| ID | 186300 |
| Title Proper | Building the state and conceiving the nation |
| Other Title Information | the origins of separatist insurgency in the Mizo Hills, 1945-61 |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Holt, Benjamin |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | In 1966 the Mizo National Front (MNF) instigated a separatist conflict against the Indian state. This article argues that an environment conducive for separatist insurgency was created by the early 1960s in the Mizo Hills, a direct result of problematic state- and nation- building practices. First, there was an inability to initiate a successful state-building drive to overcome deep-seated challenges bestowed by colonial rule. Second, the friction between regional and national conceptions of identity was not resolved. This argument exploits a clear research gap. Currently there is a convincing explanation for the MNF’s transition towards civil war between 1961-66. Yet, explaining the structural factors which created an environment conducive for separatist conflict remains elusive. This article plugs that gap, through archive-led historical analysis. In the process, it provides wider insights for conflict dynamics in India’s northeast and raises broader questions about interdisciplinary research in the subfield of intrastate conflict. |
| `In' analytical Note | Contemporary South Asia Vol. 30, No.3; Sep 2022: p.313-330 |
| Journal Source | Contemporary South Asia Vol: 30 No 3 |
| Key Words | Insurgency ; Assam ; Mizoram ; Separatism ; State-Building ; Civil War |