Appropriating Rubber in the North Eastern Frontier of British India

What is it about?

The article firstly, discusses the institutional arrangements made by the British colonial state to appropriate natural rubber growing in the northeastern frontier tracts of British India. Secondly, the article attempts to build a case history of disruptions and dialogues between the colonial authorities and the 'Akas', a tribal community, noted for their engagements in rubber extraction.

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Why is it important?

Resource extractions often have ideological dimensions which serve the purpose of justifying the various appropriation mechanisms. My article takes up the discourse of savagery and civilization, and investigates how this ideological complex plays out in the arena of rubber appropriation.