Discrimination, Challenge and Response: People of North East India (Mapping Global Racisms)

Description

This book explores discrimination against Northeast Indians, who have been frequently stereotyped as backwards, anti-national, anti-assimilationist, immoral, and relegated to low paying positions across retail, hospitality, telecommunications and wellness industries.  The contributions draw on interviews with individuals who have migrated to other Indian cities and towns to find jobs and escape from native poverty, and provide a critical examination of the intersections between power, privilege and racial hierarchy in India today. The chapters cover a variety of perspectives including social movements and activism, history, policy, youth studies and gender studies. With a focus on marginalised communities, and the effects and persistence of racial inequality in a South Asian context, this collection will be an important contribution to critical race studies, public policy, human rights discourse, and social work. Foreword Acknowledgments Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables 1: Discrimination, Challenge and Response in India: It’s Time for Truth Telling Discrimination Beyond Caste Racism Through a Gendered Lens Inter-ethnic Violence in the Northeast Women of the North East and Peace Processes Nagas: A Bitter Past—From the British Period to Nehru The Nagas’ Saga and an Uncertain Future? Look and Act East Policy The Emergence of Literature from the Northeast Responding to Race in India Truth Telling References 2: At the Intersections of Discrimination of Caste and Beyond Introduction Discrimination in the Context of North East Indians References 3: Viewing Racism through Gendered Lenses Is Assam in India? A Brief Methodological Note Called and Identified as ‘Momo’, ‘Chowmein’ People Their Modern Dress Sense Irks Others References 4: Understanding Ethnic Violence in North East India Background: Geography, Politics, Ethnicity Brief History of Ethnic Violence in North East India Conclusions References 5: Women’s Collective Action for Peace in the Northeastern Region Women’s Movements: Historical Background Manipur and Its Turbulent History Women’s Activism in Manipur Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958: Assam and Manipur Women in Conflict Areas: Responses and Activism Molestation, Shame and Suicide Women’s Non-Violent Resistance Movements Irom Chanu Sharmila The Making of an Icon Sharmila Ends Her Fast and Hunger Strike Conclusions References 6: North East Indians and Their Contribution to Indian Literature Marginalisation of the Northeast Affects Literature Transferring Marginalisation to Real-Life Situations and Its Implications References 7: Nagas: A Bitter Past—From British Period to Nehru Background: Language, Ethnicity, Geography and History Nationalist Stirrings The Run-Up to Indian Independence Nagas at the Time of Indian Independence Sovereignty, State of Exception, and Nagalim The Naga National Movement References 8: The Nagas Saga and an Uncertain Future? Nagas after Nehru to Modi Towards an Effective Sovereignty or an Incomplete Road to Peace Nagalim Geographical Utopia? But a Cultural Possibility References 9: Look/ Act East Policy and North East India: Issues, Concerns and Opportunities The Ground Realities of NER The Look/Act East Policy Issues, Concerns and Opportunities The Way Forward References 10: Recognising, Understanding and Responding to Racism in India Racism in India Venkat Pulla: Notes from the Field, 2017 Equality and Equity Institutional Integrity Unity From Awareness to Acceptance National Anti-Racism Campaign Context in India Postscript References Index