Seven Sisters
Topic: Regional Aspirations: J&K, Punjab, the North-East and Accommodation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 7 "Regional Aspirations"
Meaning
"Seven Sisters" is the popular name for the seven north-eastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Sikkim is called their "brother". Most of these states were carved out of Assam between 1963 and 1987. The region matters because it is cut off, diverse and close to several borders, and it has seen demands for autonomy, for secession and against outsiders.
Example
The region has about 4% of India's people on about twice that share of its land. It borders five countries: China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Its only land link with the rest of India is the Siliguri Corridor, a strip about 22 km wide in north Bengal.
Don't confuse with
- North-East (eight states): the region today has eight states, including Sikkim. "Seven Sisters" covers only the seven original states.
Related concepts
- Siliguri Corridor
- All Party Hill Leaders Conference
- Bodoland movement
- Bodo Accord 2020
- Gorkhaland movement
- Manipur ethnic violence