Sentsuthung Odyuo
Research Scholar, Wokha
We are used to hearing the word racism but our actions have been normalised to adhere in believing that it is not an act of racism. Addressing non-localite of Miya or Plain manu irrespective of any outsiders has become a norm. When we hear the word Miya the word that conveyed is not always positive, the first thing that comes to our mind is an immigrant labourer and that the person is dark and poor, this stereotypical attitude exhibits the very prejudices that are inbuilt in us.
Likewise, every tribe addresses outsiders pertaining to their own dialects, which connotes representation that is not always favourable, taking the context of the Lotha’s there are several prejudices that are not seen as racism, to be precise when some incident occurs that is linked towards non-locals the word that disseminates is " osom ejen kuma hoto tsov ka" in translation, the person has got different blood, which is a determinant that they are genetically prone to act in such manner, but ironically when the same incident happens among our own people the same concept is not forayed. In another case, if someone from our own region living in a different city happens to go through the same experience the situation may vary, are we ready to listen to someone telling us that the Nagas’ are “wild in nature”? I believe we may not want to hear such words, as such it is important that we acknowledge rationalism rather than being a hypocrite.
The study conducted among few Nagas’ also shows that our words tend to be harsh and tyrannical when communicating to outsiders, they are not treated as equals. The recent tragedy that occurs in America has taken a tool with a movement as important as "Black lives matter" people across regions have openly initiated support for the cause, this should be a learning call for us as well, to stand up for a cause and setting a benchmark for the right cause and to end all forms of discrimination.
On the other hand, the outbreak of global COVID-19 pandemic has generated our worldview through divergent narratives of racial discrimination, with that we have seen enough incidences of racism towards North-East people across India, we are being discriminated and racially abused, much have extended their thoughts against the discrimination in varied platforms but to think it through our actions are no less, we are treating our people coming from outside with all sorts of discrimination, coming back to our own land we have heard and seen of the viral video that was circulated across social media of some few Naga people mishandling non-localities, there was a recent incident in Wokha town as well, when a bus carrying a passenger(coming from outside the state) from different districts crossing Wokha Town some naive individuals started rushing to another end on seeing the arrival of the bus, some screaming out loud that “ Corona is coming”, isn't that obscurity? I have had my own share of experience as well, I came from Bangalore on the 3rd week of March (before the lockdown), upon my arrival, I was asked to home quarantined but there were many members in the family so I decided to take shelter and quarantine all by myself at my sister’s resident as there was none at their place during that specific period and the thought that I won't bear any burden to my family and that it is the best option to distant myself, but after a day or two words started spreading across the locality that I have coronavirus, the rumours started just because I came from a different city, the words spread like wildfire, the colony members decided that I should vacate the house and not stay in their colony, this incident shelter in my perspective how if we are being treated like this in our own land what about our own people staying elsewhere? It took me a while to sink in as it indirectly impacted my family as well, but I learnt to move on, this experience is not to gain sympathy but should be a measurement of awareness, and an act of sensitization.
We should not just be a churchgoer, but also live a life that is Christian like, we should not discriminate anyone but rather stand for the truth to prevail. We should not separate people for they look and think differently, we should not use a separate language for they are different. But we should see them as another human being toiling as hard as we are to make ends meet, we should not be a product of hypocrisy, we are not born to be superior towards another being, we look different doesn’t mean we are better than them, one should not use power to divide people by segregating this race or that race, it’s time we respect someone not just from our own culture. Discriminating people should not be a means to an end, and education should not be just a tag factor. The Covid-19 pandemic is one experience in our life where we can really resonate our actions and thoughts, to change where it is needed, to show love and peace to one another, to care for those who are sick, provide those who are in need and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, our perspective needs to change for good, it's time we realise and unlearn and learn anew and if we do that I believe we will triumph when we come out of this pandemic, a newer and refined version of ourselves.
