The 7 Sisters of India are the North Eastern states of India. It comprises the 7 Indian states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Sikkim became the 8th state of Northeast India in the year 2002, but it is not included in the seven sisters of India. Do you know why? In this article, we will know why Sikkim is not part of the seven sisters and the mesmerizing North Eastern region of India.
History of Seven Sisters of India
In the year 1947, when India became independent from British Colonialism, there were only three states in Northeast India. Assam was under the direct control of British rule while Tripura and Manipur were the Princely States.
Assam was a large state, its capital being Shillong until 1969. Four other states of the Northeast were formed from the larger parts of Assam on the basis of ethnic and linguistic lines under the state reorganization act of the Government of India.
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Therefore, Nagaland became a separate state in the year 1963, followed by Meghalaya in the year 1972. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh achieved Statehood in the year 1987. These 7 States of Northeast India namely Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram are known as the 7 Sisters of India.
A famous journalist from Tripura, Jyoti Prasad Saikia coined the term ‘7 sisters of India’ during a radio talk show in the year 1972. Later, he wrote a book called The Land of Seven Sisters.
Why North Eastern states are known as the 7 Sisters of India?
The Northeastern States of India namely Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram are known as the 7 Sisters of India because of their interdependence on each other and commonness.
Assam depends on Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland for water because all the rivers that flood the plains of Assam either originate in Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh and depends upon Assam for transportation and connectivity to India.
Mizoram and Manipur are connected to the rest of India through Barak Valley in Assam and all of these 7 States of the Northeast are connected to India via Siliguri Corridor which is also known as Chicken Neck.
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Sikkim became the 8th state of Northeast India in the year 2002, but it is not part of the 7 Sisters of India because it does not share boundaries with any of the seven sister states of India. That’s why it is casually called the brother of the Seven Sisters.
The 7 Sisters of India and Their Capital
A collection of 7 North Eastern States namely Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram are known as the 7 Sisters of India.
List of the Seven Sisters States of India along with their capital:
| State | Capital | Statehood |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | 1987 |
| Meghalaya | Shillong | 1971 |
| Assam | Dispur | 1947 |
| Manipur | Imphal | 1971 |
| Nagaland | Kohima | 1963 |
| Tripura | Agartala | 1971 |
| Mizoram | Aizawl | 1987 |
FAQs About the Seven Sisters of India
Answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about the Seven Sisters of India and the mesmerizing North Eastern Region of India.
What are the 7 Sisters of India?
A collection of 7 North Eastern States namely Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram are known as the 7 Sisters of India.
Why are the North Eastern states called 7 sisters and 1 brother?
The North Eastern States are called the 7 Sisters of India because of their interdependence on each other. Sikkim is casually called the brother of the Seven Sisters because it does not share boundaries with any of the seven sister states of India.
Why Sikkim is not part of the Seven Sisters?
Sikkim is not part of the Seven Sisters because it does not share boundaries with any of the seven sister states of India. It became the 8th state of Northeast India in the year 2002.
Which is the smallest state among the Seven Sisters?
Tripura is the smallest state among the Seven Sisters of India with an area of 10,486 Km2. Tripura achieved statehood in the year 1971, earlier it was a Union Territory constituted in 1956.
Who gave the term 7 Sisters of India to North Eastern states?
Jyoti Prasad Saikia, a famous journalist from Tripura coined the term ‘7 sisters of India’ for the North Eastern States of India due to their interdependence on each other during a radio talk show in the year 1972. Later, he wrote a book called, The Land of Seven Sisters.
Conclusion
The Seven Sister States is a popular term for the 7 North Eastern states of India which comprises Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Sikkim became the 8th state of Northeast India in the year 2002 and it is not included in the Seven Sister States because it does not share boundaries with any of the seven sister states of India.