Racialization of Northeastern People in Indian Metropolitan Cities: Difference, Racism, and Identity

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the focus of race studies has shifted from race relations to analyzing racism as an ideology and racialization as a process. Based on extensive fieldwork, this article examines the racialization of people from Northeast India in metropolitan cities, particularly the colonial legacies and post-colonial politics on its reproduction in post-liberalized times. It analyzes the process of articulating differences from the mainstream, conceptualizing racism, and identity construction by various actors in different contexts. The article contributes to the broader discussion on racialization and evolving racial discourse in India.