Sociologists from Nagaland University have published a new academic volume examining how infrastructure development shapes social life across Northeast India.
Titled Sociology of Infrastructure: Perspectives from Northeast India, the book is edited by Dr. Sandeep Gupta, Associate Professor, and Dr. Suraj Beri, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Nagaland University. The volume has been published in 2026 by Rawat Publications.
The editors argue that infrastructure should not be seen merely as a technical or engineering achievement but as a social force that influences identity, inequality, governance and everyday life in the region. Drawing on empirical research from different parts of Northeast India, the book examines roads, dams, digital networks, markets and health systems as institutions embedded within social and political relationships.
According to the authors, infrastructure shapes how communities access services, mobility and opportunities while also influencing patterns of inclusion and exclusion. The volume highlights how social dynamics affect the functioning and accessibility of infrastructure and how institutions such as the state and markets interact with local communities.
Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, described the publication as an important academic contribution that examines the wider social impact of infrastructure development in the region.
Editor Dr. Sandeep Gupta noted that the research comes at a time when infrastructure-led development is increasingly prioritised in Northeast India. He said infrastructure should also be understood as a “social artefact” where questions of identity, citizenship and inequality are negotiated.
Co-editor Dr. Suraj Beri added that everyday interactions with infrastructure, including access to water, healthcare, education and digital connectivity, often reveal deeper realities about governance, planning priorities and development patterns.