Nagaland University sociologists publish a new book examining how infrastructure shapes identity, governance and inequality in Northeast India.
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DIMAPUR — Sociologists from Nagaland University have published a new academic volume examining how infrastructure development shapes social life in Northeast India, arguing that infrastructure is not merely a technical undertaking but a social force influencing identity, inequality and governance in the region.
Titled Sociology of Infrastructure: Perspectives from Northeast India, the book is edited by Dr. Sandeep Gupta, Associate Professor, and Dr. Suraj Beri, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University. The volume was published by Rawat Publications in 2026.
According to the editors, infrastructure cannot be understood in isolation from the social systems within which it operates and must be examined in relation to cultural relationships, political structures and everyday life.
Drawing on empirical research from across the Northeast, the book examines infrastructure such as roads, dams, digital networks, markets and health systems not only as technical projects but also as social institutions that shape mobility, access to services, governance structures and patterns of inclusion and exclusion.
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The authors argue that infrastructure planning must be rooted in social and cultural realities and treated as a form of social investment that affects mobility, identity, social cohesion, environmental sustainability and equitable access to services.
Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik said the publication represents a significant academic contribution from the university to scholarship on development and society. “The book argues that infrastructure is not merely a matter of technical development, but a powerful social force that shapes identity, inequality, governance, and everyday life across the region,” he said.
Dr. Gupta said the volume comes at a time when infrastructure-led development is being prioritised in the Northeast. “Based on fieldwork conducted in culturally diverse and geographically complex regions, we demonstrate that infrastructure should be seen not only as a physical asset but also as a social artefact,” he said.
Co-editor Dr. Beri said everyday interactions with infrastructure, including access to drinking water, hospitals, schools, internet connectivity and transport links, reveal deeper social realities about governance priorities and patterns of inclusion and exclusion within society.
The book also questions policy approaches that evaluate infrastructure mainly through quantitative indicators such as kilometres of roads or electricity capacity. The contributors instead emphasise the “sociological life” of infrastructure, examining how projects influence livelihoods, community relations, ecological balance and digital access.
Three-day national workshop
Meanwhile, a three-day national workshop on “Histochemical Techniques and Systematics in Biological Sciences” was inaugurated on March 11 at the Department of Zoology, Nagaland University, and will continue till March 13.
The inaugural session was chaired by Dr. Ramita Sougrakpam, while Prof. Ranjit Kumar, Head of the Department of Zoology, delivered the welcome address highlighting the importance of histochemical techniques in scientific research, particularly in understanding cellular structures and aiding early detection of diseases such as cancer.
Prof. Bendang Ao, convenor of the workshop, emphasised the importance of such programmes in enhancing research knowledge and providing practical insights to participants.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Patnaik attended the event as chief guest and encouraged the department to organise similar workshops on a larger scale to facilitate academic interaction and knowledge exchange among scholars from different institutions and states.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Rajesh Singh, co-convenor of the workshop, according to a press release.