EMERGE Eastern Himalayan and the Bay of Bengal Region – Political and Economic Relations
The study area - termed the Eastern Himalayan-Bay of Bengal region - ranges over Northeast India, Southwest China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan. Historically, there have been evolving social, cultural, and economic ties and interactions between the peoples in different parts of the region. The independence of India, Pakistan and Myanmar from British colonial rule involved protracted political struggles, in some instances characterized by ethnic and religious violence. The subsequent liberation of Bangladesh from unified Pakistan took place through armed insurgency, followed by the violence of full-scale war in 1971. The region has witnessed continuing instances of political violence in the subsequent decades up to the present. These are illustrated by the ongoing ethnic and political conflicts and insurgencies in Northeast India, as well as in Myanmar - both before and after the military coup d’etat in 2021. These instances of intra-regional tensions and violence have had social and political impacts on the adjoining borderlands of Bangladesh and Southwest China. Taken together, these developments are symptomatic of cross-border interrelations between varied forms of ethno-nationalism, identity politics, and populist movements in this region.
The research group EMERGE provides an academic platform for collaboration and exchanges between concerned scholars working on relevant social, economic, and political issues in the Eastern Himalayan-Bay of Bengal region. Activities include the holding of lectures, seminars, and workshops, as well as undertaking of collaborative research projects and publications. The thematic issues of interest to EMERGE are wide-ranging, inclusive of regional social, economic, and political developments, growth of transport and energy infrastructure, connectivity, foreign investments, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development.
Joint Convenors
- Prof. Dr. Anja Senz (Institute of Chinese Studies/CATS/Heidelberg University)
- Prof. Dr. Adnan Shapan (Visiting Professor, Department of Geography & Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science/LSE)
- Dr. Dieter Reinhardt (South Asia Institute/SAI/CATS/Heidelberg University)
Contact
EMERGE – Lectures, Round Table, Teaching Exchange, Film screening
11.
“The Unfinished Insurrection in Bangladesh: Diverse Forces and Emergent Contradictions", 16.6.2025 (see poster)
Speaker: Prof Dr. Shapan Adnan (Visiting Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science/LSE)
10.
“Songs from Maidichong”, Film screening, Discussion with the producer Hu Jie, Institute of Chinese Studies/CATS, 11.6.2025
9.
"Making of the ‘36th July’ Insurrection in Bangladesh: Driving Factors, 'the Mastermind', and Unintended Consequences“, 4.12.2024 (see poster)
Speaker: Prof Dr. Shapan Adnan (Visiting Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science/LSE)
Discussant: Prof. Dr. Hans Harder (South Asia Institute/SAI, Heidelberg University)
8.
“Changing Strategies of Ethnic Repression and Resistance in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh“, 23.10.2025 (see poster)
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Shapan Adnan (Visiting Prof., London School of Economics and Political Science/LSE)
7.
“Civil War in Myanmar and its impact on Northeast India”, Teaching Exchange, 26.6.2024 (see poster)
Speaker: Dr. Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman (Heinrich Böll Foundation, Regional Office New Delhi)
6.
“Alternative Worldviews: Narratives from Northeast India”, Film screening , 26.6.2024 (see poster)
Discussion with Mr. Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman (Heinrich Böll Foundation, Regional Office New Delhi)
5.
“Return of the Female Voice of Myanmar: Role of Women in the Ongoing Resistance Movement“,Teaching Exchange, 17.7.2024 (see poster)
Speaker: Ms Nilanjana Sengupta (Author, Singapor)
4.
“Socio‐economic challenges and implementation of SDGs in India with special Reference to Assam and the North Eastern Region“, 6.5.2024 (see poster)
Speaker: Prof Dr. Swabera Islam (Assam Royal Global University)
Discussant Prof. Dr. Stefan Klonner (South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University)
3.
"Bakeries in borderlands: militarisation and mobilisation in the Eastern Himalayan State of Arunachal Pradesh in India“, 15.3.2024 (see poster)
Speaker: Dr. Kaustubh Deka (Dibrugarh University, Northeast India)
Discussant: Prof. Dr. Shapan Adnan (Visiting Professor, London School of Economics/LSE)
2.
"Parliament election 2024 and backsliding democracy in India", Round Table Discussion, 11.3.2024 (see poster)
Introductory Statements:
Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman (PhD, Programme Coordinator & Research Associate, Heinrich Böll Regional Office/New Delhi): Conflicts in North East India and Indian Democracy
Supra Banerjee (PhD, Author for Journal 'Development and Cooperation', Founder of Green Zeit: www.green-zeit.com): Parliament Election in India. Fair and Free?
Rahul Mukherji (Prof. Dr. , South Asia Institute/CATS): Competitive Authoritarianism, Civil Society and Election in India
Anja Senz (Prof. Dr. , Institute of Chinese Studies/CATS): China Perceptions and Democratic self-affirmation in India
1.
"Strategies of China and India in the Bay of Bengal Region: Revisiting Strategic Competition", 27.11.2023 (see poster)
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Md Safiqul Islam (Dep. of Political Science, University of Chittagong)
Discussant: Prof. Dr. Swabera Islam (Dep. of Economics, Assam Royal Global University)
