Northeast India Research Articles

A STUDY OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT: A CASE STUDY OF URBAN AIZAWL, MIZORAM

This study examines the employment status, skill levels, and job-seeking behaviour of youth in urban Aizawl, Mizoram, focusing on individuals aged 20 to 30 years. Against the backdrop of limited formal employment opportunities and a growing urban youth population, the research seeks to understand the socio-demographic characteristics of job seekers, their educational backgrounds, skill possession, and preferences regarding job types and locations. Using primary data collected through structured questionnaires from 304 respondents, the study reveals that the majority of youth are recent graduates with general education and minimal technical or vocational skills. The labour market is dominated by informal and precarious employment, with only 1.4% of respondents holding regular jobs, while 33.2% are completely unemployed. Furthermore, more than half of the employed youth continue to search for better opportunities due to low pay, job insecurity, and lack of career growth. The study also highlights a strong preference among job seekers to work within Mizoram, although nearly half of the respondents are open to jobs regardless of location, reflecting rising economic pressures. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to enhance employability through skill development programs, vocational education, and improved employment services. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of balanced regional development to reduce rural-to-urban migration and calls for greater integration of youth into formal labour markets. The insights derived from this case study contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by educated but underemployed youth in northeast India and inform future policies aimed at sustainable and inclusive employment generation. Keywords: Youth Employment, Urban Aizawl, Unemployment, Informal Labour Market, Job Search And Job Preference.

Traditional Health-Seeking Practices of the Mann Community in Northeast India: An Exploratory Analysis from a Buddhist Perspective of Health and Healing.

The use of medicinal plant resources for health and healing is integral to the cultural life of Mann, a lesser-known Therāvāda Buddhist community in Northeast India. This study analyzes the traditional health-seeking practices of the Mann community through the Buddhist perspective of health and healing, emphasizing its core principles such as suffering (dukkha), holistic well-being, and interconnectedness of body, mind, and nature. Rather than an empirical approach, the work adopts a qualitative-philosophical analysis based on textual sources, contextualizing Mann healing traditions within the broader Buddhist philosophical thoughts on health and spirituality. It argues that these practices of the Mann reflect the Buddhist notions of health as a state of harmony-both within the mind-body mechanism and externally with the natural world-where disturbances in this harmony manifest as ailments (a form of dukkha) and reinforce spiritual bondage. By situating Mann healing traditions within a Buddhist philosophical framework, this study underscores the Buddhist doctrinal roots of these practices, highlighting their deeper spiritual significance beyond mere therapeutic use.

Assessment of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Ethnomedicinal Vegetables in North East India

The study evaluated the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of three North East Indian ethnomedicinal vegetables viz., Oxalis corniculata, Portulaca oleraceae, and Polygonum microcephalum by cyclic voltammetry and agar well diffusion method respectively. The antioxidative effects have been evaluated by monitoring the change of the oxidation potential in the redox cycle of 1,4-diaminobenzene in presence of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the plants. 1,4-Diaminobenzene exhibits two reversible redox cycles with E1/2 at 218 mV and 535 mV in DMF with the oxidation waves due to formation of a radical cation and a diiminium dication respectively. In the presence of plant extracts, the oxidation waves were delayed and the radical cation was scavenged, and disappearance of the second oxidant waves in the cyclic voltammograms. Additionally, the methanol extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These findings suggest the potential of these vegetables as natural antioxidants and antibacterial agents.

The Sacred Cycles of Life: Rituals, Transitions, and Community in Poumai Society

The life of a Poumai, inhabitant in the hill ranges of Senapati district of Manipur, northeast India is marked by various ceremonies and rituals that govern key stages, from birth to death. These practices, rooted in cultural beliefs and traditions, centre around significant life transitions, including birth, adulthood, marriage, and death. The rituals and customs reflect the Poumai Nagas' worldview, integrating spiritual beliefs, social structures, and communal ties in shaping their life cycle practices. However, the traditional customs, practices and other related aspects of this tribe have not been explored systematically. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to bring into light the practices of unique life cycle of the Poumai Nagas during birth, marriage and death. It seeks to understand, document, and preserve these traditions, while offering a nuanced portrayal of their cultural and spiritual significance. Using an ethnographic approach, the study provides an in-depth examination of these life cycle stages and their impact on the Poumai community. The research also highlights evolving aspects of the Poumai’s cultural practices, revealing changes in folk habits and traditions over time, both in the past and present.

Binaries in conflict reporting: the mainstream newspapers and the Manipur conflict

ABSTRACT The ongoing conflict in Manipur in Northeast India is one of the severest humanitarian crises that India has seen recently. The paper tries to understand the dominant narratives in the conflict as reflected in the mainstream media in India through a study of four English newspapers (The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu and The Indian Express) and four Hindi newspapers (Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Jagran, Hindustan and Amar Ujala). The paper explores three binaries in the newspaper coverage – the first being the binary between the Northeast and mainland India. The second binary can be seen in the impact of cultural polarization on the language of newspapers. The third is an insider-outsider binary. The paper avers that conflict reporting in India is defined by a cacophony of views and an absence of ground reporting from the conflict zone, leaving the reader confused between divergent positions in the newspapers.

Menstruation and Menstrual Hygiene: Analyzing the Gaps in Knowledge, Perception and Practices in a Rural Area of North East India

Abstract Menstruation is a natural and essential biological process that affects adolescent girls’ physical, emotional, and social well-being. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), menstruation is surrounded by misconceptions and inadequate management practices. This study aims to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene among school-going adolescent girls in North East India. The study employed a cross-sectional design and was conducted over a period of one year in schools which were randomly selected under the Kamalpur block of Kamrup district of Assam. Data were collected through an awareness program using a pre-tested proforma. A total of 176 adolescent girls who had attained menarche participated. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. The mean age of participants was 14.00 years, and the mean age at menarche was 11.89 years. A significant portion, 60% (106 girls), were well aware of the menstruation process, while 40% (70 girls) lacked adequate knowledge. Most participants (72.2%) reported always having access to menstrual materials. Concerns about leakage and disposal were highly prevalent, with 64.2% sometimes worrying about leakage and 67.0% about disposal. Cramps were the most common menstrual problem (63.1%). The majority (93.2%) used sanitary pads, while 3.4% used cloth or a combination. Disposal methods varied, with 47.2% using dustbins and 36.9% burying the pads. Chi-square tests indicated no significant association between the type of menstrual material used and menstrual problems (χ² =8.012, P = 0.628). This study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions and educational programs to address menstrual hygiene challenges. Future studies should explore longitudinal data and broader geographical scopes to enhance menstrual health management.

Prevalence and Clinical Correlation of Intron 22 Inversion in Hemophilia A in Northeast India

Prevalence and Clinical Correlation of Intron 22 Inversion in Hemophilia A in Northeast India

Scientific Potential of Fish Species Used as Medicine by Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Groups of North East India: A Review with Supporting Research-Based Studies

Scientific Potential of Fish Species Used as Medicine by Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Groups of North East India: A Review with Supporting Research-Based Studies

A Hybrid LSTM-CNN Model Approach for Recognition of Mishing Language Vowel Phonemes

This paper proposes a hybrid deep learning architecture that combines Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to enhance vowel recognition in the Mishing language, an under-resourced Tibeto-Burman language of Northeast India. The model leverages temporal features extracted from Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) via an LSTM branch and spatial features obtained from Mel Spectrograms via a CNN branch. Experiments on a Mishing language vowel dataset demonstrate performance with a test accuracy of 95%, precision of 0.94, recall of 0.94, and F1-score of 0.94. Visualizations including training curves, precision/recall trends, and a confusion matrix validate the effectiveness of the proposed model. Our comprehensive experimental study highlights potential improvements in Mishing vowel recognition accuracy and provides a pathway for future research in Mishing speech recognition.

Mizo National Movement and Mizo Identity

The Mizo National Movement represents a crucial part of the historical narrative of India's Northeast,grounded in the pursuit of Mizo nationalism and self-governance. It arose from longstanding resentments fromadministrative oversight and socio-economic alienation, particularly following the catastrophic Mautamfamine of 1959. The movement transitioned from a cultural revival to a significant armed rebellion led by theMizo National Front (MNF). In 1966, the MNF declared independence from India, with the conflict lastingthrough two tumultuous decades characterized by militarization, dislocation, and resilience. At its essence, themovement transcended a mere political uprising; it served as a robust assertion of Mizo identity—anaffirmation of cultural distinctiveness, language, and social-political autonomy. The signing of the MizoramPeace Accord in 1986 marked a rare success in conflict resolution within India, conferring statehood uponMizoram and enhancing its autonomy while facilitating the integration of former insurgents into democraticgovernance.

IMPACT OF GANDHIAN EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY ON WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN NORTHEAST INDIA

This article explores the impact of Gandhian educational philosophy on the socio-economic and cultural activities of women in Northeast India. Gandhian principles of self-reliance, holistic education, and social equality have empowered women to improve their socio-economic status and engage in political and social movements. His emphasis on vocational training, self-help groups, and leadership has enabled women to revive indigenous crafts, gain financial independence, and assume roles in governance and community development. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aligns with these Gandhian ideals, promoting inclusive education, gender equality, and practical skills. By focusing on self-reliance and leadership, the NEP ensures that women, especially in marginalized regions like Northeast India, have access to quality education that empowers them both socially and economically. Additionally, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 5: Gender Equality, resonate with Gandhian values. SDG 4 advocates for equitable educational opportunities, while SDG 5 seeks to eliminate gender-based discrimination, empowering women to fully participate in all spheres of life. Gandhian philosophy, supported by NEP 2020 and aligned with SDGs 4 and 5, has played a crucial role in empowering women in Northeast India, fostering both personal growth and collective social transformation. KEYWORDS: Gandhian Educational Philosophy, Women Empowerment, NEP 2020, SDGs, 4, 5

Personal Media Network and Preferred Contemporary Technologies of Music Listeners: A Study in Assam in North East India

Personal Media Network (PMN), in the music industry, refers to a listener’s frequency of exposure, average time spent, and time of exposure to various types of media in a day. Appropriate study of PMN is critical for the success of the Assamese music industry (in North East India). The methodology included personal interviews with a few prominent artists of Assam and a survey of 390 music listeners with a schedule. The results highlighted that most of the respondents’ duration of listening to music was between 1 to 3 hours a day. Most of these respondents’ frequencies of exposure to the various media for listening to music were more than twice in a day. The most preferred time of exposure in the case of television was from 8 PM to 10 PM, radio from 7 AM to 10 AM, internet after 11 PM, and mobile phones from 8 PM to 10 PM, respectively. It was found that respondent listeners having a frequency of exposure twice in a day preferred listening/viewing songs/videos on PCs/laptops, mobile phones/tablets, streaming on online music/radio apps, streaming songs/videos on social networking apps (like WhatsApp, etc.), and social networking sites (like Facebook). Similarly, in the case of collecting music-related videos or albums, respondents with exposure once in a day and twice in a day preferred to do so via downloading from online sites to listen offline and via Bluetooth, Infrared, Xender, etc., respectively. Likewise, different contemporary technologies and media for listening/viewing songs/music videos (CTMLVSV) and contemporary modes of collecting music-related audio/video songs (CMCMVA) based on time of exposure and time spent on media were also identified. The findings of this study may immensely help the music marketers to selectively target the audience as per their preferred time, frequency, and duration of exposure to various media.

Genomic analysis of Varicella zoster virus strains during an outbreak with atypical clinical presentations in Biswanath district of Assam, India.

Chickenpox, caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), presents as varicella (chickenpox) during primary infection and as herpes zoster (shingles) upon reactivation. With a high infectivity rate and transmission through airborne droplets and contact, VZV poses a significant public health challenge. While the disease is self-limiting, complications such as encephalitis and pneumonia can occur, particularly in unimmunized individuals and those with weakened immune systems. The introduction of varicella vaccination has significantly reduced incidence and complications in countries with universal vaccination programs, but India is yet to incorporate this vaccine into its national immunization schedule. In June 2023, an outbreak of varicella was reported in Biswanath district, Assam, affecting 18 individuals. The outbreak highlighted the impact of factors such as overcrowding, poor ventilation, and inadequate medical intervention. Clinical symptoms included fever, vesicular rash, and severe abdominal pain, with three fatalities linked to severe complications. Molecular and serological investigations confirmed VZV infection in the cases, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) identified the strain as belonging to Clade 5. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the strain's similarity to other Indian VZV sequences, aligning with the established VZV clade nomenclature. The outbreak investigation underscored the importance of timely medical intervention and effective vaccination strategies. Enhanced surveillance, community awareness, and a coordinated response involving various health stakeholders are crucial for managing varicella outbreaks and improving vaccination coverage. This study represents the first comprehensive genomic analysis of VZV from Northeast India, providing valuable insights into the strain circulation and reinforcing the need for vaccination and preventive measures.

Miracle millets: Indigenous food sovereignty and the revival of ancient grains in Northeast India

Millets constitute some of the oldest cultivated grains in the world. In post-‘Green Revolution’ India, millets have lost out to more easily available and heavily promoted grains such as rice and wheat. In this paper, we engage with present efforts to revive the cultivation and consumption of millets and other traditionally grown food crops in Northeast India. The revival is promoted as a way to enhance food sovereignty by Indigenous activists and NGOs. Along with such community-based efforts, the Indian government also celebrates the virtues of millets, pursuing a campaign that resulted in the United Nations declaring 2023 the International Year of Millets. For the food sovereignty activists with whom we are primarily concerned here, it is a matter of celebrating ‘Indigenous food systems’.

Unveiling Fluoride Dynamics in Northeast Indian Tea: Geospatial Distribution and Health Risk Assessment

Unveiling Fluoride Dynamics in Northeast Indian Tea: Geospatial Distribution and Health Risk Assessment

Challenges and Solutions for Transplantation in Northeast India: Proceedings of the National Organ and Tissue Organization Session at the India Society of Organ Transplantation 2023 Meeting in Kolkata.

India is the third highest in terms of the total number of organ transplants in a year worldwide mainly based on living donor transplants. The number of deceased donor transplants has been limited in India ranking only at the 68th position of 94 countries that reported data to Global Observatory on Organ Donation and Transplantation during the year 2022. Representatives of National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation in addition to local transplant experts from Northeast India and Indian Society of Organ Transplantation discussed challenges and potential solutions for organ transplantation in Northeast India at the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation session during the India Society of Organ Transplantation 2023 annual conference held at Kolkata. Here, we summarize deliberations on the opportunities for the care of patients with end-stage-organ failure in India with a focus on the Northeast part of the country. States in the Northeast face many problems for establishing organ transplant programs including but not limited to difficult terrain, lack of skilled healthcare providers (qualified doctors, nursing staff, and technicians) needed for dialysis and organ transplants, financial constraints, administrative issues, limited infrastructure in both government and private hospitals and, in addition, history of lacking support by professional societies. Discussions focused on establishing organ retrieval centers, minimal criteria for starting an organ transplant center, guidelines on how to start a new State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization, establishing retrieval and transplant centers with support from National Organ Transplant Program, recent reforms in organ donation and transplantation, in addition to overcoming medical, surgical, immunological, administrative, sociocultural, geographic/regional challenges for organ transplantation in Northeast India. Overall, deliberations aimed at providing a basis for policy makers to start and expand organ transplantation in low and low- to-middle income and infrastructurally poor states.

Translation, standard language ideology and the erosion of regional linguistic practices: The Rajbanshi example

This study examines the decisive role of translation as a method of linguistic documentation and its implications for language standardisation, focusing on the case of Rajbanshi, a language spoken in northeastern India. It critically engages with Charu Chandra Sanyal’s (1965) documentation of Rajbanshi in relation to earlier colonial initiatives, particularly Grierson’s Linguistic Survey of India (1909), which employed translation as a primary tool for data collection. While translation has historically been seen as a neutral mechanism for representing linguistic diversity, this study argues that translation has instead functioned as an instrument of linguistic hierarchy and standardisation, reinforcing dominant language ideologies. By examining both colonial and post-colonial approaches to translation-based linguistic documentation, the study highlights how the standard language ideology (SLI), as conceptualised by Lippi-Green (1997) and Kroskrity (2004), has shaped Rajbanshi’s representation. It demonstrates how translation choices—ranging from lexical selection to value attribution—have influenced Rajbanshi’s classification as a dialect of Bengali, marginalising its linguistic distinctiveness. The analysis extends to contemporary linguistic policies, revealing how recent efforts to standardise Rajbanshi (2015-2016) echo colonial-era documentation biases. By tracing the historical trajectory of translation in linguistic data collection, this study calls for a re-evaluation of translation-based documentation methodologies to ensure more inclusive and representative linguistic records.

Achieving coexistence with the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) in northeastern India: The provision of practical co‐benefits to communities is critical to achieving long‐term outreach impact

Achieving coexistence with the sun bear (<i>Helarctos malayanus</i>) in northeastern India: The provision of practical co‐benefits to communities is critical to achieving long‐term outreach impact

Nasal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma with Unusual Fonsecaea pedrosoi Infection: A Rare Case Report from Northeast India

Nasal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma with Unusual Fonsecaea pedrosoi Infection: A Rare Case Report from Northeast India

Geopolitics and Multi-Ethnic Contexts in North-East India: A Review and Analysis of Developmental Policies and Regional Governance

North-East India stands unique in terms of multiethnic composition and its geopolitical setting of the region. This paper attempts to purview the area from the geo-political scenario, anthropological diversity, historical formation and integration of the states with the Indian union. The discussion varies widely and ranges from genres of issues relating to ethnic identity, disputes, conflicts and unrest demands, to the problems induced by the ‘peace and rule’ status of neighboring countries. The region is fragile and challenging because of its relative remoteness from the Indian mainland, high immigrant population, and multiple ethnic groups conflicts that impact peace and development. Advancement and harmony of the area require a unique approach. Therefore, the debate covers past developmental strategies to solve intermittent problems. The results of the research and debate help to pinpoint administration policies indicated to solve fundamental issues and enhance the area.The analysis of the study is based on a series of conflicts and demands that have emerged in North-East India, with a greater intensity in the last decade. The unrest, demand, and conflicts in the North-Eastern region of India were accentuated and reflected in various news reports and journals, which serve as evidence and witness to the discussion analysis. The study scrutinizes the region grappling with issues of displaced migration, ethnic tensions, and escalating demands for constitutional autonomy and rights, highlighting the ethnic bond that transcends state and national borders. It then suggests ways to make the region more harmonious for governance and progressive for development.