Thinking through a METROscope!

Simon *

Demonstration at Bangalore on 29 April 2012 :: Pix - Justice for Loitam Richard Group

Is Bangalore still Second Home to Manipuri students and professionals despite the suggested discrimination? Why has it suddenly become so and what sorts of discrimination take place? Do people, both parent and students still feel secure aboutliving in these Metros?

Richard's mysterious demise and the insensitive attitude of the Bangalore Police has made me and many other Manipuri residents of the garden city reconsider and doubt the security risk we all unconsciously run. Bangalore – weather like home, lifestyle like home and aura like home has metamorphosed into an Armageddon flaunting cruel and gruesome murderers who may so much as take the life of a 19 year old like me. How are we to make the most of our college and school life or the early year into our profession? How are we to ever feel at home?

It wasn't too sudden when my parents decided that I would be studying my plus two in a Bangalore school. Ask why and I'd question you what is so different about the city from my hometown! Both my immediate siblings are pursuing their degree here, relatives are well-settled and working in good companies, weather is just like home, and I have my own house here – it was a perfect life.

Before I continue I'd like to inform you that this is not my story alone; I share the dialogue with many other Manipuri people who have this city to call a second home. In fact, Bangalore had its share of advantages owing to its rapid development, and behold! We Manipuri's love luxury and fancy stuff even more than the sustenance of our livelihood.

So, my point is how awesomely designed Bangalore seemed to be when I first saw it. Delhi on the other hand, was sprouting racial tension with the rape of many north-eastern women. However, Bangalore had been spared from it…at least for so long.

Over the years, what has happened to Bangalore!? Is it a misconceived perception on our part or theirs? Is it the result if an insecurity of the locals losing their jobs or college seats to non-local aspirants? Are Manipuri's flashing an unpleasant attitude which Bangaloreans refuse to accept?

These questions do not loom far beyond the issue of discrimination. Many Manipuri's are refused tenancy by landlords; some on very logical reasons of food preferences: vegetarian and non-vegetarian and some on being bachelors or family;some on gender, girls when they like their calm at home and boys or either when they care less. These are all discrimination in atypical light but they must not be taken to heart, because it is their personal choice;it is similar to when Brahmins prefer tall, fair, Brahmin woman as a bride for their family.

In the same sphere, some people are known to shut the doors of their home to people who are "chinky". That is racism in its cruder form, a step beyond calling names and staring at people who possess slightly slant and tiny eyes. Why is that? Have chinky's done something unruly? Possible. Did the smell of the food we eat cause them disgust? Possible.

But do they possess authority to label our women voluptuous or children drug addicts in general? No right whatsoever. Nothing is reason enough to shove us away like trash or call our state or civilization pagan. And that is about discrimination that undeniably exists, of course apart from bias among teachers, being stereotyped etc.

The cause however, is far behind; the implications require immediate attention. Now that Bangalore has changed its outlook on us, what do the students and professionals have to say about it?

Malem Kangujam has been a student in Bangalore for many years now, and he's of the view that Bangalore is still a safe place. Discrimination can be ignored if it doesn't question one's safety. He adds that since our hometown doesn't cater to his educational aspirations and basic requirements of life, he has to look for it elsewhere and there is no better place than Bangalore for it.

This point of view seems to be a matter most parents disagree with citing that if a boy decides to fight away discrimination it is certainly not though violence. It puts the boy at risk of being harmed, much like Richard's case, a parent comments.

Rhea Mathews also a student in Bangalore says "Any place is safe, if you want it to be. You should never be negative about such things. If you can handle the situation, and take care of YOURSELF, any place is safe!"

Another student Kushal Menghrajani censures "Not just the NE people, but EVERYBODY would find the metropolitan cities to be safe if the Government stops neglecting and procrastinating such discriminatory issues". "Differences have probably just become another excuse for people to find an easy way out of stuff. And yes, people do discriminate based on misconceived perception but I feel Bangalore is safe, in terms of discrimination against NE people. I have friends who come here and don't want to leave!"

Alekha Acharya, a local enlightens. Agreeing that discrimination does exists, Jai Sehgal adds "Think about it like this... Richard Loitam's college blamed his death on usage of drugs... if he was not from the northeast it would have been something else."

These highlight that people need to throw their prejudices aside and learn to accept if not imbibe the differences that makes us unique and not what sets us apart. Prejudices that make Mainland Indians discriminate and those that make us do the same to them. No civilisation or culture is better than the other.

As long as we respect theirs, they will respect ours. Those who do not acknowledge such acceptance should be punished socially not only by the offended party but also by the party he belongs to, because in reality both are being affected; one by being derogated and other by being unreasonably expended.

So it is assumed that Bangalore is still safe, it's the way people who are being discriminated tackle the incident. One may be slightly clever by not retaliating outrageously but by being composed and gathering help to avoid such circumstances in future.

Things sometimes do get out of control and for that we have a hotline dedicated to our aid. Hotline Number: 1090 and 1091.