The Northeastern Social Research Centre (NESRC) was founded in the year 2000, when the region was a complex political and social landscape marked by militarisation, conflicts over land and identity, state suppression, and economic marginalisation. NESRC’s founding was part of a broader civil society movement that sought to critically engage with these issues through research, advocacy, and dialogue.
Twenty-five years on, NESRC’s journey offers a lens into how research institutions can play a crucial role in social transformation.
Understanding the region: The need for social research
At the turn of the century, Northeast India was experiencing violent suppression of autonomy movements across the region, barring Arunachal Pradesh. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, granted security forces and the police enormous powers to deal with political unrest in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura.
Following the ceasefire between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) in 1997, counter-insurgency operations were toned down in Nagaland. However, the AFSPA remained in force in most states.
The last decade of the 20th century also saw the rise of volunteer-based advocacy groups that played a crucial role in documenting human rights violations by both security forces and armed militants. These included groups like the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) in Nagaland, Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS) in Assam, and the Committee on Human Rights (COHR) in Manipur, among others.
These movements marked a significant milestone in the fight for human rights. They served as vital platforms for civil society groups, especially when most other avenues of protest and organising had become difficult to sustain.
In such a scenario, NESRC was born at the end of a century marked by struggles, widespread civic unrest, demands for autonomy, and democratic changes. Many people in the region felt neglected by the state and its governments at both state and national levels, fueling widespread anger against political leadership and fostering a pervasive culture of fear.
This environment made it difficult for civil society organisations to collaborate. Different social and cultural communities, as well as occupational groups, often worked in isolation, retreating into their respective domains.
Moreover, The Northeast has often been viewed through a security lens, with state narratives framing its conflicts as law-and-order problems. It became the Centre’s perception of and policy formulation for the region. Even development came to be viewed from a security perspective.
However, the fundamental issues have always been more deeply rooted in historical marginalisation, political neglect, and struggles for self-determination. NESRC emerged at this critical juncture as a response to the need for nuanced, research-driven analysis that could challenge dominant narratives and offer alternative perspectives grounded in the lived realities of the region’s people.
Engaging with conflict, identity, and development
One of NESRC’s significant contributions has been its research on land, identity, and autonomy, three interlinked themes that remain central to conflicts in Northeast India. As various communities have asserted their rights over land and resources, often in the face of state and corporate encroachments, NESRC has documented and studied these struggles, bringing to light the historical injustices that shape them.
For instance, its studies on displacement have highlighted how development projects have disproportionately affected Indigenous communities. By systematically mapping instances of forced displacement, NESRC has provided a counterpoint to state narratives that often frame such projects as necessary for ‘national interest.’
Beyond displacement, NESRC has also examined the evolving nature of ethnic relations in the region. Northeast India’s history of inter-community conflicts has often been manipulated by political forces, but NESRC’s work has emphasised the need for reconciliation through historical understanding.
Its research has documented how communities have historically coexisted, challenging reductionist narratives that present ethnic groups as perpetually in conflict. In doing so, NESRC has provided insights into peacebuilding strategies that go beyond temporary ceasefires and towards long-term social healing.
Knowledge production and dissemination
A key aspect of NESRC’s approach has been its commitment to making research accessible beyond academic circles. Over the past 25 years, it has conducted numerous studies, seminars, and workshops, not just for scholars but also for activists, journalists, and community leaders.
This commitment to knowledge-sharing ensures that research is not confined to academic journals but actively informs social movements and policy debates.
NESRC’s engagement with media has also been crucial in shaping public discourse. Its members have published extensively in newspapers and periodicals, contributing analyses that challenge mainstream perceptions of Northeast India.
Responding to contemporary challenges
As NESRC enters its 25th year, it faces new and evolving challenges. The region is witnessing rapid infrastructural expansion, increased corporate interest in its resources, and changing political alignments. At the same time, environmental concerns, such as deforestation and climate change, are becoming increasingly urgent. NESRC’s recent research on oil palm plantations, for example, has been critical in highlighting the socio-economic and ecological consequences of such policies.
By drawing attention to how state-backed agrarian transformations impact local livelihoods, NESRC continues to play a crucial role in advocating for sustainable and community-centred development.
Similarly, the centre’s ongoing studies on customary laws and governance in tribal areas are particularly relevant in the wake of legal and policy shifts threatening Indigenous autonomy.
As state interventions seek to redefine land ownership and governance structures, NESRC’s work serves as a critical resource in understanding how these changes affect local communities.
Looking ahead: The future of research and advocacy
Over the past 25 years, NESRC has carved a niche for itself as a research institution that not only produces knowledge but also actively engages with the realities of Northeast India.
Its commitment to understanding the region’s complexities through grounded research has made it an invaluable space for critical scholarship and advocacy. As it moves forward, the challenge will be to remain responsive to the region’s shifting dynamics while staying true to its foundational ethos: research that serves the people. In a time when Northeast India continues to be at the crossroads of development, conflict, and resilience, NESRC’s role remains as significant as ever.
Views expressed are personal. The author is Research Associate, Northeastern Social Research Centre (NESRC), Guwahati.
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