North East India in Perspective

The trend of social science research that has been set in North-East India during the past 50 years or so has given rise to a regional approach to the socio-demographic and socio-cultural domains of existence reflected in the lifestyles of the original people, particularly the tribals, who though disadvantaged in many respects, seem to have a kind of natural association with the region. Given the variations at biological demographic, socio-cultural and political levels of existence in North-East India, it becomes necessary to examine the situation as it is prevailing here in proper perspective. The present exercise makes an attempt in that direction. The contributions included in this volume are aimed at analyzing the diverse formations of North-East India in different perspectives ranging from population, biogenetic structure and community health on the one side to socio-cultural formations, ethnicity, politics, community interests and developmental changes on the other. Ethnicity-dominated movements are suggestive of a process of political resurgence and reorientation, but these need to be seen in multidimensional setting. An exercise of this dimension requires a comprehensive knowledge about different perspectives of human existence. The book may be helpful to develop such an outlook.