Racism at its worst

Thanggoulen Kipgen *

Rally at Shillong against Killing of Nido Tania on 02 Feb 2014 :: Pix - Shillong Manipuri Students' Union (SMSU)

"Racism is the prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior"- Oxford Dictionary

The hideous unfolding of events for the last few weeks in New Delhi in relation to racial attacks against people from Northeast has raised many questions and eyebrows. The death of a 19-year-old Nido Taniam, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, who was brutally assaulted by some shopkeepers at Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi following a confrontation provoked by racist comment on the colour of his hair; the physical assault and humiliation against two Manipuri women in Kotla Mubarakbur in South Delhi just days before the attack on Taniam; the rape of a 14-year-old minor girl from Manipur by her landlord's son just nine days after Taniam's incident and also the attack against two students from Manipur with sticks two days after the minor girl incident in South Delhi and others such incidents are all clear manifestations of the prevalence of Racism in the country.

The heart-rending component of it is its manifestation against fellow citizens from Northeast.

Not the first time such instances have happened inthe country. There were also preceding death of individuals hailing from this particular part of the country. Almost two years before, in Bangalore, Loitam Richard from Manipur met a mysterious death, Ramchamphy Hongray was murdered in New Delhi, Dana Sangma from Meghalaya committed suicide and other such incidents took place every nook and corner of the country day in and day out.

The conventional standpoint in correlation to all these incidents is that these individuals had a "specific" physical appearances bearing Mongoloid features distinct from those bearing Caucasoid features i.e. the "mainland" Indians and that they died because they were regarded as "outsiders" or "un Indian" in their own country.This makes the youth from the North-East soft targets.

New Delhi is the capital of a democratic heterogeneous country where no group can claim superiority irrespective of their class, race, origin, sex and colour and rootless as far as culture is concern. It is tragic that New Delhi has become the centre of racial discrimination materialising in the form of racial superiority professed by one. "Unity in Diversity" as enshrined in the Constitution has lost its relevance.

It is indisputable that due to lack of meaningful economic progress and infrastructure in the region, thousands of people from North-East move to other parts of the country for higher studies and employment. The irony is that in many of the metros, they became easy prey to racist Indians. India may deny the existence of racism in the country but the very fact is that it is rank 4th among world's most racist country (World Value Survey).

Why should we always suffer?

Has Justice been met?

What steps have been taken so far?

No one in human history has wishfully changed his/her colour, sex, race and language overnight.

It is high time these suffering ends because all of these is not just embarrassing but shameful as well. It is high time the "mainland" Indians are educated about the North-East and accorded due "respect" irrespective of our race, colour, culture, language, food, clothes and behaviour.

It is applaudabe that the Central Government set up a Six-member Committee headed by M P Baruah to address concerns of people from the Northeast living in other parts of the country following outrage over the death of Nido Taniam and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by the Delhi police to investigate the rape of a 14-year-old minor girl.

However, the sad but inescapable truth is that the law and order machinery across India is dysfunctional. Richard Loitam case is yet to reach the courts. The inclusion of the geography, history and tradition and culture of the indigenous people of the Northeaster states in NCERT textbooks will do little, if not nothing, to curb racism in the country.No commissions/committees can solve this evil. The anti-racial law is needed and is needed now. Or else innocent individuals will continue to be discriminated and killed anytime anywhere within the country.

Let "mainland Indians" acknowledge that they are guilty of Racism. Let them recollect their incense and outrage when Indian students faced racism in Australia and when actor Sharukh Khan was frisked by American immigration authorities in US, all of which causes diplomatic crisis. It is unethical to be conscious only when we are potential victims, but disinclined to accept it to ourselves when we are perpetrators.Xenophobia and Racism must be nipped at its bud.It is unethical and inhumane whether it is practices against one's own citizens or foreigners.

As a responsible citizen of the country, let us all irrespective of religion, race, sex, caste and language uphold and promote our Fundamental Duties as enshrined in Article 51A of the Constitution which states that – "it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to promote the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India".

Let peace and harmony triumph.