery
  • The King Who Came from the Sky: Pakhangpa
  • Chakan Gang-Ngai 2026 : Ooba Video
  • >
  • How to Break Manipur w/o Breaking Any Laws
  • 17th Manipur State Film Awards (MSFA), 2025
  • Eid-Ul-Zuha @Sangaiyumpham : Gallery
  • 16th Manipur State Film Awards (MSFA), 2024
  • Radio E-pao: 5 new songs updated
  • Yaoshang - Cooking Competition : Gallery
  • Manipur State Award for Literature 2024
  • HSLC Exam 2026 : Full Result
  • HSLC Exam 2026 : Pass % : Govt Schools
  • HSLC Exam 2026 : Pass % : Aided Schools
  • HSLC Exam 2026 : Pass % : Private Schools
  • HSLC Exam 2026 : Withheld-students
  • HSLC Exam 2026 : Compartmental candidates
  • HSLC Exam 2026 : Statistical Abstract
  • HSLC Exam 2026 : Important Information
  • Tronglaobi: 2 children laid to rest : Gallery
  • Free Online access to 'Asangba Nongjabi
  • Final Merit List : Manipur Civil Services 2022
  • Killing of 2 children @ Tronglaobi : Gallery
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #3
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #2
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #1