Women and Gangte Danpi: A Feminist Perspective of Customary Law among the Gangte Tribe

By Mercie Gangte

Customary law embodies the governance and cultural identity of a society, shaping how its members live and interact on a daily basis. Even today customary laws are established social practices which are implemented as the mode of social control and social sanction amongst many tribe societies of North East India. Focusing on the patriarchal and patrilineal Gangte tribe, the paper will highlight the instances in which women share their lived experiences wherein they have been perpetually entrapped in multiple problematic situations when negotiating their spaces pertaining to laws with regard to marriage, divorce, inheritance and decision making. It also seeks to examine how the social structures of the patriarchal Gangte society stunt women’s development and perpetuate their invisibility and the paper also aims to unravel how the customary laws have been responsible for the oppression of women, denying them social and economic security.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14866712

Territoriality and State Making Practices in the Northeast Frontier of British India

By Lipokmar Dzüvichü

This article explores the relationship between territoriality and state making practices in the Northeast Frontier of British India in the nineteenth century. It examines the complex ways in which colonial territorial strategies were framed and enacted in a variety of spatial settings. Territoriality formed an important strategy of the British raj in its attempt to “control actions, interactions [and] access” of people, things and relationships over the frontier geographies. By establishing symbols of state institutions in the “wild” frontier spaces, colonial officials sought to institute and put in place a semblance of order and control over the imperial margins. These undertakings were in turn closely entangled with the colonial efforts to transform the “ill-defined” frontier landscape into clearly defined state spaces. Colonial territorial strategies were not only critical in order to define its spatial and institutional presence in the frontier, but also simultaneously aimed to historicize colonial authority and territorial possession. Colonial territorializing strategies were, however, not a simple linear enterprise. It proceeded over a landscape that was marked by a variety of political systems, relations and practices. Even as colonial authorities worked its way into the region, the state attempt to institute new forms of regulations and authority would also engender various responses and reactions by a variety of actors. The article will examine some of these complex processes that accompanied state territorialization initiatives and ascendancies in the frontier.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14717281

Volume 14

Issue 1

Commentary

1. Mizoram Assembly Election 2023: Bucking Bipolarity and Regurgitating Ethnicity and Governance – V. Bijukumar

Articles

2. Symbolic Annihilation in Mizoram Media: An Exploration of Women’s Representation – Lalnunkimi Colney, Vanlalmuanpuii Chawngthu, and V. Ratnamala

3. Navigating Sustainability in Loktak Lake: Socio-ecological Changes and its impact on Wetland Ecosystem and Native Fishers – Sanjay Kumar

4. The Burden of HIV/AIDS in India and its Northeastern States – Juliet F Lalzarzoliani and Srigiriraju Sandhya

5. Territoriality and State Making Practices in the Northeast Frontier of British India – Lipokmar Dzüvichü

6. Women and Gangte Danpi: A Feminist Perspective of Customary Law among the Gangte Tribe – Mercie Gangte

The Burden of HIV/AIDS in India and its Northeastern States

By Juliet F Lalzarzoliani and Srigiriraju Sandhya

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a major global public health threat and development challenges. According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, HIV/AIDS has remained one of the leading causes of death among the productive age group (30 to 49 years) in India from 2000 to 2019. It affected the working-age population extensively at their productive ages, thus affecting the economy. This paper aims to quantify the burden of HIV/AIDS in India using the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) metrics. The study is based on secondary data from different sources. Results indicate that the DALYs lost due to HIV/AIDS for different age groups was 102.54 million DALYs. Of which the 15-49 age groups accounted for 85 per cent. During 2000-2019, the average HIV/AIDS burden in India accounted for Rs 27098 crores (5.47 billion USD) per year. During 2007-19, the Northeast states accounted for an average of 4.76 per cent of the national burden. However, in 2017, it had rapidly increased to 12 per cent. Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram have a higher HIV/AIDS burden share on the economy than the national average of 0.14 per cent in 2017 and 2019. The study concludes that there is an urgent need to provide equitable, affordable, and quality healthcare delivery for HIV/AIDS services in these vulnerable states.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14289239

Navigating Sustainability in Loktak Lake: Socio-ecological Changes and its impact on Wetland Ecosystem and Native Fishers

By Sanjay Kumar

Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, has a unique ecosystem. Because of its ecological significance, the Ramsar Convention declared it as a wetland of international significance in 1990. The lake is surrounded by villages inhabited by fishermen whose everyday source of subsistence comes from the lake. However, over the years anthropogenic activities and developmental projects have caused irreversible damage to the wetland and affected the region’s ecology. This paper highlights the various factors that brought about detrimental changes to the wetland ecosystem and the impact of these socio-ecological changes on the wetlands and fishermen. It also explores the way forward for sustainable development and to preserve the area’s ecological balance without compromising with developmental goals in the region.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14287618

Symbolic Annihilation in Mizoram Media: An Exploration of Women’s Representation

By Lalnunkimi Colney, Vanlalmuanpuii Chawngthu, and V. Ratnamala

Mizoram, located in Northeast India, has a high proportion of scheduled tribes (94.5%) and operates within a patriarchal societal structure. Despite a sex ratio of 976 females per thousand males in 2011 census, women face significant under-representation in media and public spheres. This study examines how media in Mizoram portrays women using case study methodology and content analysis. The findings reveal a pattern of limited visibility for women in critical areas such as politics and education. Women are predominantly featured in entertainment and beauty contexts, with print media, magazines, and billboards often reinforcing domestic stereotypes. Social media also reflects these biases, with women frequently subjected to derogatory comments. Utilizing UNESCO Gender Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM) and Media for Democracy Monitor (MDM) criteria, the study identifies a substantial imbalance in gender representation. The results highlight the need for media reforms to challenge patriarchal norms and improve the portrayal and visibility of women in Mizoram.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13691362

Unveiling Women’s Economic Contribution: A Study of Livelihood Activities in Tousem Village, Manipur

By Kamei Beeju and Pounga Newme

In contemporary discourse, the female labour force encounters persistent marginalization in its pursuit of acknowledgment and respect. Within the fabric of Indian society, the labour or service endeavours undertaken by women in the domain of homemaking often remain unacknowledged, notwithstanding their substantial contribution to the domestic economy. This study critically examines the role of women in livelihood activities as an indispensable component in cultivating acknowledgment coupled with respect and recognition. The ethos of respect and recognition serves as a catalyst for individuals in their pursuit of fostering peace and harmony within the societal milieu. Within this context, the economic contributions made by women often languish in obscurity, characterized by the paradoxical phenomenon of remaining both unpaid and invisible. In Tousem, Tamenglong District of Manipur, women are lauded for their active roles in driving economic and social change, alongside their commitment to environmental stewardship. This research aims to highlight their key economic contributions to uplift their families and communities. Additionally, it seeks to unveil the status of women in village contexts, shedding light on gender dynamics. Through this inquiry, the study emphasizes the need for greater recognition and support of women’s diverse efforts, providing insights for both scholarly discourse and practical policymaking towards gender equity and empowerment.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13285899

Border Disputes in North East India: A Study of Assam-Mizoram Border

By Jangkhongam Doungel

This article traces the border disputes between Assam and her neighbouring states in North East India, and observes that it is purely a legacy of colonial rule in the region. Tribal territories in North East India were demarcated in the province of Assam one after another and foot hills were declared as reserved forests which are now the border dispute zone. Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh began to face border dispute with Assam after their separation from Assam. The present border dispute between Assam and Mizoram is in the 509 square miles reserved forest area which Mizoram claims it as its area since pre-colonial era but Assam also made similar claims to it. Mizoram advocates solution of the problem on the basis of the notification of 1875 but Assam advocates for solution of the problem as per notification of 1933. There is no clear-cut mention of inter-state boundary to be claimed as constitutional boundary. Hence, amicable solution of the border dispute may be possibly be achieved only through political dialogue between the two states.

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Inter-state Border Disputes in North-East India: A Case of Assam and Meghalaya

By Bitupan Doley, Parimita Bhuyan, and Jayanta Krishna Sarmah

This paper attempts to trace the root cause of the boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya and highlights the governmental efforts towards the settlement of inter-state border conflicts between the two states. It particularly study four aspects of border disputes based on field notes: people’s participation in border conflict resolution, responses of people of disputed areas towards government interventions, civil society participation in disputed areas, and development of inter-state border areas between Assam and Meghalaya. The field study reveals that people of the bordering areas are consulted regarding resolution of border dispute between the two states; however, their voices do not receive adequate weightage in the process of boundary demarcation. The field study clarifies that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) expressed their concern regarding the resolution of border disputes; however, there are limitations regarding their participation in interior areas of border dispute. It is revealed that frequent occurrences of border conflicts have a negative impact on the development of inter-state border areas. Further, the field study also clarifies that illiteracy, lack of adequate information and inadequate awareness among people are the main causes of inter-state border disputes between the two states.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12795910

State and Local Conservation Traditions: A Comparative Study of Fortress Conservation and Traditional Forest Forts

By Rajiandai Bariam

The paper attempts to contribute to existing discourse on conservation and political ecology by juxtaposing the concept of “fortress conservation” which favors the creation of protected areas, to the concept of “forest forts,” a traditional conservation practice woven into a traditional village society. By drawing insights from the theory of political ecology and colonial conservation laws and practices, the present paper reiterate the critique of “fortress conservation” while advocating a dialogue between the state, conservationists, and the local people. Unlike the forceful and displacive conservation projects and discourse that harbors dissent and protests, straining relationships between state and people, the paper shifts the paradigm emphasizing the healing of relationship among human agencies as of utmost importance, and a vital step in restoring our relationship with nature. It opines that if conservation is to be deeply successful and sustainable, the minimization of casualty and cases of displacement must be part of the equation. Furthermore, it seeks to explain such a possibility through the traditional forest forts in which the local people engaged in the traditional practices of conservation themselves based on their long-standing and time-tested traditional ecological knowledge.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12748889

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