Making headlines only as a hot-bed of insurgency and backwardness—this is how the rest of India know or think they know the North East. Isolation of Northeast states and lack of awareness about the Northeast culture among the people of mainland India has been attributed as a major cause for racial discrimination. There has been growing disenchantment among the residents of this part of India and increasing demand that the Centre and its agencies not ignore the alienation of this region anymore.

Last year, the Ministry of Human Resource Development came up with a unique way to end the discord of the Northeastern people by directing the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to prepare textbooks on the culture and life of the eight Northeastern states, which will be prescribed as supplementary reading for school students. According to sources, the books, will take at least a year to be ready for publication.

The NCERT advises the central and state governments on school education, especially matters related to school curriculum. Its textbooks are prescribed by all private schools affiliated to CBSE and government schools.

The idea behind this decision, as said earlier is social integration. There are many students from the Northeast, who study in the different parts of the country and complain of social discrimination and alienation. Therefore, if youngsters read about their life and culture growing up, this problem could be alleviated to quite an extent. This step by the government and NCERT would certainly help in developing a bond with the Northeastern states. Reading about the culture and beauty would also make the NE students feel proud of their rich heritage.

On a similar vein, the introduction of—‘The Compulsory Teaching of North-East Culture in Educational Institutions Bill, 2017’ in Lok Sabha on Monday by MP Ninong Ering holds much significance. The bill becomes important to deal with the problem of alienation and racial discrimination at its root.

The inclusion of knowledge about Northeast culture in educational institutions will not only help stop racial discrimination but also be a means to understand and celebrate the cultural differences which will create a safer environment for people from Northeast who are residing in different parts of the country.

 

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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