How inclusive is India's mainstream literary culture? Time and again, it has overlooked the wealth of literature produced in the Northeast region and has ignored the existence of the rich literary tradition of the Northeast. It is only very recent that literature from the Northeast has even reached the rest of India. At a time when we all speak of inclusivity, it is absolutely necessary to stop the othering of the region in mainstream culture as well.
Here are a few books to help you get started with building an inclusive bookshelf and educating and understanding the complex issues that mire the diverse region of the Northeast. This list comprises a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books by Northeast Indian authors and it is, by no means, exhaustive.
1. The Legends Of Pensam by Mamang Dai
2. The Many That I Am: Writings From Nagaland by Anungla Zoe Longkumer
3. Around The Hearth: Khasi Legends by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih

4. Bitter Wormwood by Easterine Kire

5. The Collector's Wife by Mitra Phukan
6. WARI: A Collection Of Manipuri Short Stories by Linthoi Chanu

7. These Hills Called Home: Stories From A War Zone by Temsula Ao
8. The King's Harvest by Chetan Raj Shrestha
9. How To Tell The Story Of An Insurgency by Aruni Kashyap

10. India Against Itself by Sanjib Baruah

11. Zorami: A Redemption Song by Malsawmi Jacob
12. The Nine Chambered Heart by Janice Pariat
13. The Desire Of Roots by Robin S Ngangom
14. Struggling In A Time Warp by Hiren Gohain

15. The Moth-Eaten Howdah Of The Tusker by Indira Goswami

16. Being Mizo: Identity And Belonging In Northeast India by Joy L. K. Pachuau

17. A Bowstring Winter by Dhruba Hazarika
