India's strategic challenges in Tripura

It is truly unfortunate that even nearly eight decades after India emerged as a sovereign democratic nation with the eclipse of British imperialism after the Second World War, the terms like mainland India and north-east exist till date.

- SHIBDAS BHATTACHARJEE

This paradox is a biting reality. The geographical distance between the north-east and the so-called mainland India is certainly not that much. The distance between north-east India and New Delhi is shorter than between New Delhi and the south Indian states. However, the psychological distance between north-east India and New Delhi has always been larger. New Delhi cites remoteness as the prime reason for the north-east's backwardness, as the region has failed to develop at the same pace as other parts of India have been doing. But the fact is that such a narrative is different in the case of other parts of India. This dual approach can never hide the reality of what successive regimes of New Delhi have done so far.

Another aspect is the approach of 'mainland India', accusing the region of regional and linguistic biases too often. However, regionalism and linguistic identities exist almost everywhere in India. One classic example is certainly the approach of the South Indian states. The same is true in the case of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and northern and western Indian states.

But nobody counts it, as if they have the legitimate right to do anything in the name of saving identities. But people from the north-east are often unfairly attacked for taking a similar stance.

The stubborn approach of the south Indian states not to use Hindi, or Maratha Ashmita, and other such stances are often justified.

In fact, one of the major reasons behind India's failure to adopt a tough stand against neighbouring states is the pseudo-cultural and linguistic biases of certain sections.

India must keep in mind Tamil, Bengali, Nepali, and even Punjabi sentiment before framing policy regarding Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and even Pakistan to a certain extent.