Ethnicity and Ethnic Phenomena in North East India.

Abstract

The North-Eastern area of India is home to a diverse range of ethnic communities, with over 75 main groups and subgroups speaking over 4000 languages and dialects. This diversity poses challenges for nation-building and country integration. Ethnicity is defined as an individual's identification with a specific social group and its associated cultural practices. Factors such as language, race, religion, and shared history contribute to the formation of ethnic groups. The region of North East India is characterized by a variety of ethnic groups, each with their own unique cultural traditions and practices. The contemporary era has witnessed an increase in the salience of ethnicity within the socio-political domain of the region. Ethnic movements in the region have the potential to disrupt established social and political structures, leading to inter-community conflicts. The historical trajectory of ethnic assertion in the region is closely linked to the evolution of political systems, administrative frameworks, and societal forces. The emergence of new elite strata within ethnic groups has played a significant role in advocating for the aspirations and needs of their respective communities.