Politics of Distinction and Political Economy of Indigenous Cultural Rights in North East India

<strong>NORTH EAST INDIA STUDIES PROGRAMME SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES</strong> a seminar on <strong>"Politics of Distinction and Political Economy of Indigenous Cultural Rights in North East India"</strong> Abstract : Identity-claims in terms of territorial distinction among small and marginalized ethnic and tribal communities in many places of North East India are slowly replacing claims of sovereignty and self-determination. The present peace process with ULFA, NSCN (I-M), UNLF and others are based on creating legal set ups to settle these claims of distinction. The lecture shall delve into political economy of territoriality based identity claims and its legal framing within the discourse of cultural rights that calls for a re-understanding of the logic of expropriation embedded in the natural and cultural resources of these communities. The lecture takes into account Khasi-Garo, Abo-Tani groups, Lushei-Mara-Paite groups and other smaller ethnic groups of Manipur, Assam and Mizoram and explains their logic of expropriation within the constitutional and political frameworks evolved by them. SPEAKER <strong>Prasenjit Biswas</strong> Associate Professor Dept. of Philosophy, NEHU, Shillong, Meghalaya &amp; Visiting Fellow, NEISP, J.N.U., New Delhi Date and Time :&nbsp;<strong>January 27th, Friday, 2017 (3:00 to 5:00 p.m.)</strong> Venue :&nbsp;<strong>Class room, Room no.324, SSS-I, JNU</strong>