YOUTH AND CULTURE IN NORTHEAST INDIA: INTERSECTIONS AND  PERSPECTIVES  

Introduction  

Youth represent a powerful social force shaping contemporary societies through their  engagement with identity, creativity, social transformation, and cultural negotiation. In India’s  Northeast—a region distinguished by rich ethnic diversity, complex histories, and evolving  socio-political realities—youth culture offers a critical lens to understand how societies adapt  to rapid change while preserving cultural continuity. Young people in the region occupy a  dynamic space where tradition, globalization, technological transformation, and regional  aspirations intersect.  

The Northeast comprises multiple indigenous communities with distinct languages,  cultural traditions, and worldviews. These traditions are increasingly interacting with forces  such as digital media expansion, educational mobility, migration, and market-driven modernity.  Youth in this region are not passive observers of these transitions. They actively reinterpret  cultural practices through music, fashion, literature, social media engagement, civic activism,  and everyday social interactions. Their cultural expressions reflect negotiations between  inherited traditions and contemporary influences, revealing broader shifts in identity formation  and social belonging. Despite the vibrancy of youth-driven cultural transformation in the  Northeast, scholarly inquiry into youth culture remains comparatively limited. Academic  discourse has often centered on political conflict, development narratives, or ethnic histories,  leaving youth as a secondary focus. There is a pressing need for interdisciplinary engagement  that foregrounds youth culture as a legitimate and significant domain of social science research.  

This two-day national seminar, jointly organized by ICSSR, New Delhi, Christ (Deemed to be  University) Bengaluru, and Government Aizawl North College, Mizoram seeks to create an  academic platform for critical engagement with youth culture in Northeast India. By bringing  together scholars, researchers, policymakers, and youth practitioners, the conference aims to  foster dialogue that situates youth experiences within broader frameworks of social change,  cultural identity, and regional transformation. Hosting the conference in Aizawl provides an  important regional context, ensuring that discussions remain grounded in lived realities while  encouraging national academic exchange.  

Objectives  

The conference seeks to:  

• Examine evolving youth cultures in Northeast India through interdisciplinary  perspectives.  

• Explore how youth negotiate identity, tradition, and globalization.  

• Analyze digital media’s role in shaping youth expression and community  formation.  

• Discuss socio-economic and psychological challenges influencing youth  experiences.  

• Highlight youth agency in civic participation, activism, and cultural innovation.  

• Promote collaborative research networks focused on Northeast youth studies.  

• Generate policy-relevant insights for inclusive youth development.  

Thematic Areas  

The conference invites papers addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: 

(a) Youth Identity and Cultural Negotiation  

Ethnicity, belonging, and intergenerational change  

Tradition, heritage, and cultural continuity  

(b) Digital Youth and Media Cultures  

Social media and identity construction  

Digital activism and youth voices  

(c) Creative Expressions and Cultural Innovation  

Music, literature, fashion, and performance  

Youth aesthetics and popular culture  

(d) Education, Migration, and Aspirations  

Youth mobility and urban transitions  

Career pathways and regional development  

(e)Gender, Inclusion, and Social Justice  

Gendered youth experiences  

Marginalized voices and representation  

(f)Youth, Politics, and Civic Engagement  

Grassroots activism  

Youth leadership and community participation  

(g) Mental Health and Social Well-being  

Emotional pressures and coping strategies  

Community support systems  

Methodological and Theoretical Orientation  

The conference encourages interdisciplinary engagement drawing from sociology,  anthropology, media studies, cultural studies, gender studies, etc. Contributions may include  ethnographic research, narrative inquiry, digital culture analysis, policy research, and  comparative studies. Emphasis will be placed on empirical grounding, theoretical rigor, and  contextual sensitivity. 

Significance of the Conference  

• Academic Significance - The conference advances interdisciplinary youth studies  within a region underrepresented in mainstream scholarship.  

• Regional Significance - Hosting the event in Aizawl foregrounds Northeast  perspectives and strengthens regional academic engagement.  

• Policy Relevance - Insights will inform culturally responsive youth development  strategies.  

• Social Impact - The platform promotes youth-inclusive dialogue and empowerment.  

Submit your abstracts to youthandcultureseminar@gmail.com on or before 

15 August, 2026.

Timeline:

Submission of Abstract

15 August, 2026

Notification of Acceptance

30 August, 2026

Payment of Registration Fee

10 September, 2026

Submission of Full Paper

28 September, 2026

Date of Seminar

08-09 October, 2026

Registration Fee Details:

Teaching Faculty/Working Professionals

1500 INR

Research scholars/Students

750 INR

Submission Guidelines: 

Authors are invited to submit original, unpublished research papers for the upcoming national seminar. Please adhere strictly to the following formatting, ethical, and submission requirements.

1. Word Count and Scope

• Length: Full papers must be between 3,500 and 5,000 words, inclusive of abstract, footnotes, and references.

• Abstract: Every submission must include a concise abstract of 200–250 words outlining the research objectives, methodology, key arguments, and conclusions, along with 4 to 6 keywords.

2. Formatting and Style

• Citation Style: Papers must strictly follow the APA (American Psychological Association) 7th edition manual for both in-text citations and the final references list.

• Typography: * Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt.

• Spacing: Double-spaced throughout (including block quotations and references).

• Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.

• Page Numbers: Inserted in the top right corner of the header.

• File Format: Submissions must be in .doc or .docx format. PDFs will not be accepted for the initial review phase.

3. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy

• Zero Tolerance: The seminar maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. All submissions will be rigorously screened using professional plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin).

• Originality: Papers must represent original research. Paraphrasing without proper attribution, verbatim copying of text without quotation marks, or self-plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

• Ethical Usage: While generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude) may be utilized for preliminary brainstorming or grammatical refining, the intellectual core of the paper must be the authors' own work.

• Mandatory Disclosure: If AI tools were employed at any stage of the research or writing process, authors must explicitly acknowledge this in a dedicated section immediately preceding the References list.

• Disclosure Format: > Declaration on AI Usage: The author(s) acknowledge the use of [Name of AI Tool] to [specify action, e.g., structure the initial outline / proofread the draft]. The final analysis, interpretations, and conclusions remain entirely the responsibility of the author(s).

5. Review Process and Blind Peer Review

• To ensure objectivity, the seminar employs a double-blind peer review process.

• Anonymization: The main manuscript must not contain the authors' names, institutional affiliations, or any identifying identifiers in the text or file properties.

• Title Page: A separate cover page should be uploaded containing:

• Full title of the paper

• Name(s) of the author(s)

• Institutional affiliation(s) and designation

• Email address and contact number

Convenors:

Dr. Vaidyanath Nishant

Assistant Professor

Department of English and Cultural Studies

CHRIST University

vaidyanath.nishant@christuniversity.in 

+91 7076376802

Dr. Ramdinthari Fanai

Assistant Professor

Department of English

Government Aizawl North College

rdinifanai@gmail.com 

+91 9862363643