Tuesday 4 February 2014

Discrimination against North-East





Ignorance about NE
 
 
As 19-year-old Nido Tania was beaten to death by some hooligans in the national capital because he protested their racial remarks, I as a north-easterner and many of my friends from the region feel outraged and ignored.
People from the northeast part of India, especially those who have Mongolian features, have always been the subject of ridicule in Delhi and so-called mainland India. Discrimination and strange queries ranging from the laughable to the absurd are daily features in their lives. It’s strange that though North-East is a part of India, people in other areas know so less about that region. Worse, there is no effort to even learn.
The first question that stumped me was at my first job interview in Delhi. “How come you are a Bengali and you are from North-East.” I had to explain, Indians have the right to stay anywhere in India and people from different communities are spread all across the country. And that northeast India is a mini-India by itself.
Sometimes people confuse between states too. Once a friend visited my place and I introduced her to my neighbour. And every time she comes, my neighbour asks me, “Your friend is from Mizoram right?” When I correct, “No Manipur”, pat comes the reply “wahi wahi”. I want to tell them make your facts right --- the seven North-East states are Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram. Now Sikkim is also the eighth and latest entrant to the northeast brigade.
Here I found a connection with people from down south, when we generalise them by referring to people from all southern states as south Indians or even ‘Madrasis’.
Another common comment is on the food habits of north-easterners --- that they eat anything and everything and that dogs are not found in the region for obvious reasons and then the ‘lol’. For them my answer would be, mind your own tongue. And these same people cannot resist and relish on momos from the North-East. This conversation I overheard when a group of youngsters were having their share of laugh over north-easterners at the food corner of a mall.
Much like of the perception of people from the Western nations that India is a land of snake charmers, many Indians are of the view that the North-east is nothing but a jungle. A junior colleague of mine once asked: “You are taking a flight? Is there any airport? For your kind information, there are airports in most North-East states and one international airport in Assam.
Another surprising question from many which never fail to amaze me is, “Why so many people study only in Cotton College, is that the only college?” My dear friends, there is no dearth of colleges in North-East but Cotton College is the leading one. Like most Delhiites and people from around the region study in DU.
Looks again is a favourite topic. A police officer in Bangalore recently commented: “They all look the same.” A general and derogatory perception shared by people from so-called ‘mainland India’. Want to tell these people that there are all sorts of people in North-East and people with small eyes just look beautiful.
Many say people from the North-East stay in groups and they do not want to mix with others. Visit North-East and you will be amazed by the warmth, hospitality and soft nature of the people.
We complain when Indians face discrimination outside. But look at our backyard, it needs so much cleaning. And that does not need a policy change. It just needs a positive attitude to accept others as they are.
No doubt the spectacular beauty of North-East is just breath-taking. But want to tell the Government that just broadcasting ‘Incredible North-East’ ad is not enough. Both the Governments at the Centre and the states should work hard to attract tourists and allow people to explore the unexplored virgin North-East. Know and let know the region better!
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Sunday 2 February 2014

Ignorance about NE is breeding discrimination....Published in Hindustan Times edit page, Delhi

Published in Hindustan Times edit page, Delhi

Ignorance about NE

After the upsetting news of the recent mob violence against African nationals in Delhi came out, I, a Northeasterner, and many of my friends from the region, feared that we would be next on the hit list of those who are intolerant to cultures that are different from their own. The murder

of a young student from Arunachal Pradesh, Nido Taniam, in Lajpat Nagar, on Thursday night only proved our fears right.

If the Ugandans and Nigerians are routinely jeered at in Delhi, people from the Northeast, especially those with Mongoloid features, are in no better a situation.


Discrimination and strange queries are daily features of our lives. Africa is still a different part of the world (though that does not justify the daily humiliation its people face in India), but it’s strange that though the Northeastern states are a part of the country, people in other states know so little about that region and its people.

Worse, there is even very little effort on their part to know us and the states.

My first job interview in Delhi went like this: "You are a Bengali. So how come you come from the Northeast?" I had to explain the obvious: Indians have the right to stay anywhere in the country and that the Northeast is also home to people from different parts of the country.

Many don’t even know that there are seven states in the Northeast, with Sikkim being the eighth and latest entrant in the group. In fact, people from the so-called mainland India also tend to categorise people from the southern states either as ‘South Indians’ or ‘Madrasis’.

There is also many misconceptions about the food habits of Northeasterners. Much like the perception of people from the West that India is still a land of snake charmers, many Indians think that the Northeast is nothing but a jungle and that people there eat everything and anything.
We loudly complain when Indians face discrimination outside the country but we are no better.

Only State policies cannot change mindsets. The central as well as the state governments must do more than broadcasting advertisements about ‘Incredible North-East’. Together, they need to encourage non-Northeasterners to explore and understand the Northeast.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/analysis/ignorance-about-ne-is-breeding-discrimination/article1-1179597.aspx


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