Political Economy of North East India by Professor Tanmay Bhattacharjee

The book was written initially to provide the students the first lessons on the topic. It was revised in 2022 to reach the larger readership. In the meantime, the political and economic scenario of North East India has undergone sea changes that requires broader analysis. The present work attempts to include the political and economic changes initiated in the region. However, the statistics provided in the book remains nearly the same. After the partition, North East India had acquired a new geo-political status of its own as it is bordered by many foreign countries.  Hence, both the state governments and the centre emphasize on evaluating this special status. In view of Bangladesh emerging as the viable economy on the western part of the region, it is imperative that the economy of North East India must acquire all the traits of a self-sustaining economy shedding the burden of its dependence on the centre.  The study discusses these aspects on the basis of the practical problems faced by the region. It’s a tale of clashes showing the dependence of the centre and a self-sustaining economy.  The study discusses the ethnic, geographical and economical diversifies of the region, changed character of ethnic culture that includes economic sustenance and modern technological demands, transitions brought about by the modern economy leading to economic imbalances, uneven distribution of transport/railway networks in the region resulting in internal diversities. The author emphasises that the internal diversities in North East India are prominent demanding special attentions from the policy makers.

Professor Tanmay Bhattacharjee is a retired Professor of Political Science from Assam University, Silchar, Assam.  He was born in Shillong in the present state of Meghalaya in the early forties of the last century and now engages himself in studies onNorth East India, its politics and economy. He studied in Shillong till his masters and has completed his PhD from Gauhati University. After serving in the Assam Education Service, he joined the Assam University as a Faculty member in the Department of Political Science. He retired as a Professor of Political Science in the University in 2005.Though released from the task of teaching, his time is now intensively utilized for revaluation of his earlier works which he value most. He has specialized in the regional studies pertaining to the north eastern part of India. Professor Bhattacharjee has several publications to his credit. His first published work was the Sociology of the Karbis. His book titled Sylhet Referendum published in 2015 enlightens about the decisive days of the partition of India in 1947. His recently published book in 2022 named ‘Revisiting Dima Hasao in search of a Rhythm’ narrates the history, polity, society and economy of the district of Dima Hasao in Assam.