Beyond Borders: The Ongoing Struggle of Northeast Indians in Mainland India

The tragic death of Angel Chakma, a Tripuri MBA student, in a Dehradun hospital on December 26, 2025, has once again highlighted the precarious existence of Northeasterners living outside their home states. This incident, reminiscent of the 2014 killing of Nido Tania, underscores the deep-rooted structural alienation faced by citizens from the Northeast in mainland India.

Identity-Based Violence: A Persistent Threat

On a seemingly ordinary evening in December 2025, Angel Chakma and his younger brother, Michael, ventured out to a local market in Selaqui, Uttarakhand. The encounter with a group of local men ended in a brutal display of identity-based violence that left Angel with fatal injuries. The events leading to this tragic outcome underscore the vulnerability of Northeasterners perceived as "other" in mainland India.

The Othering Process

The othering of Northeasterners is a complex phenomenon rooted in systemic alienation, racial capitalism, and biased media portrayals. These factors contribute to the normalization of the idea that Northeasterners are guests in the mainland rather than stakeholders in the nation.

Legal and Institutional Gaps

The investigation following Angel Chakma's death has raised concerns about the perceived lack of alacrity and the inadequacy of the legal framework to address racial violence. Activists argue for the implementation of a dedicated anti-racial violence law and the full implementation of the Bezbaruah Committee's recommendations.

The Northeast's Contribution to India

The recurring question, "Are We Not Indian Enough?", encapsulates the frustration of a community expected to be hyper-patriotic at the borders while being treated as aliens in the capital. The path forward requires more than just reactive arrests; it necessitates a genuine transformation of the Indian heartland to dismantle the sociological othering of the region and make the mainland Indian identity inclusive enough to accommodate the diverse features of its own citizens.

Implications for Northeast India and India at Large

The struggle of Northeasterners living in mainland India is not just a local issue; it has broader implications for the nation as a whole. Until the sociological othering of the region is dismantled, and the mainland Indian identity becomes inclusive, the memory of Angel Chakma must serve as a catalyst for a genuine transformation of the Indian heartland.