Patricia Mukhim’s new book highlights Northeast India’s journey through 30 years of change

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 3, 2025

Renowned journalist and editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim, launched her new book “From Isolation to Integration: Navigating the Geopolitics of India’s Northeast 1990–2023” on May 3 at the Royal Heritage Hotel in Shillong. The book, published by Martin Luther Christian University Press, brings together three decades of her writings on the political and social realities of Northeast India.

The two-volume collection includes editorials, reports, and opinion pieces that trace the region’s journey through conflict, neglect, and efforts toward development and national integration. It begins with a powerful question Mukhim asked in 2005 — “Where is this Northeast?” — a question she believes still lacks a clear answer for most people in mainland India.

The book was released by Gopal K. Pillai, former Home Secretary of India, who also wrote the foreword. Speaking at the event, Pillai said, “Patricia’s life and work reflect the challenges people in the Northeast face every day. She is a strong voice for the region and speaks with an honesty that demands attention.”

“Patricia’s work is as much a story as it is a scuffle — with history, with policy, and with a nation’s persistent amnesia about its own people,” says Glenn C. Kharkongor in the book’s introduction.

The book covers important issues like the legacy of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the impact of regional politics, the Act East Policy, and the daily struggles of people living in the Northeast. Mukhim draws on her own experiences as a reporter who has often faced threats, including a petrol bomb attack and a legal case that reached the Supreme Court, where she was ultimately vindicated.

“This book is not written from a distance,” Mukhim said. “It is based on years of living, reporting, protesting, and engaging with the people and problems of the region.”

With essays on politics, identity, insurgency, gender, and development, the book offers a deep and honest look at how the Northeast fits into the larger story of India — and why the rest of the country must pay attention.

The book is recommended for policymakers, researchers, journalists, and anyone interested in better understanding Northeast India.