Roots of Insurgency in Northeast India

Insurgency in Northeast India is expected to be useful to all those who are involved in the peace processes in Northeast India because a problem of its magnitude cannot be solved without understanding the root causes. The book brings into focus that there is nothing like a north-eastern insurgency and that there are several autonomous or isolated insurgencies, militancies and other movements in different parts and ethnic areas of the region which have created an atmosphere of turmoil or an insurgent situation for the entire region. The roots of the problem vary from secessionism to demands for state or sub-state within India, or regional autonomy for ethnic areas within the states, or protection of ethnic areas within the states, or protection of ethnic and cultural identities. The economic and infrastructural backwardness, unemployment and lack of opportunities seemed to be common causes in almost all cases. The single common cause that is emphasized most is the indifferent attitude of the central government which failed tackle the problem of insurgency at its initial stage and allowed the dominant majority to threaten the cultural identity of the ethnic and linguistic minorities, and is responsible for economic and infrastructural backwardness of the region, unemployment and lack of opportunities, frustration and disappointment of the youths, a sense of deprivation in the masses, ethnic discrimination, insecurity and threatened identity among the minorities, and many other related problems. The study recommends that each insurgency or militancy or movement should be taken up separately and its root causes identified to uproot those and to dawn peace in the region.