Cultural Diplomacy of the Northeast and the Reimagining of Bharat

Article 1 of the Indian Constitution states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” For years, Bharat has seen the co-existence of diverse communities, each with their own unique language, culture, art forms, religious beliefs and practices etc., all sewn into one political framework, rendering credence to the adage of ‘unity in diversity’. The country is home to more than 705 officially recognized tribes. The strong repository of culture has contributed to enhancing the country’s global cultural image.

In this regard, the Northeastern region has played a prominent role. The region hosts more than 200 tribes, each with its distinctive culture, contributing to the cultural richness of the country. From local festivals to eminent sports personalities, attractive tourism, culinary heritage, performing arts, the region allows tourists to experience diversity in all its forms. These together have shaped Bharat’s soft power diplomacy, where tourism, cuisine, sports, and heritage collectively function as instruments of cultural diplomacy under the broader vision of the Act East policy.

In the state of Assam, international tourists have engaged in the different performing arts of the state like Sattriya dance, Bihu, Bhaona (devotional theatrical performances) etc., fostering cultural connectivity by opening these art forms to global doors. Sualkuchi, known as the ‘Manchester of Assam’, famous for Muga silk with its characteristic golden sheen has crossed borders as ace designers such as Sanjukta Dutta have carried the golden thread of Assam to the world stage with her exquisite Muga creations, in events in Cannes and New York, transporting indigenous craft to the world at large. Other cultural symbols of Assam like the famous hand-woven textile, ‘Gamucha’ made news when the rock band Linkin Park was greeted with the same by the well-known artist of Assam, Shantanu Hazarika. Bihu dance captured global attention when it was performed by American astronaut Mike Fincke in space, signifying the global reach of Bihu. In fact, on April 14, 2023, Assam set a Guinness World Record for the largest Bihu dance performance in a single venue. From the rural areas of Assam to the international platforms, the culture of the state has found increased representation and has redefined Bharat’s soft diplomacy by means of cultural visibility.

The ethnic dishes of the Northeast region has over the years ticked the taste buds of many and have pulled the global audience to its periphery as well. In 2009, when famous international chef Gordon Ramsay visited the Northeast to document the ‘Gordon’s Great Escape’, his interest in the traditional cuisines highlighted the soft power of the local fare and its untapped potential to redefine Bharat’s cultural diplomacy. During his visit to Nagaland and Assam, the chef collaborated with the locals to make tribal preparations like smoked boar, chicken with papaya and regional fish curry. In fact, the chef showered abundant appreciation upon the sui generis style of cooking traditional dishes with local spices. Apart from this, local beverages like Apong, Zu, Kiad, have earned international appreciation and renown, prompting international tourists to revisit the region for a second experience. Furthermore, Assam’s orthodox tea and local lemon (kaji nemu), Nagaland’s Akhuni (axone, a traditional fermented product made out of soyabean), Mizoram’s smoked and fermented pork delicacies, the momo and thukpa of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, Ngari (fermented freshwater fish) of Manipur, and Tungtap (traditional fermented fish delicacy of the Khasi tribe) of Meghalaya and many other dishes specific to tribal communities hold tremendous power in making rich contributions to the cultural diplomacy of Bharat.