Letter to Delhi Golf Club

Lyna H. Misao *

Letter to Delhi Golf Club,

I am deeply sadden by the incident my fellow sister hailing from the khasi hills faced in your club on 25th June. Now,it makes me think twice and check back on what a golf club is and if your dinning hall have a dress code or a dress theme to dine in your hall or was it a private hallowen day?? Or is it a racist dining hall?

I sure would like to meet all your staffs in your organisation and learn more about your policy and set of rules in regards to your club/dinning hall. I cannot speak on behalf of your organisation but according to my knowledge,a manager is expected to be welcoming and fulfilling the customers needs and demands (pardon me if I am wrong) .

However,it really amazed me and disappoint me at the same time to know that a manager and the staffs are concerned with people looks and and their attires and pass racial comments on their customers . Was it really my sister’s attire that was disturbing or was it her physical appearance that you cannot stand?

Please clarify this point as I really could not put myself to understand the problem and how both these factors can avoid one from dinning in a public hall.If that’s the case, you have got to face all of us, trust me we are cool but we don’t just stand and let go of insult and prejudice.

Though, its unfair anywhere, it would have hurt less had the incident occurred in a foreign land where people are completely ignorant about us. But it is more painful and remorseful to know that my sister was insulted in her own country, by her very own people that too in your organisation that is supposedly well organised and reputed.

More agonising because she was asked to leave your dinning hall with such insulting and demeaning comments. You reckon she is alone and that you could say anything to her and she would remain silent but my dear! I am sorry she is not alone.

We felt the words right in our skin and remain fresh in the sentiments of all the north-eastern family who to you looks like maid. As much as you respect your saris, dhotis, kurtis, salwar we love our traditional attire and we respect it and what is in my body is non of your business if I am capable of paying for the food I am eating in your hall.

To be more precise,under the protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 denying any access to any shop, hotel or places of public entertainment is an offence which justify that even if she was a maid no one has the right to kick her out. Therefore, you have no right to call her maid and insult our beautiful ‘Jainsem’.

If we could wear your saris and kurtis that your maids also wears in Delhi or any hindu states excluding north-east, then what is wrong with our Jainsem?? Had you been curious on what the attire is you should have asked my sister what it was. Your opinion on our tradition have nothing to do with us. You should be guilty of being so confident of your ignorance and hostility towards my sister.

Had my sister have a face of typical Indian lady and worn a sari you would have welcome her with a smile and treated her with respect . If only my sister was a popular media icon like Gigi Hadid or Kylie Jenner you would not have a problem with her attire and you would have thought her ‘Jainsem’ is a trending fashion.

You would have accepted her without questions. I am not going to lecture you about discrimination and issues related to racism, fundamental rights now as I believe it’s getting old and you will never decipher therefore,I am keeping it simple.

So, I deeply regret to state that my sister did not see the unwritten books of rules that you have set in your organisation and pasted in front of your dinning hall, I am sorry that you have no idea of how we look like, I am sorry that she actually think humans are allow to dine in your hall.

I am sorry that your knowledge is so little that who ever looks different from you is a maid to you. I am sorry that India is a democratic country where my sister has the freedom to wear and practice her tradition.

I am sorry that you did not know India is a multicultural country. I am sorry to say that you and your staffs are unqualified to manage your organisation. I am most sorry that I, my sisters and brothers and the rest of family are going to continue to wear our respected traditional attire which according to you is a maid dress.

Well, let me remind you once again, my sister Tailin Lyngdoh is not alone. The whole seven sisters are with her. And I am sorry that your opinion is not going to matter and I am sorry to ask you to learn better about your country and its people and lastly, I am sorry your sorry is not enough.

Yours faithfully,

Lyna H.Misao
M.Phil Sociology,
JNU, New Delhi