Ethnic Diversity, Autonomy, and Territoriality in Northeast India: A Case of Tribal Autonomy in Assam

M. Amarjeet Singh

Archive data: Person was Research Assistant at IDSA from October 2006 to September 2009 Joined IDSA October 2006 Research Interests Peace and Conflict studies, India’s North-East and Myanmar Education PhD… Continue reading Ethnic Diversity, Autonomy, and Territoriality in Northeast India: A Case of Tribal Autonomy in Assam read more

Despite the creation of several new states and territorially defined autonomous councils, different tribes in Northeast India continue to demand the creation of new states and autonomous councils. This is because most tribes in the region are under the impression that an adequate share of political power is a necessary condition for retaining their socio-cultural identities and development. Such cultural and developmental aspirations, though legitimate, face rough weather once they become connected with exclusive administrative boundaries for self-governance. Thus, community conflicts over land and territoriality continue to turn Northeast India into an area of unending unrest and crisis