The status of women in Northeast India has always been better than that of women in other parts of India. This is perhaps due to the presence of matrilineal societies, where descent is transferred not to the men but women. Northeast might be culturally and ethnically diverse, but one factor that unites the region and separates it from the rest of India is the status of women here. The North East has been marginalised to such an extent that we hardly know anything about it. Here are a few North Eastern women leaders who have championed the cause for women.