Margins as Centres: Gender and Identity in the Northeast of India by Prof. A. C. Kharingpam is a powerful and thought-provoking work that repositions the sociocultural narratives of Northeast India from the periphery to the center of academic and social discourse. The book critically examines how gender, identity, ethnicity, and history intersect in a region that has long been marginalized within mainstream Indian scholarship.
Prof. Kharingpam brings together rich theoretical insights and lived realities to explore how women and marginalized communities in the Northeast negotiate power, tradition, modernity, and resistance. Rather than viewing the region as a “margin,” the author challenges conventional frameworks by asserting that the Northeast must be understood as a “centre” of complex cultural, political, and gendered experiences. The book highlights how patriarchal structures coexist with strong indigenous traditions that often grant women unique social and economic roles, creating a layered and dynamic gender landscape.
A major strength of the book lies in its nuanced exploration of identity formation amid conflict, migration, militarization, and globalization. Prof. Kharingpam carefully analyzes how colonial legacies, state policies, and ethnic movements have shaped gendered identities in the region. The narratives of women emerge not merely as victims of conflict but as active agents of social change, peace-building, and cultural preservation.
Written in a clear yet scholarly tone, the book is deeply interdisciplinary, drawing from sociology, gender studies, political science, and cultural studies. It is an essential resource for students, researchers, and readers interested in understanding the unique gender dynamics of Northeast India beyond stereotypes.
Overall, Margins as Centres is an important contribution that amplifies silenced voices and reframes the Northeast not as a distant fringe, but as a vital space of knowledge, resistance, and identity formation. If you’d like, I can also prepare a shorter promotional version or academic review format.