A Region in Focus: Media Portrayal of NorthEast India’s Turbulent Past

• The North East of India is an underrepresented region in mainstream media and it’s time we change the narrative. 
• Focusing on the conflict narrative of ethnic classes, struggle for sovereignty or land rights or even the citizenship debacle needs solutions to bridge the conflict gap. This is a major drawback within the current media focus. 
• It’s important to highlight the rich cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge system and various small scale industries individual to each state within the NorthEast of India.

Perceived as a conflict zone for decades, the North East of India has very recently come into focus after decades. The media portrayal of the region has received very little to no attention for a very long time.  The implicit power that media holds, especially after the coming of social media, has been quite transformative. Mass media in particular has a history of setting preconceived frames of reference, setting viewers or readers into a frenzy. Often, news from the region in the public forum surrounds conflict issues, ethnic identity politics, and land rights. Furthermore, news gets sensationalized or receives little to bare minimum coverage. The problematic nature of reporting led to the development of the ‘peace journalism’ concept. Johan Galtung, the pioneer of Peace and Conflict Studies, coined the term. He had his roots in peace research studies during the 1990s. Peace Research Studies reached the NorthEastern region of India quite late. 

Stereotypes and Misrepresentation of North East India 

Racial prejudices and stereotypes are at the forefront of categorizing belonging to the region. This is followed by clustering all the seven states of the region as one. The history of the region also has a very orientalist approach when reporting from here. The representation of any news focused on the region has a very narrow vision scope. Instances of racial discrimination towards people belonging to any of the states of North East India increased during the pandemic.

Under-Representation of Northeast India in Mainstream Media

Natural disasters across the country receive continuous focus from mainstream media. Assam’s floods, a yearly phenomenon, have hardly received any news. Flash floods in Guwahati city, the gateway to North East India, have become an annual event. However, media focus has yet to bring out positive solutions surrounding floods and waste management. The Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site wetland, has been in the news for its conservation efforts. However, it is yet to be a mainstream news that’s catching eyeballs. Dr. Purnima Devi Barman was awarded TIME’s 2025 Women of the Year for her conservation effort of the Great Adjusant Stork. She formed the ‘Hagrila Army’, a small group of women protecting the bird’s nesting sites. The army also educates the local community about the species. Jadav Payeng, the ‘Forest Man of India’, worked exceptionally on developing a whole forest from scratch. His work has yet to achieve recognition from mainstream media. 

The Sensationalisation and Reality Behind Northeast India’s Portrayal

Media coverage in the region has majorly focused on looking at it from the lens of sensationalism. This reduces the region’s rich cultural and social complexity to stereotypes and dramatic narratives. Frequent focus on conflict, insurgency, and political instability overshadows the region’s vibrant traditions and cultures. Often, the entire focus on conflicts distorts the public’s perception. The distortion gives way to reinforcing misunderstandings and alienations. 

Cultural Heritage Commerce and Conservation 

With its set of challenges, the conflict narrative often downplays the rich cultural heritage, stories of progress, creativity, and unity. It’s essential to bridge the gap between sensationalism and reality. A more balanced representation of the states’ struggles and strengths would definitely do better. Assam’s textile industry is the finest producer of silk, be it Eri or Muga, which is still not known by many. The Assamese Gamusa in particular received GI certification. Often compared to a saree, the Mekhle Chador is an entirely different attire indigenous to the region. Wrap-around skirts called ‘Phanek’ or ‘Galo’ indigenous to other states are rarely discussed. Beaded Naga jewelry and Assamese gold-plated Copper and Bronze jewelry are also very much intrinsic to the region. Livestock management, organic farming, and tea plantations for instance are also areas of commerce that need focus. Wildlife Conservation and Tourism are also areas that would boom when given media attention. 

Cultural Representation and Lack Thereof

There is a lack of cultural representation and awareness surrounding the region. The artistic accomplishments of Assam up until very recently weren’t really noticed. Assam recently achieved a world record for folk dance performances of Bihu and Jhumor with a record number of dancers. Awarding Mr. Bhupen Hazarika, the Bharat Ratna made an impact by bringing the history of Assamese music to the forefront. The recent news of UNESCO recognizing ‘Moidams’, the ancient burial grounds of the Ahom Kingdom, remains relatively unknown. The Hornbill Festival, celebrated during the first week of December each year in Nagaland, has recently gained recognition. Music festivals, such as the Ziro, Dambuk, and Cherry Blossom Festival, are up-and-coming concerts encouraging indigenous talents. Religious tourism in Assam has also picked up pace very recently. People all over the country have also started to visit the ‘Maa Kamakhya’ temple. 

Natural Disasters and NorthEast India

Notably the North East region of India is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.  All of these issues have been receiving scant media attention each year. The ongoing conflict in Manipur received a bit of media attention till the time it did not. Controversies surrounding influencers have flooded the mainstream and social media as opposed to ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur. Rather than exploring the root cause, historical context, and potential solution, the whole narrative gets reduced to a ‘conflict zone’. 

Exploring Northeast India’s Diverse Culinary Palette

In addition the culinary diversity in all the various states of North East India is also a reflection of the rich tapestry.  Each state offers quite different flavors of traditional recipes. Certain comforting foods from Assamese cuisine include ‘Aloo Pitika’. It is mashed potatoes with mustard oil and green chilies, herbs (lai), mustard greens, and fiddlehead fern (Dhekia). There is also Machor Tenga, a tangy fish curry. From Manipur, iromba is a dish that combines fermented fish with mashed vegetables. Nagaland’s famous axone (fermented soybeans) adds depth to the food as a preferred side dish. The Naari chutney (dried fish) and Sinzu (veggies and wai wai) are loved side dishes within the region. The use of fresh, local ingredients brings out a true celebration of indigenous flavors and techniques. 

Role of Regional Media

Unlike national media, which often overlooks or misrepresents the region, regional media provides a platform for authentic voices and narratives. It highlights local news, cultural events, political developments, and social issues that mainstream outlets often ignore. The regional media reporting on local stories is not enough for mainstream media to pick up as newsworthy. Subsequently there is an obvious disconnect between the existence of a disparity and what is being highlighted. The need for a more balanced and informed public discourse still exists. The discourse highlights the work on resolving complex social and political issues over sensationalizing controversies. Irom Sharmila from Manipur had little coverage for her struggle to highlight her home state. The global wins of Mary Kom, Lovelina Borgohain, and Mirabai Chanu contributed to highlighting NorthEast. 

Suggesting Reads to Understand Northeast’s Turbulent Past

North East Social Research Centre, Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development, and Nilima Studio are a few think tanks. They have been actively publishing various reading materials. They publish leaflets, visual reports, and coffee table books, offering qualitative and quantitative regional insights. Feminist publications like Zubaan have featured a lot of stories from the different states of the region. Authors like Sanjay Hazarika, Sanjib Baruah, Rita Choudhury, Arup Kumar Dutta, Mamoni Rasam Goswami, Hiren Gohain, and Janice Pariat have highlighted pressing issues. Books like ‘Strangers of the Mist’,‘The Chinatown Days’, and ‘Rendezvous with Rebels’ are good for understanding the region better. 

The Northeast of India has a vast potential to bring laurels to the country. Often misunderstood and underrepresented, it’s time we highlight the region’s rich history, culture, and potential. The media is an essential part of delivering a balanced and informed representation of each state’s challenges and wins. The stories coming out of each state should reflect both its strengths and shortcomings.