Two students from the North-East have died unnatural deaths in the last few days. Dana Sangma, a student from Meghalaya studying for an MBA at an institute in Gurgaon, committed suicide after she was accused by her college of cheating; Richard Loitam, a student of architecture from Manipur, was found dead in his hostel room in Bangalore from head injuries. In both cases, there have been allegations of callousness by the college authorities and by the police in investigating the deaths, and in Sangma's case, of driving her to taking her own life by discriminating against her. It took protests by the community of North-East students and others in these two cities and interventions in Parliament for the police to register a case under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Act in her case, and to start murder investigations into Loitam's death. While it is for the police to establish if college officials abetted Sangma's suicide, and to trace the culprits responsible for the other student's death, it is hard to disagree with the impression that has gained ground in the North-East after these two incidents that the institutional response might have been swifter had the students been from “mainland India”. Despite the increasing presence of people from the seven North-Eastern States — students as well as economic migrants — in all the major cities of India, there is a collective prejudice against them that is undeniable.
The prejudice is driven by racism, no less, and there is no point mincing words or being coy about this. This racism manifests itself on the Indian street in rude comments, stares, and facile judgments about the lifestyle and morals of people from the North-East. Such attitudes put women from the region at particular risk of sexual harassment and worse, as several incidents over the past few years have sadly demonstrated. People from the ‘seven sisters' — and especially from Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland — also face difficulties finding accommodation in many cities outside the region. The same is true of Kashmiri students and migrants, who often have to deal with the added burden of being harassed by local law enforcement. Last year, the Union Home Ministry issued an advisory to all States asking that Kashmiris not be singled out unnecessarily for police reporting merely because of their origin. Now the MHA has promised there will be “zero tolerance” for crimes against people from the North-East. India has spent an enormous amount of blood and treasure safeguarding its physical territory from militant groups, secessionists and foreign powers. It is time we stopped being insensitive towards the people who venture inland from those boundaries to seek a better life.
My deepest sympathies for the relatives of the deceased.
The sensitivity of the state bodies of so called 'mainland india' is
really pathetic towards the incidents happening day-by-day against the
North-East inhabitants .It is the high time to introspect whether we
are really treating each Indian citizen as an Indian or still there
exists a sense of biasing especially towards NE students ...
I wonder if any other National daily has carried this piece of news. I appreciate the reporting of THE HINDU, for bold, objective and good reporting, highlighting all issues. They are no. one for culture and all other aspects too. Keep up the good work please and help to keep the country united too.
The article does point out the callousness in government machinery and the many irregularities and pathetic reponse to incidents. But, it is also quite strong worded in differentiating communtiies. All types of communities in India are segregated and India's social structure makes it easy for discrimination and bias. The stated communities ar efacing discrimination and bias, but so are otehr communities from other parts of the country. Thus, it is necessary that people from the stated communities should stop differnentiating themselves as not part of 'Mainland India'. When they themselves feel that they aren't a part of the same country why should the so called 'Mainland People' assimilate with them. Cultural differences are a part of India's mosaic but it does not differentiate between a particular Kashmiri or Bihari or North-Eastern or South Indian. The bias is against each and every one where you do not belong to.
What ministry did for the biharis forced to move out from maharashtra state? This is something very common in India and should be a proper law and sense of understanding among the locals not to harm anyone on the basis of their region and religion. Similar incident of treating maharashtrians came in existance when they were forced not to write the railway exams in guwahati...
In the last few years there were many incidents of sexual harassment, and rape against north east students /working woman, but they just became headlines in media for a day or two and then forgotten until a new such incident comes into light. There is a need for fast track court to deliver justice in fixed time frame to deal with such cases where migrant students and workers from northeast states and Kashmir are targeted. Only when justice is done in quick time frame, culprits are punished and a clear message is sent that if anyone tries to harass or exploit or discriminate with migrants, the offender will be punished and no one can hide behind the obscure lengthy legal loopholes.
We all forget few basic facts of our India / Bharat - which was
created by the British for their administrative convenience only. That
also it was divided into 5 or 6 Administrative Presidencies - Madras,
Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta & Mysore. Correct me if i am wrong in naming
these Presidencies. We were never ONE NATION, we were only united by
Customs of the Base Religion formed by our Ways of Living and named
Hindus - the people beyond Indus - thus being named as Hindu Religion.
Even today as one of my fellow citizens mentioned the factual position
- we are associations of Tamils, Telugus, Kannadigas, Gujaratis etc in
US, UK & EU etc but are not as INDIAN ASSOCIATIONS. These are due to
few major points which are differences between the population of our
country.
1. Languages, 2. Ways of living, 3. Food, 4. Functions etc. Thus
communication & understanding each other becomes DIFFICULT.
With all these lets try to LIVE AS ONE. REPEAT TRY. Sorry short of
words due to 1000 words only.
It is really very bad if the allegations against the college are true.Atleast college authorities should not be partial to any of the student coming from any state.Such students going in any other states should be given same respect and same opportunity.But it is also found that students from same state make there own group and neither let any one enter in there group and even dont try to be part of other group. So students coming from different states should also try to mingle with other states students/people around them.Both way should be taken care to make each student comfortable.
I do not have enough grounds to disagree with the general discrimination
against people hailing from 7 sisters. However it is important that we
understand that suicides have become common in colleges( no stats
available with me) and its not just people from north-east. This could
be due to various reasons including pressure due to high competition or
even heart breaks. The college authorities generally try to suppress the
whole issue because it would bring down the reputation of the college.
This need not necessarily be a regional bias.
Good editorial.It is shameful that people indulge in such cheap
behaviour.Strict laws should be made and enforced to prevent this.
We are fighting militancy from the North-east states and Jammu and Kashmir and we the people from the mainland are just aggravating the this worm of miltancy by harassing the people from these states.We should make them feel that they belong to India and no discrimination should be done to them based on the states to which they belongs.If we want to sow seed of warm and affection and make them realise that Jammu and Kashmir or any north- east states are equivalent to any other staes and people of these states are eligible to every facilities which people of mainland state enjoy.We should think that they part of our motherland India and any haraasment or indiscrimination done to them is done to our own country.If we want to uproot militancy from Jammun and Kashmir and North - east states,it is only by love,affection and equal rights given to people of these states.
We are so self-absorbed that we treat it just as another incident happening to someone not related (either by blood or bond) to me - hence not my concern. Well, even I am guilty of this behaviour. This brings out a more fundamental issue about national identity. Nation building is an excercise more than just demarcating external borders - it requires "Leadership" beyond our current crop of politicos.
North east is the land of beauty and vast hidden talent and also the
most neglected part of the country. In sports and traditional arts
they are one of the best. It is there right to study wherever they
want and show their spark. J N Goswami, ISRO scientist and principal
investigator of Chandrayaan-1; Late Bhupen Hazarika a lyricist,
musician, singer, poet and film-maker; Jayanta Talukdar,Worlds top
archer; Baichung Bhutia,best Indian footballer, Mary kom, five
consecutive boxing world champions award and Arjuna award winner, and
many others all hail form northeast.Its really a shame for such
discrimination to occur in a democratic country like India. Its time
that people from that region get equal rights and respect wherever
they go. Many of them has made India proud.
It is very sad and unpleasant whatever described above. But I would
like to note that if that thing somewhere in some manner; the migrated
people is responsible too for such things. In a civilized society we
don't expect these kinds of discrimination and racism however i will
not fear to say that our society is not yet civilized so the people
from NE or Kashmir must take some precautionary measure to avoid such
kind of attention of the people. People from these places have set
wrong precedents in which the innocent one also suffers. I will urge
to the people of these places try changing the perception they have
created in the mind of people at large.
It's a sad state of affairs when we, who were the subject of racisim and casteism have subjected others to the same indignities. More so when the total apathy of the Government(s) to investigate the deaths and implement corrective measure. As Gandhi's last words one exasperates with 'Hey Ram'.
As a Malaysian Indian, let me categorically state that indians are the
most racist people and waiting to implode as a community. The ridiculous
state of affairs in Malaysia itself is a case in point. We are just
about 10% of the population and yet are spread thin amongst the various
insular and xenophobic associations. Tamils divided along caste,
punjabis calling others as Indians (wonder what they are), the list is
endless.
Just because some Indians display 'racist' [actually the right term should have been regionalism] against some North eastern people doesnt mean all are like that! Millions of us Indians have no racist or regionalist attitudes towards our North eastern people and many of us have them as life long friends! Another thing North eastern people dont need to feel bad that they are being neglected by the centre or politicians in general! Please visit various different Indian states and you will see that many states [including major ones] are being neglected as well as in almost each one of them you can see rampant poverty and wretched and miserous lives those affected by them endure!
Living in Australia, a place that most Indians consider as "Racist land", I have faced racism only from my fellow Indians and not from Australians. Every Indian I meet raise his/ her frst "Hello. How are you?" in Hindi. On what basis do they think that every Indian knows Hindi?! Once I am heard an Indian saying "He who doesnot know Hindi is not an Indian" What a ridiculous statement! Since then when someone initaites his/her first conversation with me in Hindi I reply in my regional language. These days Indians are lossing the sense on how to treat or greet fellow Indians. If this is happening in a foregin land, NO WONDER IT IS COMMON IN INDIA. No matter how our skin, language, culture differs. We are Indians. Please dont discrminate your brothers and sisters!
I am a black British man living in New Delhi and when I first arrived
here little more than 3 years ago I was complete shocked and
dumbfounded by the blatant and abhorred way I was treated here and
still continue to be treated and viewed based on the colour of my
skin. Yet when Gordon Brown, the then British prime minister, visited
India in 2008 or 2009, Prime minister Manmohan Singh made a point to
raise the issue of Indians in the UK being racially discriminated
against, when this type of behaviour is perfectly acceptable here when
someone such as myself is on the receiving end, in it is encouraged, I
once got knocked off my scooter by a drunk driver and was badly
injured, the gather crowd told to diver to dive away when I asked if
this is how you treat guests in your country like dogs, people replied
"yes you are a dog" . Where were people's sensitivities then?
Globalization is here to stay and this is true of events inside India too. An emerging India means more growth and this means that goods and services will move to areas where there is greatest demand. The peoples of the Notheast will seek new opportunities in prosperous Mumbai,Delhi, Bangalore or Chennai and the People there must deal with the influx of people who look and behave differently. In Fifties, we faced the same situation, when we Tamils moved to Delhi. Integration will take time, but in the meantime, the State must make the change possible through Laws and Institutions. India must adapt to rapid change if it wishes to be a serious economic power
The country has traditionally turned blind to matters concerning the North-Eastern parts. To site an example, the boat capsize is Assam led to more than hundred dead. The games in IPL could have very well observed a minute's silence or at least, the players could have displayed a black badge. A show of solidarity. This could have happened in any other part of the world but not here.
India not learning from the past that, widespread of this regionalism was the main reason which brought colonial rule. It is strongly condemning of the discrimination on the ground of region or language. Time to once again evoke and understand the statement of Mahatama Gandhi 'If we will not live together, we will die soon'. The cynical mainland population must understand that people of these region are vital citizen of India. Educational institution instead of safeguarding the local group must set aside an example by giving impartial status to all. MOH declaring zero tolerance is the first step and even a hopeful one. The department of internal security must see the matter as a threat to our national security and must assure that these physical boundaries are preserved not only militarily but also fundamentally.
People from other parts of the country must visit the north east of India and see for themselves the splendour of the NE. In these days of communication it is sad that this kind of bias is there. They are from a beautiful part of our country and their culture is still preserved. My visit to Manas through the Bombay Natural History Society opened my eyes to the richness of the gateway to nature in India-the NorthEast. See my blog manasbyhimalayas. Please realise that every life is infinitely precious and we should behave in a civilised manner, in the land of Mahatma Gandhi.
An author of one of The Hindu's articles recently had rightly pointed out that being educated, modern, urban did not necessarily imply enlightenment of the mind of Indians. We have more deeply rooted narrow mindedness. I really don't understand as to what will it be that will take us away from our parochial mentality. I am concerned because economic progress has failed to do this job, unlike other nations which have shown progress on a social frontier alongwith economic growth.
North-east states are rich in natural resources and beauty. The states and the native people of those states are as important to India as any other state. Why do not people understand that only such kind of incidents are responsible for demand for seperate states and countries. Please stop dividing India.
All such incidents are very shameful for any citizen who is sensitive for its nation. We Indians loudly claim our commitments towards morals and human values but actually all this is nothing more then an extreme hypocrisy. Occurrences of such incidents clearly indicate that in our country, the level of “education” is not at par with increased rate of “literacy”. Still, the country has to go a long way in demonstrating a united and just full nation in a real sense.
We the "Homo hirarchicus" are the most zenophobic and racist people in the world. The descrimination is not just against the north-east every Indian discriminates another Indian living within a distance of fifty kilo metres where culuture changes in India. We make a huge cry when one of our brethen is killed in UK or Australia but hardly notice the hatred we vent towards our own citizens.Hippocracy! thy very name must be Indian!! The South hates the North, The North discriminate against the South, together both ignore that there exists some thing called North-East. Within the states there are enough differences to spread venom. Long Live India!
It is sad that, the discrimination against N.East people mainly in our big cities increasing day by day. this is a discomfort situation emerging in our Metros. Indian Constitution provide equal rights to every citizen of India. But these incidence shows that we don't have respect to our constitution. These stereotypes attitudes have no relevance with this modern world. Mainstream media and youth of country should come forward to minimize the gap between peoples.
Well said editorial. There is discrimination and hatred between neighbouring states, between northern and southern states, Between eastern and western states. With in the sate of Jammu & Kashmir all sorts of discriminations. Some people in Punjab think they are from heaven. It is time we treat all Indians equally and fairly. Let tomorrow be a better day for all of us. Thank you The Hindu.
Was there some evidence for 'race' related violence? The writer needs to re-examine the definition of race. Most people, even in north eastern states, are mixed race. North east has been ignored 'developmentally' for a long time--by the bureaucracy and government-both of the north east, and central.
Have you heard of any Indian associations abroad ??? You will find Tamil sangam,Punjabi assn, Marati Mandal etc etc. What do we call each other .... Panju, Madrasi, Bong, Medua,Mallu,Gujju etc etc. American will call himself an American, English an Englishman Japanese a Japanese. We are among the worst racists & but dont want to admit it.
Excuse me! Who isolated our brothers and sisters from the North East? We from the rest of India need permissions and clearances to just travel to many parts of the North East. People in the North East refer to the rest of India for some reason as "Mainland". For all the prejudice that exists, and should not, it is only now, under socio economic pressures that people from the North East are migrating to the rest of the nation. They do look strange to many "locals", and do behave differently, hardly mingling in ways familiar to the rest of India. Absolutely no excuse any of this, for any sort of boorish behaviour, but to the insensitive Indian male from "mainland" India, anybody from anywhere unfamiliar is a potential victim. North East India is as foreign to many of these as Norway or Ghana. Let's not be insensitive towards anything, but let's be sure we're sensitive about the right problems. Stop insulating and isolating the North East from the rest of India, too.
The fact that influx from NE/Kashmir into the mainstream population of the country is of very recent origin may not be more than two decades and it is premature and doubtless casting aspersions on the natural warmth that has prevailed.It is natural for anyone state to be vary of other.Even today there is simmering anxiety from the people of one state towards those from other states.But these vanish after substancial identification in due course.And again such instances are miniscule and exceptions than rule.It would promote national integration not to treat this as malaise but stray individual cases.
Regional disparity will exist all over India since its a unitary Government & a contributing factor is, "She is a developing Country". Most of the developing country faces many kind of disabilities, unfortunately for India, the real injury drag to its sovereignty. Cultural diversity is suppose to be the stronghold of Indian subcontinent indeed it turns out to be lapse between community. My deepest condolence to the bereaved family & would like to put a proposal of spreading an awareness of Indian ism, which is safeguard by our own Constitution.
I totally agree with you ! We Indians have become insensitive. We discriminate our own people just because their different facial structure from mainland India.Racism towards our own citizens ?? Shameful ! And especially Delhi/NCR is notorious for this discrimination.In Delhi, students and other migrant from the North-Eastern States have been bound to live like foreigners in their own country. They still face day to day abuses and slang and nobody cares about them. Police acts only after any abuse case is raised by them otherwise they won’t even bother to help at all.
This is not only racism but I would say this is inhuman indeed.
This article has rightly pointed out that the central govt.'s policy of integration and assimilation of the North-East people has been regularly disrupted by the so-called "mainland Indian" prejudice and insensitivity. Consequently, it is high time for the policy makers to formulate policies that ensure unity in diversity where every citizens cherish the rich socio-cultural diversity of the country. In this direction, the inclusion of rich history and culture of the North-East in the school curriculum would be salutary.
We standtogether in unity for indians who are victims of racism in other countries like australia and britain,and create a an international issue out of it.It is shamefull that such activities that happen to our countrymen inside the country is left unattended.
Ah! what's the surprise there. We are as a people among the most racist folk in the world from what I have seen, having lived in many different places in India and abroad. But what else would you expect from a society that has carefully constructed the most elaborate system of discrimination - the caste system? Having lived in the North-East for years and seen the disdainful manner in which mainland Indians treat the people there despite being the foreigners there, it is no surprise that people in the North-East think of the mainland as being just very colonial in its attitude. We need to first admit that we are terribly racist and that it is not such a nice thing to be so rather than trying airy justifications for our conduct, and then try and put an end to these shameful practices, starting with our caste system. It is going to take generations, better get started now!
We have been consided as a words largest democratic country, as we have one of the largest written constitution in the world. we have inserted "Right to Equlity" in our constitution, but when I listen, read and understand such types of news then I realy got surprised our constutional and human rights, considering the aforesaid news, every responcible Indian citizen shall have to start thinking that, whenther we are only on paper (written constitution) given right to equality to all such person, cummunities, genders who lives in india without discreamation of cast, birth and social status? and whether all states in india considered as united?. I think it is the responcibilty of the Unioun to take stpes to avoid such types of incidents.
'Unity in diversity' is the biggest farce that we as kids learned about India. I think from then onward, we took it for granted which is manifest in us being insensitive towards diversity-related behavior. Arthur Schopenhauer said, "What makes people hard-hearted is this, that each man has or, fancies he has, as much as he can bear in his own troubles". We've become oblivious to the pain(or happiness??) of others. Last week, I was reading an article, "Whether there really is a necessity of debate - Which is better: North India or South". East-India wouldn't even figure in a debate!!! What a shame?
it is really a shame for india . there is no doubt that students from certain parts of india face unnecessary problems in differtent parts of the country. unity in diversity no longer seems to be working. government should look into the matter and at the same time insitutues should be made accountable for such incidents.
The ending of this article sums up the situation of India. The biggest enemy is not lying in our neighborhood. It is lying in ourselves. By discriminating people of the North East or the Kashmir, we give chance to other nationals to woo these people. That is how a lot of people in Kashmir or elsewhere get attracted towards terrorism/naxalism or any such extreme steps. It is time we should stop thinking that UP, Bihar, West Bengal or Maharastra are the only states of India.
This is really shameful that we discriminate people on the basis of their birth place. Our ancestors preach us lesson of "Vasudav Kutumbkam" means whole earth is one.Now we have forgotten our principles that our society encourages such kind of prejudice. Even, the incidents are happening in colleges that are elite place of learning. What kind of example they are setting for our younger generation. Students should take this seriously and discourage the folks who are supporting it.
I am extremely sorry for what happened to these two students. But what grieves me more is the way this case is being deliberately given a racial profile by all the news channels and news papers. Any student from any part of India couldn't have been allowed to cheat in exam hall it was just a sad coincident that Dana happened to be a daughter of "seven sisters" and chose to end her life. Any students could be harassed and killed by his fellows which is absolutely unacceptable whoesoever be the victim. And in this case Richard happened to be from North-east. As far as lack lusture police and judicial investigation offered is concerned I'd only beg to say our police and judicial system toddle with its own incredible pace irrespective of the territorial identity of the victims. As an Indian my heart bleeds as much as the family of the deceased but I only would request all media channels and newspapers not to give a racial profile to this mishap.
My heart goes out to the families and the relatives of the two person
who committed suicide or was killed. The fact that this can be termed
as "insensitive Indians" is itself disturbing to me, when we tend to
see it on the basis on regional or cultural discrimination against
North East people. Undoubtedly, any kind of discrimination should not
be promoted in any kind of democratic set-up and in a great country
like India.But, is it just a outcome of a discriminatory behaviour? I
doubt. The main reason, which I can conclude from my few experiences
with people from North-East is that we need amalgamation and what
hinders this amalgamation is Lack of communication between North East
and Rest of Indians. Sadly, I find people from North East to be
insecure and reluctant to talk to North Indians, based on Many
assumption(insecurity, misbehaviour,not so educated..). The time is
high we can shed off this kind of self created isolation and be more
friendly to each-other to save many more lives.
Good Article Hindu. Our huge population and immorality has replaced "Athithi Devo Bhava" with "Survival of the Fittest", really sad to hear this.
It is a shameful aspect of educational institutions as well
as the society to fail to inculcate humanitarian outlook in
the minds of young and older. A woman took her own life
tragically and a man was found dead mysteriously. What
have the teasers achieved from their death apart from a
crude and savage fun?Any progress should ensure
commensurate expansion of heart and head of
individuals." The future is for saner society" wrote Pitrim
A Sorokin. Unless there are plans side by side to enrich
the moral fabrtic of the socity along with overall
development schemes,a time may come when we will be
confused to know whether mankind has advanced in
civilization or returned to the caves of savage society.
While it is necessary to take all administrative and legal steps to catch the guilty in both cases mentioned in the editorial, there are wider issues which need to be discussed. Why not accept that, on account of some factors like physical features and mostly avoidable prejudices, students from a few of our North Eastern States face occasional discrimination and harassment in other parts of the country? Solution lies in undertaking programmes that would help these students to easily mix and become a part of larger student community. For example, it is possible to find out common features in celebration of festivals and ensure that all students participate in celebrations. Similarly, a few tips need to be given to these students about local customs so that they do not unintentionally offend local communities.
It is so sad to hear the discrimination still happening even though we are in the 21st century. Atleast it cannot be expected from the people of new generation. Shame on us.
It should not happen in India,Why because we are all Indians, within India this sort of incidents are very sad.................
Absolutely agree "India has spent an enormous amount of blood and
treasure safeguarding its physical territory from militant groups,
secessionists and foreign powers. It is time we stopped being
insensitive towards the people who venture inland from those
boundaries to seek a better life."
Indians hate each other. Every state is biggest rival and hater of its
neighbouring state. This is our Unity :( Government has pushed to
maintain physical boundaries (keep NEast part of India) but it MUST
start social reforms to maintain cultural tolerances too. Hello
advisors to Prime Minister ! Are you reading this ?
There is widespread ragging and insult on other state students by the
local students in all the states in India. We do not follow the culture
unity in diversity. This should be followed by one all including the
politicians so that the equality of opportunity enshrined in the
constitution becomes a reality.
We have a multi-segmentary multi-cultural society. National integration
is a big problem facing the country. This will take a long time coming.
Provide equality of opportunities for them to improve their standards
of living. facilities for higher education should be made
available and affordable in various nooks and corners. The social
structures and culture with their prejudice and discrimination, like
manipulation of information, should be properly understood and
meticulously deconstructed. Bombay films should take as much interest
in the north-east as they show in Kashmir. It is in everybody's
interest to make them feel proud of being Indians like other Indians.
Well said. This is reflected in our daily life even in 21st Century.
Dowry deaths, farmers' suicide, female foeticide, are still not very uncommon.
The media should also sensitize the "mainstream" people about these issues and also about the culture and background of the north-east. It is important for the people from north-east and their hardships be understood. Every one who migrates leaves behind their loved ones and this is no way to treat the migrants.
I think Indians are losing the moral highground they have built over the
years. The fact that we discriminate against our own is a shame on the
entire country!
IT is really sad that "there have been allegations of callousness by the college authorities and by the police in investigating the deaths". The people resposible for discrimation/callousness must be punished. People need to be treated fairly regardless of their religion, ethnicity, gender etc
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