ABSTRACT
The Northeast exists as a constructed and essentialized image in the collective imagination of the people of India, especially those we consider as the mainstream. This racialized imagery is specifically focused on the women of this region as ‘Other’, and therefore exploitable. These virtual images though not real influence the real action and behaviour leading to alienation of the people of this region that is also reinforced by the reverse imagination of the Northeast people about what they consider as mainstream India. Thus, a shadow wall is built up across which real information takes on a distorted image. This chapter discusses the historical and cultural aspects of these constructs as well as brings up some factual and field-based data to illustrate the actual diversity of this region, especially in terms of the gender roles and the internal differentiation of what is actually the Northeast of India, thus attempting to deconstruct some of the myths regarding ‘tribal women’ that even influences media, literature and policy decisions.
