The
northeastern region of India consists of 8 states comprising of Assam,
Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Sikkim, all of
which are within the territorial boundary of the country and are as Indian as
any other state in the country. In fact, Northeast India constitutes 8% of
India’s landmass.
2. The
Northeast is remote and therefore, empty.
The
Northeast is well populated just like any other place in the country. According
to the 2011 census, 40 million people inhabit Northeast India. Remoteness
simply refers to certain hilly terrains within the region that have a low
population density but that does not translate to no people at all! Population
density is simply the average number of people inhabiting every square
kilometer of land.
3. The
Northeast is a hotbed of insurgency.
Yes,
we do have armed factions that demand autonomy from the Central government but
here’s a fact that will open up your eye to how little popular they are: The
Indian general election of 2014 had an 80% voter turnout in all northeastern
states, the highest among all states of India. Clearly, the Indian government
is more popular among the northeastern citizens than the insurgency!
4. The
Northeastern people have absolutely no dressing sense.
Every
tribe and community has their own unique traditional attire. They are
unfamiliar to the rest of India and so does not necessarily translate to a lack
of dressing sense. In a broader sense, you will find that the traditional
Indian attire might seem somewhat odd to someone from Europe! This is simply
because of unfamiliarity, not a lack of dressing sense. Contrary to the myth,
however, Northeast India is probably one of the most fashionable regions in the
country where traditional motifs and designs are integrated into trends that
are in vogue!
5. The
Northeastern people are jungle dwelling adivasis and are illiterate.
Adivasis
are members of aboriginal tribes that existed before the arrival of the Aryans.
Tribe is a social division in a traditional society consisting of communities
that are linked by social, economic, religious or blood ties, sharing a common
culture and dialect. There is a significant difference between the two in
today’s context! Moreover, according to 2011 census, Mizoram has a literacy
rate of 91.58% while Tripura has a literacy rate of 87.75 % and both states come
within the top 5 ranks! This myth is clearly just that—a myth!
6. Northeastern
girls dress inappropriately.
Being
trendy and fashionable doesn’t always have to mean inappropriate conduct. It is
an age-old saying that the way one dresses should reflect one’s personality. Girls
from Northeast India are indeed amongst the best dressed people in the
country! They dress smart and carry
themselves with dignity!
7. Northeastern
girls look strange and ugly.
This
is just that—a myth. Northeastern girls are absolutely gorgeous with their
flawless skin, beautiful hair, gorgeous smiles and unwavering elegance!
8. EVERYONE
in the Northeast have small almond-shaped “chinki” eyes.
The
almond shaped eye is a Sino-Tibetan feature, which many people in Northeast
India share. However, Northeast India in itself has a diversity in demographic.
Ethnically different people have different aesthetics. There are Bengalis and
other people living in the Northeast who don’t have small eyes!
9. The
Northeastern people eat everything from dogs to pigs and other bizarre
creatures.
People
in Goa consume pigs. Can we generalize the entire country based on a little
state? We can’t! Similarly, there are diverse cuisines within the Northeast
itself. Some people consume pigs and some people may consume dog meat on
special occasions. That certainly doesn’t make it a staple food for the entire
region! That would be a hilarious assumption!
10. It’s always raining in the Northeast a.k.a there is no sunshine.
Northeast
India has a subtropical climate that receives an annual precipitation of 200
cm, most of which is received during the monsoon season. A tropical climate is
generally very warm and humid as it receives a lot of sunshine, which along
with the rainfall, contributes to the rich biodiversity of the region!
11. The Northeast has no roads.
Northeast
India has adequate roads, most of which are squeaky clean!
12. The only access to the Northeast is by a helicopter.
This
is what a classic myth sounds like. Railways in the Northeast are busy and
popular just like airports and roadways! A helicopter ride is only for specific
people with specific purposes and journeys over hilly terrains.
13. The Northeastern people have no
communication skills.
English
is the official language of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and the
co-official language of Assam and Sikkim. The facts speak for themselves!
14. Rhinos in the Northeast are equivalent to cows on a regular Indian street.
The
greater one-horned rhinoceros, a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, is
more likely to be found safe and sound in the Kaziranga National Park or in
Jorhat than in a random street in a random city in a random state in Northeast
India.
15. The Indian military is on every single street of every single city of every
single state in the Northeast, imposing curfew.
While
it’s true that the Northeast has many military bases and it’s not very unusual
for armed soldiers to be in the streets, it’s only a myth that vigilant soldiers
stand guarding everywhere, heated and tense, waiting for a bomb to go off any
minute!
16. The Northeast is in the south/south-east/on the eastern ghat.
Someone
once asked me if the northeastern state of Assam was in the south, somewhere
near Orissa. I would like to believe that Northeast India is called the
“NORTHEAST” for some reason.
17. The Northeastern people pretend to be Christians and idolize the west.
Christianity
found its way into the Northeast way before the advent of the British. Christian missionaries looking for a way to China
and Tibet visited Northeast India as early as the 17th century. The
influence grew stronger with the advent of the British, much stronger than in
other parts of India. Christianity is a major religion in the Northeast and
Christian culture, which is commonly perceived as western culture, has been a
part of our lives ever since. Seemingly western ways and lifestyle are a part
of our culture and identity. So there’s neither any idolization nor any pretence in that!
18. All they do is booze, music and absolutely no studies.
Music
is a major part of any northeastern Indian’s life. It is a major part of our
culture. It is inculcated in us from our childhood and there is nothing wrong
with that! In the colder climates, wine is a normal part of food culture. But
it’s certainly not an indulgence! Academics, on the other hand, is an
individual preference or interest. Difference in demographic cannot decide who
is more likely to be academically involved!
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