More than a fortnight after death of the 19 year old Nido
Taniam of Arunachal Pradesh in the capital, the voices of the enraged
North-East community refuses to die. The initial approach of indifference by
the Delhi police has became a matter of severe indignation in this case. The
High Court had intervened, rightly so, due to the inordinate delay of the
police and pulled them up to fast-tracking the case. Subsequently, the
post-mortem reports have indicated that he was beaten to death by locals with
whom he had an altercation. A reason as trivial as a funky hair style, a
cultural element, sparked taunts, leading to an altercation between Nido and
local people. This event was followed by reports of discrimination which
included a sexual-assault on two minors from the North-East and another rape
episode in south Delhi. Just this week, to add more fuel to the fire vicious
tweets are making rounds in Delhi, which cited that the local panchayat of
Munirka village, in South Delhi, has decided to issue notices to people from
North- East to vacate their accommodations with immediate effect. With
increasing reports of attacks on North-East people is India at the verge of
turning into a veritable hell stinking of racism?
People from North- Eastern states migrate to Delhi, mostly as
students, in search of better opportunities which their respective states fail
to offer. Ever since his death there
have been demonstrations and athletes from these states have teamed with the
North- East associations demanding for a strong anti-racism legislation. Though
certain sections of people quickly dismiss the seriousness of the issue by
making it as a misunderstood case of cultural difference, it is an obvious fact
that migrants from other Indian states too experience similar kind of
discrimination in one form or the other. This is not an isolated case of racial
discrimination in the capital alone two years ago, Loitam Richard of Manipur
was found dead in a hostel in Bangalore. Due to the apathy of police and media
the case has been largely been hushed up but informal sources revealed that
Richard died due to beating by fellow students. If Indians fail to accept the
Indian-ness of the North-East, are we not at the risk of losing out the smaller
boundary states like Arunachal Pradesh to the belligerent China which refuses
to issue VISA to residents of the state? Are we becoming a nation of racial
crooks unable to stand the fellow Indians of different state, region and ethnic
origin? Have our tolerance levels stooped down to subzero levels?
India has been revered world over for its unity in diversity.
Nearly every province in India has its distinct culture, tradition, style and
identity. Even their dance, music, art, literary forms are different. Harmony
amidst these cultural differences has been the crowning glory of this nation. A
spurt in episodes of racism across the nation is ominous to the basic
foundations of our nation. People from North-East are subjected to alienation
for their Mongoloid features, as still the orthodox lot assume this as Un-Indian. Moreover, branding them as
cultural invaders by the public in general & law-enforcers in specific is
unacceptable to the law of the land and its ethos.
Cases of racial discrimination towards any particular
ethnicity are not new in India. Uttarbharatiyas
(people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) have been subjected to attacks in
Maharashtra as they are perceived to antagonise local population. Similarly,
many migrants from Bihar have been targeted multiple times in states like
Assam, Nagaland and Manipur by the militant groups resulting in deaths and
displacement of thousands of people, especially several Hindi-speaking people
were attacked in 2007 in Assam after which they fled the region. It is only pertinent to say that these
attacks are outcomes of misconceived notions of culture, habits and language
along with the attitude of the natives to outsiders. It is queer but true that
people of any ethnicity experiences some kind of discrimination when they
migrates to a new place within India. Irrespective of the state of domicile
when a south Indian moves to North, they are referred to as ‘madrasis’ and
eventually become butt of crude jokes for their accented language.
Discrimination becomes evident in various forms as migrants begin to experience
in the way they are treated in everyday life.
Recent vigilante activism of the former Delhi Law Minister
drew the loudest disgruntlement from the African population in Delhi for
disdainful racism practiced in India. These kind of irresponsible attitudes are
threat to the national integrity and can endanger the unity. Thus, the list of our prejudices seems to be
unending. India’s long history of cultural assimilation seems to be crumbling
and acclaiming the reputation of a notorious listlessness.
The Right to Equality under Article 14 has been enshrined in
the Constitution dictates that State shall not deny to any person equality
before law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
However, the recent spate of incidents indicates that this right has strayed
away from its scripture. The numerous racial attacks India under the various
discriminatory grounds of race, creed, language etc, vindicates even the basic
tenets of fundamental rights bestowed by constitution under the Article 15(1).
If the machinery that is institutionalised to ensure safety and protection
begins to function selectively on the basis of religious, caste, region and
racial lines, prejudicial mind set would be bolstered. Two years ago, a calculated hate-SMS against
North-Eastern people triggered enmasse movement of people from Bangalore to
their homelands.
As a nation we vehemently condemn and get incensed by the
racial discrimination faced by our citizens abroad. While being completely
unapologetic for similar incidents at home.
We perpetually recall the trails indignation suffered under colonial
bigotry but are blissfully averse to worse treatment meted out to people of
North-East. It is our bounden duty to denounce racial bias of any kind within
India too.
A school of thought opines that years of subjugation,
deep-seated inferiority and resentment might have resulted in emerging trend of
guarding the self –turf. The present day disconnected Urbanite has become so
overprotective about his/her own existence, survival that he/she perceives any
new entrant into his biome as an intruder. Flustered current generation with
their inability to assimilate new ethnicities seems to be the unfounded
culprit.
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