Because I come from the North East India, do they look at me with a different eye? Do they feel like an alien has just passed their way whenever my paths cross them? Do they start thinking about the supposedly weird things I could be possibly eating as part of my food culture? Do they find it extremely difficult to gel in with me just because I come from a different place, a different region with a different culture and lifestyle? Do they watch me with contempt because I look different, act different, and live differently? Are they on a constant look out for an opportunity to physically or verbally assault me, to harm or to shame me?
Or because I come from the North East India, do I alienate myself from the so called “mainland Indians”? And because my mind is already injured with the possible thought of being prejudiced in a metropolitan, do I overreact? Do I live in a city that has a totally different culture than my own, without giving a little effort to blend in with those in my environment?
But then again, none of the thoughts above justify the loss of the life of Arunachal student, Nido Taniam. The loss of a precious life, that has, if anything, only gone on to trigger more fear in the minds of those who come from the North East Region. Such a regrettable incident is a capital shame, a national shame when we boast of a country that is seemingly supposed to uphold “Unity in Diversity”. So much for our beliefs in unity and diversity when we cannot tolerate each other and try to live together as one.
Racism, we have been taught isn’t the quality of a civilized citizen. No parent, teacher, or elder would encourage their child to talk or behave in such a way that it promotes racism. At such a time like this, when the nation has also seemingly woken up to the ills of racism once again, we should put our heads together to prevent any such unfortunate incident in the near future. It is not just about people from the North East, but such a terrible thing should never happen to any citizen of the world, regardless of where they come from.
Regrettably, whatever we resolve to do today, even regardless of the number of protests that we hold, nothing we ever do is going to bring back the life of Nido Taniam. But what we can certainly do is draw measures to prevent any such incident in the days to come. Not only for the people from the North East India but from all over who come visiting Delhi, or to any other parts of India for that matter.
One can only hope for good sense to prevail. That, in the course of fighting for justice (which the departed soul truly deserves) we may not lose our sense of direction. That, in our endeavour to find our rightful place as citizens of the country, we may also not hamper the rights of others, who may be in need of it much more than we do.
May justice always prevail!
