All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) President Bruce Pebam has cautioned that the growing trend of identity-based politics in Northeast India poses a serious threat to the unity and collective progress of the region. He described the “Balkanization of the Northeast” as a direct challenge to regional harmony and coexistence.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 3rd Mising Sports Carnival held at Gogamukh, Dhemaji District, Assam, from October 23 to 26, Bruce Pebam said that identity is essential for communities to live with dignity and self-respect, but warned against its misuse as a political weapon.
“While safeguarding one’s identity is vital, using identity politics to create enmity among communities is destructive,” he said. “The politics of identity has divided communities that once lived together in peace and mutual respect since time immemorial.”
The AMSU president urged the youth to rise above divisive tendencies and focus on building a shared future. “The region’s unity is its greatest strength. Those who exploit our differences for political or economic gain are weakening the very fabric that binds us together,” he added.
In his speech, Bruce also expressed concern over external forces allegedly using community identities to divide people and exploit the Northeast’s land and natural resources. He stated that the region could have achieved far greater progress had the Government of India treated its people and resources with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Bruce Pebam called upon all indigenous communities of the Northeast to protect and preserve their unique cultures while strengthening regional solidarity. “Cultural identity should be a bridge, not a boundary,” he said, emphasizing the need for collaboration among the diverse ethnic groups of the region.
The All Mising Students’ Union, which organised the four-day sports carnival, said in a statement that Bruce Pebam’s address served as a reminder that sports and culture are powerful instruments of unity. The event brought together participants from various communities to celebrate diversity, resilience, and shared identity.
The AMSU president concluded by reiterating that peace, respect, and understanding among communities are essential to build a stronger and more united Northeast — one that develops not in division but in solidarity.