ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of migration, both in the past and in more recent times, has been an important characteristic of the demographic dynamics of Northeast India affecting nearly all aspects of the socio-cultural and political life of the region. The history of the region has been indeed a history of migration. The twin forces of colonialism and capitalism in India in the 19th and 20th centuries and the partition of the country in 1947 dramatically accelerated the inflow of migration in the region transforming the already complex ethnic composition of the region. Once a net in-migrating region, the cross-border migration has substantially decelerated in recent times and the region is presently witnessing a steady increase in outflow of people from many areas to major metropolitan cities of India for higher studies and employment bringing out racial, gender and lifestyle discrimination faced by them on a regular basis.
