ABSTRACT
The term 'ethno-nationalism' or ethnic nationalism has since the 1960s, when it was introduced by Walker Connor, acquired wider currency in the diverse discursive fields of knowledge such as political science, sociology and ethnic studies. This chapter discusses how a radical Tripuri ethno-nationalist discourse was formed in Tripura at a very crucial historical juncture of the State when monarchy was dismantled and a new political regime was yet to emerge. The existing literature on India nationalism and the nationalism question in India is not of much help in understanding the autonomous development of regional or local nationalisms in India. The chapter traces the roots of Tripuri nationalism, analyzes the doctrine and identifies its major features. Tripuri nationalism emerged fundamentally as a protest against Bengali dominance over the Tripuris. Tripuri nationalism was also based on a distinction between the proja and the oproja. The chapter examines the relevance and implications of Tripuri nationalism.
