Northeast India Research Articles

Sighting of Large Branded Swift Pelopidas sinensis (Mabille, 1877) (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae) in Delhi, India

The Large Branded Swift Pelopidas sinensis is commonly found in the Himalaya and northeastern India, but it hasn’t been documented in northwestern India, characterized by arid or semi-arid climates. Here we highlight a recent observation: three individuals of P. sinensis were sighted in Delhi during July, amidst the monsoon season. This communication not only reports this noteworthy sighting but also explores the potential reasons behind the presence of this butterfly species in Delhi.

An illustrated guide to lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. Part 3. Tribe Aspidimerini

The tribe Aspidimerini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is entirely Asiatic in distribution and most of the known species are primarily aphidophagous and occasionally feed on mealybugs, scales, and whiteflies. This illustrated guide to 26 species in four genera of Asidimerini of the Indian subcontinent is presented with diagnostic descriptions and supporting illustrations, including genitalia, wherever available. Details of distribution, prey and plant associations, and seasonal occurrence are provided based on collections, label data and literature. Immature stages are illustrated for three species of Pseudaspidimerus Kapur and one species of Trigonocarinatus Huo & Ren. One new species, Aspidimerus dissimilis sp. n., is described from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern India. Cryptogonus bilineatus Kapur, 1948, and Cryptogonus bryanti Kapur, 1948 are transferred to Trigonocarinatus Huo & Ren, 2015 (new combinations). The following new specific synonyms are proposed (junior synonym listed first): Cryptogonus kapuri Ghorpade, 1974 (=Trigonocarinatus bryanti (Kapur, 1948)); Cryptogonus nepalensis Bielawski, 1972 and C. nepalensis bhutanensis Bielawski, 1979 (=Cryptogonus ariasi (Mulsant, 1853)) (new synonyms). An updated checklist of the tribe Aspidimerini of the Indian subcontinent is also provided.

Understanding multiple meanings of hunting in the Idu-Mishmi landscape of Northeast India

Understanding multiple meanings of hunting in the Idu-Mishmi landscape of Northeast India

Religion, Identity and Tribal Sub-national Politics in India

What is the role of religion in tribal politics? Does religion shape tribal political imagination? If so, how and in what manner? Politically, tribal movements since the colonial period have been deeply rooted in religion, and even in post-independent India, they continue to inspire and shape tribal politics. The article argues that tribal politics and religion interact in complex ways. First, the article shows how groups and organisations incorporate religious ideas within their political ideology. Second, religion and politics also come into conflict with one another in terms of the use and interpretation of religious beliefs and commitments for political ends, mainly when it involves the use of violence. This is examined through the case of the Mizo movement for independence in northeast India, where religion was interwoven with the politics of identity, nationalism and violence.

Management of Hyperparasitaemia in Severe Malaria: A Sea Change With the Availability of Artesunate.

This study aims to study the efficacy of exchange transfusion in complicated malaria with hyperparasitaemia. This is a retrospective case-control study conducted in a tertiary care referral hospital in northeastern India. A retrospective chart review was done, and 34 children with hyperparasitaemia were identified. Of these, 16 children received only antimalarial chemotherapy, and 18 received adjunct exchange blood transfusion (EBT). The data was analyzed for survival benefit as the main outcome measure. The subjects in each of the groups were comparable in terms of age, sex distribution, and mean haemoglobin at presentation. The patients treated with EBT were more ill than those who did not receive EBT; they met a greater number of WHO criteria for severe malaria (2.94 ± 1.16 vs. 1.81 ± 0.83; p=0.002) and had higher levels of parasitaemia (23.96 ± 17.55 vs. 16.14 ± 6.89; p=0.0007). The mean volume exchanged was 44.88 ± 20.49 ml/kg, against a target of 70 ml/kg due to the unavailability of fresh, compatible whole blood. There was no difference in mortality in the exchange transfusion group compared to the chemotherapy alone group (22.22% vs. 31.25%; p=0.83). In resource-limited areas, lower volumes of fresh whole blood for exchange transfusion can reduce hyperparasitaemia to a significant degree, and this may give some mortality benefit in very sick cases. Artesunate, by virtue of its rapid action, is capable of reducing hyperparasitaemia and may question the very place of blood transfusion in complicated malaria. It may also be worthwhile to accumulate more data comparing EBT against artesunate instead of quinine.

Arctic amplification–induced decline in West and South Asia dust warrants stronger antidesertification toward carbon neutrality

Dust loading in West and South Asia has been a major environmental issue due to its negative effects on air quality, food security, energy supply and public health, as well as on regional and global weather and climate. Yet a robust understanding of its recent changes and future projection remains unclear. On the basis of several high-quality remote sensing products, we detect a consistently decreasing trend of dust loading in West and South Asia over the last two decades. In contrast to previous studies emphasizing the role of local land use changes, here, we attribute the regional dust decline to the continuous intensification of Arctic amplification driven by anthropogenic global warming. Arctic amplification results in anomalous mid-latitude atmospheric circulation, particularly a deepened trough stretching from West Siberia to Northeast India, which inhibits both dust emissions and their downstream transports. Large ensemble climate model simulations further support the dominant role of greenhouse gases induced Arctic amplification in modulating dust loading over West and South Asia. Future projections under different emission scenarios imply potential adverse effects of carbon neutrality in leading to higher regional dust loading and thus highlight the importance of stronger anti-desertification counter-actions such as reforestation and irrigation management.

Understanding the climatology and long-term trends in solar radiation using ground based in-situ observations in India

Understanding the variations of solar power potential over the country is essential for the optimum utilisation of solar energy in power generation, which demands accurate information of solar radiation and its variations. In the present study, we investigate the climatology and trends of global radiation (GR), diffuse radiation (DR), bright sunshine hours (BHS) and technical potential of solar power (Solar Photovoltaic potential; SPV potential) using in-situ data procured from India Meteorological Department for the period 1985-2019. GR is high (low) over the northwest and inland areas of peninsular (extreme north and northeast) India, whereas DR is high (low) over the coastal stations (extreme northern parts of the country). BHS is more (less) over northwest (north, northeast and southern peninsular) India. The country has SPV potential in the range of 1800-3400 Wm-2 with substantial regional variations. High (low) SPV potential is observed in the northwest regions (north, northeast and southern peninsular India). The GR and BHS (DR) have (has) a significant decreasing (increasing) trend in most parts of the country. However, the rate of decreasing (increasing) of GR (DR) has been weakened (strengthened) in the recent decade. The technical potential of solar power has a significant decreasing trend in most of the selected stations which is alarming. It necessitates the wide use of solar panels with better efficiency to meet the energy requirements from solar resources.

Phytophthora Infection Reorients the Composition of Rhizospheric Microbial Assembly in Khasi Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

Phytophthora gummosis, foot rot, and root rot are considered major challenges to the citrus industry worldwide. Little is known about the Phytophthora–microbiome interaction, despite several studies demonstrating changes in the microbial composition of the rhizosphere following challenges by a pathogen. In the present study, we studied the microbial diversity and community structure in healthy rhizospheres and Phytophthora-infected rhizospheres of Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco), a commercial cultivar extensively grown in the northeast of India. An exploratory study was conducted to identify Phytophthora-infected orchards of Khasi mandarin, and the isolated pathogen was confirmed as P. nicotianae based on its morpho-cultural and molecular characteristics coupled with pathogenicity tests. This study on culturable microbes established the dominance of Trichoderma spp. in the healthy rhizosphere, while the diseased rhizosphere showed the presence of Fusarium spp. A metagenomic study further revealed that the rhizospheres of Phytophthora-infected plants were dominated by species such as Bacteroidia spp., Patescibacteria spp., and Pythium spp., while the healthy Khasi mandarin rhizospheres had a more diverse community predominantly represented by Trichoderma, Penicillium, Linnemannia, Mortierella, Talaromyces, Saitozyma, Bacteroidetes, Pseudomonas, Cytophagia, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidia, Sphingobacteriia, Burkholderia, Bacillus, and Bradyrhizobium. Terrabacteria and FCB (Fibrobacterota, Chlorobiota, and Bacteroidota groups) were found to exist in higher relative abundance in disease-free soils than in Phytophthora-infected soils, while phylum Proteobacteria showed identical relative abundance in all soil types. The phyla represented by Pseudomonas, Flavobacteriia, Candidatus, Mycobacterium, Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Sphingomonas, and Cytophagia were the most common bacterial phyla in all soil samples, but healthy soil exhibited a greater abundance of Bacteroidetes, Pseudomonas, Cytophagia, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidia, Sphingobacteriia, Burkholderia, Bacillus, and Bradyrhizobium. Our study suggests that the presence of Phytophthora spp. in the rhizosphere alters microbial community structure, having potentially strong implications for plant health and productivity. These rhizosphere microbiome-derived citrus responses shed light on exploring effective management strategies for Phytophthora gummosis disease ailing Khasi mandarin.

The Hidden Challenge of Unemployment on Family Units in the North East India

The facts regarding the prevalence and impact of unemployment on families are examined in this essay. Wives make up a sizable portion of the unemployed even though their unemployment rate is relatively low (in 1998, they accounted for 36.2% of all unemployed adult). For single parents, unemployment is a significant problem. As a result, almost one-third of parents of dependent children experience unemployment. The unemployment rate of families is also examined. Unemployment-affected families frequently endure difficulty and suffering, damaged relationships, poorer health (though the reasons aren't always clear), and stress from housing. Unemployment may also have a detrimental effect on children's development and employment opportunities. A few policy issues are discussed, including the need to preserve the living circumstances of unemployed families and the implementation of several initiatives aimed at reducing the unemployment rate. They also talk about shared responsibilities and the trend toward low-paying erratic jobs.

Heterogeneous mantle sources for basaltic rocks of the Nagaland–Manipur Hill Ophiolite (NMHO) complex of North-Eastern India: inferences from source melting models

Heterogeneous mantle sources for basaltic rocks of the Nagaland–Manipur Hill Ophiolite (NMHO) complex of North-Eastern India: inferences from source melting models

Digital Media and Consumerism: An Empirical Study of Digital promotion and its impact in the Guwahati Region

Digitalization is constantly changing the perception of the role of the state in society in regulating and controlling markets and product promotion strategies, especially in three digital markets: social networks, pop-up advertisements, and other websites. India is a growing market, and people’s orientation towards digital marketing and online shopping is now on the rise. The present digital media and consumerism have given a new approach to the potential consumer, as the present buyers are more concerned about the online sites and social media for their buying issues. A lot of new marketing strategies have been planned by the organizers and companies to attract online consumers. However, such a new kind of consumerism is very common in almost all parts of India. Considering these factors, the present study focused on the impact of digital media and consumerism in the city of northeastern India. The research has taken Guwahati region as a research area, and the researcher mainly attentive about the objective such as to understand consumer behaviour in the context of digital media. The researcher also focused on the companies planning their participation in digital promotion. The study is empirical in nature, and most of the data were primary in nature. Keyword: Digital Media, Consumerism, Social media, Digital Promotion, Guwahati.

Identification of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variants by utilizing polymerase chain reaction – Restriction fragment length polymorphism based method

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a widespread genetically inherited enzyme disorder caused by mutation in the G6PD gene located in X chromosome. Although sequencing of the gene is considered as the standard method for detection of mutations, but the process is expensive, laborious, time-consuming and not possible to perform in low resource settings. Thus, the present work was aimed to identify the G6PD variants using Polymerase Chain Reaction – Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) based method among the ethnic groups of malaria endemic Northeastern part of India. STANDARD G6PD Analyzer was utilized for screening to identify the G6PD deficient malarial patients. Molecular analysis of the deficient samples was done using PCR-RFLP technique. A total of 17 variants were explored using different restriction endonucleases. Five variants viz., Orissa (63.8 %), Kalyan-Kerala/Jamnagar/Rohini (9.02 %), Mediterranean (8.3 %), A+ (11.8 %) and Mahidol (1.38 %) were detected among the patients. G6PD Orissa was the major variant among the study population. In malaria endemic regions like Northeast India, a mass screening program for identification of G6PD variants needs to be adopted.

MAPPING TRADITION AND MODERNIZATION: A STUDY ON THE EVOLUTION OF COSTUMES OF THE TRIPURI AND REANG WOMEN IN TRIPURA

Tripura is a land-locked state in Northeast India that comprises of multiple communities. Majorly dominated by the Tribal and Bengali communities, this state has witnessed drastic changes in its culture and heritage. Since partition, a huge demographic and ethnographic change has ushered in major challenges for the tribal communities. One such major change was witnessed in the evolution of Tripuri and Reang costumes. The traditional dresses of the communities faced historic challenges that questioned their personal and collective identity. The impact of westernization and modernization on Tripuri dressing culture shall be analysed in this paper. This paper shall also try to study how patterns of cloth and style of dressing have evolved due to the impact of global culture over the local culture. The reasons for the evolution shall be mapped through qualitative data collected from different people (of different communities) belonging to different parts of the state.

Investigating subduction orogeny dynamics of Manabhum high in the Upper Assam foreland basin, NE India by geophysical data-based modelling

The Manabhum structural high, situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in the foreland part of the Upper Assam basin, is characterised by an elongated NNW-SSE direction of the fold axis. This study utilises seismic and satellite gravity data to model subsurface geological cross-sections across the Manabhum structure, providing insights into the presence of high-density material at the basement level, supported by the distribution of ophiolites at varying depths. The Manabhum, a compressional structure controlled by the complex folding involved in the Mishmi Hills and Naga Schuppen belt, subjected to compression at different stages, presents an excellent opportunity to understand subduction orogeny involving the collision between the Indian plate and the Tethys oceanic lithosphere subducting beneath the Myanmar continental lithosphere.

Exploring Altitude's Influence: Contrasting Embryonic Development of Hyla annectans Jerdon in High and Low Altitude Environments

The study investigated the embryonic development of Hyla annectans Jerdon, a frog species, at high and low altitude breeding sites of Meghalaya, North East India. Results revealed significant differences in the duration of embryonic development and hatching between the two altitudes. Embryos at low altitude sites exhibited a faster development, hatching approximately four days earlier than those at high altitude sites. Early embryonic stages displayed similar characteristics in size between the two sites, but distinct differences emerged during later stages, notably in stages associated with heart development, muscular response, and gill circulation. Furthermore, metamorphosis completion varied between altitudes, with a shorter duration observed at low altitude compared to high altitude. Environmental conditions, particularly water properties, also differed significantly between the two sites. Water temperature and free carbon dioxide levels were higher at low altitude, while pH and dissolved oxygen levels were higher at high altitude. These findings suggest a potential influence of altitudinal gradients as environmental factors on embryonic development in H. annectans.

Multiscale association between large‐scale climate variability modes and drought in India via wavelet analysis

AbstractExtreme events, such as droughts, are influenced by climate variability modes such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Atlantic Multi‐decadal oscillation (AMO) and Equatorial Indian Ocean Oscillation (EQUINOO). Due to the significant interdependency among the climatic indices at various frequencies, a time‐frequency framework is necessary to better understand the teleconnection. The present study evaluates the association between climate variability modes and drought index in India using different variants of wavelet analysis such as wavelet coherence analysis (WCA), partial wavelet coherence analysis (PWCA), multiple wavelet coherence analysis (MWCA) and wavelet reconstruction methods. In this study, four major climatic indices (ENSO, PDO, AMO, EQUINOO) and the drought index, standard precipitation index (SPI), at four different monthly time periods (1, 3, 6 and 12) are considered. The results from the WCA analysis highlight significant teleconnection spectra for ENSO, PDO and EQUINOO at 2–8, 8–16 and 16–32 year time‐frequency bands. Further, PWCA results reveal significant interdependency in the teleconnection of ENSO and PDO at all the scales, while ENSO and EQUINOO are found to be independent modes of interannual drought variability in India. Finally, MWCA results show that the combination of EQUINOO and ENSO better explains the interannual variability of droughts in Northwest and Central northeast India. The results of this study will help improve drought prediction and early warning systems in India, by selection of appropriate climatic oscillations for different regions in India.

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of fruit extract of Hodgsonia heteroclita (Roxb.) Hook. f. & Thomson in diabetic mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceHodgsonia heteroclita has been known as an important traditionally consumed medicinal plant of North-East India known to have antidiabetic properties. This study aims to investigate the effects of the ethanolic fruit extract of Hodgsonia heteroclita against hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia by using streptozotocin (STZ) treated diabetic mice. Materials and methodsThe fruits of H. heteroclita were collected from the various parts of Kokrajhar district, Assam India (Geographic coordinates: 26°24′3.85″ N 90°16′22.30″ E). Basic morphological evaluations were carried out by the Botanical Survey of India, Eastern circle, Shillong, who also certified and identified the plant. Hexane, chloroform, and ethanolic extracts of the fruit of H. heteroclita were investigated for α-amylase inhibition assay as a rapid screening tool for examining anti-diabetic activity. The efficacy of ethanolic extract at a dose of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight was tested for 21 days in STZ-induced diabetic mice. The body weight, fasting plasma glucose and serum lipids, and hepatic glycogen levels were measured in experimental animals to examine the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic efficacy of the extract. Both HPTLC and LC-MS analysis was performed to examine the phyotochemicals present in the ethanolic extract of H. heteroclita. ResultsIt has been observed that treatment with the ethanolic extract dose-dependently reduced the plasma glucose levels, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, and increased the body weight, liver glycogens and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in STZ treated diabetic mice. HPTLC demonstrated the presence of triterpene compounds and LC-MS analysis revealed the presence Cucurbitacin I, Cucurbitacin E, and Kuguacin G as the triterpene phytoconstituents. ConclusionThe present study demonstrated that ethanolic fruit extract of H. heteroclita improved both glycemic and lipid parameters in mice model of diabetes.

Contact, Diffusion and Divergence

Abstract The study discusses the outcomes of the contact and diffusion in two contact varieties of Assamese with respect to classifiers. The findings suggest that while classifiers have remained remarkably stable in their characteristics in Assamese over the past 160 years, during the same period, one of the contact varieties (Nagamese) has significantly diverged from the source language, and the other variety (Nefamese) displays greater continuity. The divergence in Nagamese is attributed to the substratal effect which has altered its characteristics associated with numerals and quantifiers in the source language, thereby making it more congruent with the host Naga languages. By concentrating on a smaller part of the region spanning three contiguous states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland from Northeastern India, the findings also help unlock in small ways the mysteries surrounding the diversity of classifiers arising out of areal diffusion.

Organophosphate, Carbamate and Synthetic Pyrethroid Pesticide Residues in Muscle Tissues of Fish from Loktak Lake, a Ramsar Site in Manipur, India

The muscle tissues of Channa punctatus and Anabas testudineus collected from the Loktak Lake (a Ramsar site) and its three major feeder rivers in Manipur, Northeastern India, were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography for the presence of residues of three organophosphorus (malathion, dichlorvos and monocrotophos), one carbamate (carbofuran), and two synthetic pyrethroid (deltamethrin and cypermethrin) pesticides. Residues of all the pesticides except monocrotophos were detected in the fish tissues. Among the five pesticides detected, concentrations of dichlorvos exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius for animal tissues such as mammalian offal, eggs and poultry meat. The rest of the compounds were within the MRL for eggs and animal tissues. None of the pesticide residues was detected in the two fish species collected from the control or reference site. The present study indicates that pesticide contamination is emerging as a threat to the water quality and aquatic biodiversity of Loktak Lake, which is a “wetland of international importance” (Ramsar Site) located in a global biodiversity hotspot. The findings of this study also calls for more detailed investigations on the presence of pesticide residues in water, sediments, aquatic macrophytes, planktonic and benthic organisms, and different fish species of this wetland ecosystem.

Engaging with Ethnographic Museum Objects from Erstwhile Naga Hills: From Imperial, Colonial and Postcolonial Eras to Contemporary Reimagining

The colonial monographs on Naga peoples and the colonial appropriation of artefacts in north-east India enhanced anthropological knowledge in Europe. This paper asks how far the ‘decolonising the museum’ approach can be applied in studying Naga collections in European museums and in facilitating critical engagement with ethnographic objects from Naga communities in both Western and Indian museums. There has been a regeneration of interest in the colonial history of Naga collections among European/New World academics and in ethnographic museums in the late 1980s, mid 2000s and currently in Humboldt Lab (2015) and Forum (2022), and among Naga communities themselves. The paper examines how the contrasting historical trajectories, positions and modern consequences play out 1 .