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VOL. 12, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Contested indigeneity: Hybrid categories and the politics of tribe recognition in Nagaland
Authors
Gailianglung Panmei
Abstract
This paper examines the contested recognition of the Rongmei as an
“indigenous Naga tribe” in Nagaland, situating the debate within broader
anthropological and political discussions on indigeneity and Scheduled Tribe
(ST) status in India. Drawing on the 2012 recognition and its subsequent
withdrawal in 2017, the study highlights how competing claims by tribal
councils and civil society organizations reveal the ambiguities and tensions
inherent in defining indigeneity. While opponents framed recognition as a
threat to resource distribution and the rights of dominant tribes, the Rongmei
emphasized historical misidentification, cultural affinity, and political
marginalization. The paper argues that these contestations produce hybrid
categories that conflate global discourses of indigenous rights with local
frameworks of affirmative action. By analysing the interplay of legal criteria,
historical narratives, and material interests, the study demonstrates that
indigeneity in Nagaland is negotiated, and deeply tied to state politics.
Ultimately, the case demonstrates how indigeneity functions both as a powerful
tool for marginalized groups and as a site of exclusion, reflecting the
complexities of identity-making in contemporary Northeast India.
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Pages:71-77
How to cite this article:
Gailianglung Panmei "Contested indigeneity: Hybrid categories and the politics of tribe recognition in Nagaland". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 12, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 71-77
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