Ethnic Issues Secularism and Conflict Resolution in North East India

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In the recent decades ethnicity occupies a space of importance in civil society discourse in the North-East Region of India. There was a time when ethnic issues and aspirations were brushed aside as law and order questions and were never understood in correct perspective. The change of scenario is characterised by positive postures by those in the corridors of power in responding to the demands of ethnic- territorial mobilizations. No doubt, protection of cultural identities is clearly entrenched in any effort at conflict resolution, although fulfilment of economic and political goals is more often than not, hedged by considerations of State dominance and its centripetal nature. At the same time, ethnic diversities of north-eastern region and Elite manipulation of cultural sentiments and symbols also find expressions in extra-constitutional demands. Such mobilization arising out of economic deprivation, uneven development, internal colonialism etc. have often had the effect of strengthening group identity and cultural exclusivism. However, revivalistic tendencies and cultural intolerance arising out of ethno-cultural paranoia produced alarming outbursts of Naga-Kuki clashes of 1994 in Manipur and Dimasa-Hmar killings of 2003 in Assam. Ethnic issues also form the core of secessionist demands in certain parts of North-East India. It is against this background that the contributors have looked at ways and means of resolving ethnic issues within the framework of secular polity.

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