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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