ABSTRACT
The States Reorganisation Commission, set up immediately after independence addressed itself to the question of the reorganisation of Indian States and also examined the concept of a culturally defined state as a way of granting political autonomy. Subrata Mitra considers that the attitude of the central state or its responsiveness is an important factor in the development of any cultural sub-nationalist movement. The colonial incorporation of the North-East took place much later than the rest of Indian sub-continent. The Expert Committee on the Plains Tribes of Assam, set up by the government of India, mentioned that of the two major tribes in the North Plains of Assam the Bodos had a population of about 11.07 lakhs and the Mishings 3.15 lakhs. Subrata Mitra considers that the attitude of the central state or its responsiveness is an important factor in the development of any cultural sub-nationalist movement.
