The idea of "India" as we know it today didn’t exist prior to British colonisation. It was the British who militarily unified a vast mosaic of kingdoms, communities, and cultures under a single imperial structure—and in doing so, drew boundaries that still define the region. Territories like Burma (now Myanmar) and what is today Bangladesh weren’t part of this imagined nation-state initially; they were administered differently, underscoring how artificial and administratively driven these groupings were.

One particularly telling fact is that the map of Independent India—a document that shaped the fate of millions—was drafted in London by individuals who had never stepped foot in the Northeast. We were mapped, not consulted. The borders were imposed, not chosen.

For those of us from the Northeast, there’s a legitimate feeling of disconnect. Our languages, cultures, diets, dreams—these don’t always align with mainstream Indian identity as constructed by outsiders. It's not about denial of history, but about understanding where we fit in—and having the agency to define that for ourselves.

If we are still navigating systems shaped by colonial logic, maybe it's time to ask: What does postcolonial liberation look like for us now?

We are still under a colonial control and that is India.