The insidious nature of everyday racism continues to cast a long shadow over the lives of Indians hailing from the Northeast, manifesting in the form of racial slurs, discrimination, and the questioning of their very identity as Indians. Terms like "chinki," "momo," and "Chinese" are routinely weaponized, perpetuating harmful stereotypes based on their East Asian appearance. This casual prejudice, often dismissed as harmless teasing, can escalate into more dangerous forms of discrimination and even violence.
The recent death of Anjel Chakma, a student from Tripura, has reignited the conversation around this persistent issue. Chakma was reportedly subjected to racial slurs during a market visit in Dehradun, which led to a violent confrontation that ultimately cost him his life. His last words, "I am not Chinese, I am Indian," encapsulate the struggle faced by many from the Northeast who constantly have to assert their national identity.
This is not an isolated incident. The 2014 death of Nido Tania, an Arunachali student who was beaten to death in Delhi after being mocked for his hairstyle, sparked national outrage and led to the formation of the M.P. Bezbaruah Committee. The committee recommended the enactment of an anti-discrimination law, but it has yet to materialize, highlighting India's reluctance to address issues of race.
The discrimination faced by people from the Northeast is multi-faceted. It includes questioning their food habits, appearance, and language. Women from the region often face the added burden of being viewed as sexually promiscuous. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they were even stigmatized as virus spreaders due to their physical appearance. This racialization often hampers their access to housing and employment opportunities in metropolitan cities.
Activists and community leaders have long called for legal and social interventions to combat this discrimination. They advocate for an anti-racial discrimination law, sensitivity training for law enforcement agencies, and reforms at the police level to ensure that such crimes are taken seriously. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) also needs to maintain a separate category for racial crimes against people from the Northeast to accurately assess the scale of the problem.
The persistent racism faced by Northeast Indians reveals a deeper issue of inclusivity in India's cosmopolitan spaces. It underscores the need for a more profound understanding and acceptance of the diverse identities that constitute the nation. Until then, many from the Northeast will continue to live in the shadows of prejudice, forever burdened by the responsibility of proving their Indianness.
