'We are asked to look for a house in the 'chinky areas'
Source: The Sangai Express / TNN

New Delhi, February 19 2014: The Munirka 'panchayat' fiasco highlights that northeast students are still considered outsiders by many.

For the northeastern community living in the capital, the daily newspaper brings with it some or the other scary information which gives them a reason to consider leaving town, or their folks to call them back home.

On Monday morning, different NE blogs were filled with discussions on the judgment of the Munirka 'panchayat' to evict all northeastern residents living in the area because of their lifestyle.

Though that issue was solved by the end of the day, for the northeastern population living in rented accommodations, a threat like that doesn't come as a surprise.

We spoke to people living in the city who told us that their "arrogant" landlords with separate rules for their NE tenants are a permanent problem.

And in an environment like this, the proposal for creating more hostels only for migrants from the NE states is a welcome decision for all.

Hostel for NE students a need, not a luxury.

Sunny from Arunachal Pradesh, who stays at the northeastern students house in North campus, one of the existing northeast students-only hostels on campus, told us, "When you first come to Delhi, the entire city looks intimidating, and it is at this stage that staying with people from your hometown helps.

The proposal for more hostels for NE students is a need, not a luxury.

With time, you interact with other people, you start making your own decisions and understanding the city well.

I personally don't think that it leads to isolation, because you anyways interact with students of all backgrounds in your classes antyway.

Eventually, you move out to other parts of the city, but for students, a northeast-only hostel is like home, much required" .

Marta, a student staying at the Rajiv Gandhi Hostel for Girls, said, "My parents feel safer about me staying at a hostel and not a private accommodation.

The city, with its many rowdy elements, has an effect on you, but at least you're not judged once you're back in the hostel.

Thankfully, there are still hostel options for girls, but there are not many options for boys.

More hostels is the need of the hour because everyone knows how difficult it is for a person from our community to find a place to stay on their own" .

There are separate rules for people from the northeast.

*Ziya, another hosteller who is preparing for the civil services exam, shared with us, "I am not saying everyone creates a problem.

But the pressure of finding a residence while moving to a new city is huge.

It's a big culture shock and moving to a hostel makes the transition easier.

You can move out after some time when you have understood how the city works and the safe zones and rules, etc.

But the option of moving into a northeast- specific hostel should be available to everyone." Still considered to be an outsider.

We spoke to people from the northeastern communities who have been living in Delhi for several years - according to them, they will not stop being considered as outsiders, even by their own landlords.

*Miza, who relocated to Delhi from Assam four years ago, told us, "There are some things you get used to and learn to ignore.

The teasing and the comments are normal now and I have non-northeastern friends who get that a lot too.

But if you stayed in the same house for almost two years, you would want it to start feeling like home.

My landlords still consider me an outsider and talk to me with this superior attitude.

And even if you follow the rules, behave in the best way possible, be a good neighbour, nothing you say or do is going to change that attitude" .

*Kris, who works as a stylist with a studio, added, "Right from the time I first came to Delhi, to even now, the telephonic conversation goes fine but when they see your face, suddenly everything changes.

The rent goes up, new terms and conditions come into consideration.

I have been told to look for a house in the "chinki" areas of the city, like Khirki extension or north campus, when I wanted a house near my office in Hauz Khas.

And that is also because everyone who relocates here, prefers to stay with their friends and family close by, which leads to areas becoming NE friendly or 'NE anti'" .

Different rules apply to different communities.

According to the NE tenant population, on many occasions, even in a building full of PG students, there are separate rules and regulations for those belonging to the NE states.

It is this kind of bias that leads to all residential arrangements ending on a bad note for people, leading them to start the house searching drill all over again.

*Kaithi, a media professional, who stays in Rajender Nagar, told us, "There are small things which affect you in a bigger way over time.

Other people, who are also living on rent in my building, can have their friends over, can have parties and alcohol also, but I can't.The first day my flatmate and I decided to cook fish, we were told it was a veg building.

The chicken cooked by the landlords and other tenants is obviously not a problem.

I work in shifts and have late working hours which is objected to, but other people returning late from parties is considered okay.

So even though I liked my residence, I have had to fight many times to make my points clear" .

Senza from Sikkim, who works as a store manager in Vasant Kunj, adds, " I've recieved last warnings on everything from coming back late - by late, they mean 11PM - to having friends over.

For a couple of days, my father was in town and my landlady created an issue about having a man at home.

Everything gets magnified for us.

They have created this rogue image in their mind for everyone belonging from my region and whatever I do, the image stays.

I've stayed at my north Indian friends' place and they have never faced the kind of arguments that we deal with on a daily basis" .

(*Some names have been changed) .

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