India’s northeastern states include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Collectively, they are well known as the “Seven Sisters.” These states are geographically isolated from mainland India, connected only by a narrow section called the Siliguri Corridor, or “Chicken’s Neck,” which is 20-22 kilometers wide and lies between Bangladesh and Nepal. Despite being nearly double the size of Bangladesh, with a combined population of 46 million, the total GDP of these seven states is just $95 billion. This is lower than that of countries like Kenya ($107 billion) or Venezuela ($102 billion) and is comparable to Sri Lanka ($84 billion), which is still recovering from its recent economic crisis. The region is often associated with insurgent conflicts and separatist movements, which have been ongoing since India gained independence in 1947. In this video, we will explore the reasons behind the economic backwardness of India’s Seven Sisters states.
Overview
The people of India’s Seven Sisters states exhibit distinct physical characteristics, with visible influences from Southeast Asian and Chinese ancestry. Despite some cultural similarities with China and Southeast Asia, these people also share practices with Indian traditions. Several thousand years ago, Southeast Asians and Tibetan-Chinese populations began settling in the region now known as the Seven Sisters, coming into contact with Indo-Aryan peoples. Over time, this hilly area was ruled by different empires in the Indian subcontinent, but it also had its own kingdoms, such as the Ahom, Manipur, and Tripura kingdoms. The Ahom kingdom is now known as Assam, and other states such as Kamrup, Kamata, and Koch also existed in various periods.
In the early 17th century, the Mughal Empire annexed the Ahom Kingdom into the Mughal Indian territory. After defeating the Mughals, the British began taking control of Mughal territories, eventually expanding their influence into Burma (now Myanmar) through the Anglo-Burmese War. By 1858, all of India was brought under direct British rule, which became known as the British Raj. For administrative convenience, the British divided the region into various administrative zones. Some were directly governed by the British, while others were princely states under local rulers, but still part of the British Empire. The northeastern regions of India fell under the Bengal Presidency, which also included Lower Burma.
In 1873, Assam was made a separate province, and in 1886, Upper Burma was integrated into British India, forming an autonomous province. By 1937, Burma was separated entirely from British India. Until India’s independence, Tripura and Manipur remained princely states, while Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh were part of the Assam province of the Bengal Presidency.
Post-Independence Developments
When India gained independence in 1947, the British partitioned the subcontinent based on religion, creating two dominions: India and Pakistan. The provinces and princely states were allowed to join either of the two dominions. Assam became part of the Dominion of India, and by 1949, the princely states of Manipur and Tripura had also joined India. However, the Naga people rejected joining India, demanding independence. This led to passive disobedience or non-violent protests starting in 1952. In response, India’s central government sent police and security forces to intervene. Finally, in 1963, Nagaland was separated from Assam and established as an autonomous state. This event influenced other states to seek autonomy, leading to Meghalaya being granted autonomous status in 1970, followed by full statehood two years later. In the same year, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura were made union territories. In 1987, both Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram became full-fledged states.
Challenges Leading to Economic Backwardness
Due to the Seven Sisters’ geographical isolation, they remain disconnected from the rest of India. The only access route is through the narrow Siliguri Corridor, which borders Bangladesh. The combined area of these states is approximately 262,230 square kilometers, which makes up about 8% of India’s total land area and is almost twice the size of Bangladesh. However, the combined GDP of these seven states is just over $95 billion, or about one-fifth of Bangladesh’s GDP. This clearly shows the economic underdevelopment of the Seven Sisters.
Historical Context of Economic Isolation
Following India’s independence, the government, like the British before them, largely neglected the northeastern region, leaving its people with insufficient representation in India’s administration and constitution. Since 1947, this neglect has led to the rise of various separatist movements, with demands for either ethnic-based independence or the creation of a separate nation consisting of all the Seven Sisters states. Notable groups include the Mizo National Front in Mizoram, the United National Front in Manipur, the Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland, and the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). Separatist groups also emerged in Meghalaya, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. Some of these movements have transitioned into political parties through negotiations with the Indian government, while others have been suppressed through military interventions or declared illegal.
This lack of integration with the mainland and the ongoing insurgencies have significantly hindered economic development, causing the Seven Sisters to lag far behind the rest of India in terms of GDP and industrial growth.
Economy of Indian Seven Sisters State
India has been independent for almost 80 years, and during this time, it has grown to become one of the top 5 economies in the world, with a GDP of $3.55 trillion. However, despite these 80 years, the seven northeastern states, known as the “Seven Sisters,” have not seen significant economic development. Maharashtra, the leading contributor to India’s GDP, accounts for 13.3% of the total, while the nearest state to the Seven Sisters, West Bengal, contributes 5.6%. In contrast, the total GDP of these seven states is approximately $95 billion, accounting for just 2.68% of India’s overall GDP. Assam contributes the most among these states, with over $60 billion, or nearly 2%, while the remaining six states are so underdeveloped that their combined contribution does not even reach 1%. The lowest GDP contribution comes from Mizoram, with $3.9 billion.
Since the British colonial era, economic activity in these seven states was limited, and there were no major efforts to develop infrastructure to enhance economic activity. While Assam benefited from its tea plantations, oil, and coal production, the potential of the other states remained largely untapped. Assam has been a significant tea producer since British times, and even today, more than 50% of India’s total tea production comes from Assam. In 2023, Assam produced approximately 698 million kilograms of tea, which is almost seven times the total tea production of Bangladesh. Furthermore, crude oil and coal deposits were discovered in Assam in the 19th century, making it an economically important region for the British, which led to some development in Assam. However, states like Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram were largely neglected, as they were geographically distant from mainland India and surrounded by high mountains. The British made little effort to develop these regions.
After the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, this region became virtually landlocked. The only access to the northeastern states was through the narrow Siliguri Corridor, or Chicken’s Neck, which is just 22 kilometers wide. This means that only 2% of the northeastern region is connected to India, while the remaining 98% shares borders with other countries. For instance, the distance between Agartala in Tripura and Kolkata is 1,650 kilometers, and the distance from New Delhi to Agartala, via Shillong and Guwahati, is 2,637 kilometers. Due to this vast distance, developing infrastructure in this region has been challenging. Even though it is possible to connect with these states, transporting goods and materials across such long distances for economic activity is not economically viable. As a result, the northeastern states have often been overlooked by the central government in terms of economic development, compared to northern and southern regions. This has stunted economic growth in these states and made them less attractive to local and foreign investors.
Ethnic Diversity and Separatist Movements
These states are also characterized by high ethnic diversity. Out of India’s more than 700 tribes, over 400 are found in these seven states, each with its own language, culture, and customs. Even though these tribes are connected to greater India, they have often feared losing their ethnic identity or being forced to assimilate into Indian culture. This fear has led many tribes to resist joining mainland India, giving rise to various separatist movements in the region.
In 1950, for instance, the Naga National Council (NNC) demanded independence for Nagaland, which was then a district of Assam. The NNC announced that they would hold a referendum to decide whether to remain part of India or seek independence. In 1951, 99.9% of Nagas voted in favor of independence, but both the central government of India and Assam rejected the results. Over time, India has rejected all forms of dissent from these states and suppressed armed groups with a heavy hand, labeling several separatist groups as terrorist organizations. However, border disputes and tribal conflicts within the states continue to persist, with the central government focusing mainly on maintaining regional stability rather than encouraging economic growth.
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the Indian government introduced the “Act East Policy,” targeting the northeastern region for development. This policy aimed to sign peace agreements with various tribes and included several infrastructure development plans. For instance, the number of airports in the region has increased from 9 to 16 over the past 10 years, and the number of flights has grown from 900 to 1,900. Additionally, several highway projects are in progress. In June 2024, during a state visit by Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister, India signed a transit agreement with Bangladesh, allowing India to use Bangladesh for transporting goods to and from the northeastern region. This will significantly reduce transportation costs. For example, the distance from Agartala to Kolkata will decrease by two-thirds, from 1,650 kilometers to 550 kilometers. Similarly, the distance between Agartala and Shillong will decrease by one-fifth, from 2,637 kilometers to 505 kilometers. This improved connectivity will greatly enhance economic activity in the Seven Sisters.
India also has an ongoing project with Myanmar. Under the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, India aims to establish a transit route from the Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to Mizoram in India, through rivers and highways. However, the project has been halted due to conflict between the Arakan Army and the military junta in Myanmar. Furthermore, the transit project through Bangladesh has become uncertain after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Additionally, the presence of Chinese troops near the Sikkim and Bhutan borders is increasing. Given this context, it remains to be seen how India will continue to develop the northeastern region and bring about socio-economic progress for the long-underdeveloped population of these seven states.
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