"Unity In Diversity" - a bygone word

By:- Laiphangbam Mercy Roy *

India being one of the largest country in the world, not only has a diverse geographical zone but the vast population of this country has its origin to many different race.

When we looked upon history the original inhabitant of the mainland India (i.e. the central region) were the Dravidian, the present inhabitant of the southern states of India, who are believed to be pushed down southward when the Aryan invaded India.

However, interestingly nothing much has been mentioned about the origin of the inhabitant in the eastern states. Majority of the population in the eastern states has Mongolian race resulting in different physical appearance from the rest of the Indian citizen.

The government of India has been neglecting the eastern states especially the northeast states. It was only after 1970s that the Government of India gave little importance towards these states (after the 1962 war with China) and hence they are far way behind in development when compared with the rest of the Indian states.

One can experience this negligence and difference as soon as you step out of your state in many ways. However, the recent increasing attack on the students of northeastern states in Delhi by the local people is a major area of concerned.

Thousands of students come to Delhi and other cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, etc every year for higher education. The parents back at home are at constant fear because of such incident or the term 'racial attack' would be more appropriate.

Even though the Chief Minister of Delhi and the concerned authority has assured the safety of the students from NorthEast, thanks to the concerned of Rahul Gandhi regarding the issue, the attitude of the people hasn't changed yet.

And this is very much evident from the recent attack on two students from Nagaland by some local boys. Though the accused were arrested, they easily managed to get bail as they had good connection with the concerned authority.

In another incident, a girl from Ukhrul district of Manipur, visiting her sister was abused and burnt to death by her neighbour, an IIT PhD student from Patna. Not only have these, but a number of students especially the girls faced many awkward situations where they are taunted with racially abuse comments.

Major reason for these just being the difference in physical appearance and most importantly many such cases goes unreported as the students does not want to get caught in any legal hurdles as they feel that they have come to make a career for themselves rather than run from one post to another once the FIR has been registered and also due to the ignorant attitude of the concerned authority.

Few months earlier, when there have been cases of racial attack on Indian students in Australia, the matter was taken up by the Government of India with great concern. Now the big question arises as to what measures the State Governments has taken up or are planning to ensure the safety of the students.

Every Indian citizen has been taught since childhood and sings the praises of the beautiful saying "unity in diversity" which is a trademark for India, the largest democratic country in the world. But seems everyone has forgotten the underlying meaning of this sentence. How can unity in diversity exist when one cannot respect and start attacking its own brother and sister.

Now, it is a collective responsibility of the people to come forward and retaliate against such injustice. The time has arrived to contribute for the welfare and development of these lovely states, where every individual does a bit of their share, an act of selfless service.

Bandh and blockade for every issue are not the means to stop injustice but a step taken forward to worsen the situation. There is always a way to reach the destination, whose path one has to choose.

Gandhiji words are true in its sense "an eye for an eye will make the world blind". Though militant nationalism during the Indian national movement was successful at the initial stage to some extent, it was Gandhiji's non-violence movement that ultimately triumph at the end....