Skip to main content

Coronavirus scare ‘pushing’ people from Northeast India into more hardship

By Rishiraj Sinha, Biswanath Sinha*
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela
***
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which has been declared pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) has created panic and a tensed environment around the country. However, the pandemic has also brought in various kinds of racial discrimination and behaviour towards the people belonging to the Northeast region.
It is very disturbing to see a country like India which is an epitome of cultural diversity and has a mutual coexistence of various religion, ethnicity etc. witnessing such racial discrimination and dehumanisation of people from the Northeast due to their Mongolian features.
It has to be kept in mind that although people are targeting them as carriers of coronavirus in the mainland, so far there have been only two cases of coronavirus found in the region of Northeast till this article is going to the press (one each in Manipur and Mizoram).
We also have to understand why we are targeting people with Mongolian features in such a hostile manner just because of a pandemic. During the 2009 flu pandemic (H1N1 influenza virus) around 1.4 billion people were affected and it originated in North America.
Source: Instagram
At that moment of time nobody judged the Western nations or termed it “American Pig Flu” but we are targeting Chinese and people with Mongolian features as the carriers of Coronavirus, and many have attributed this as “Chinese Virus” whereas WHO had issued a guideline in 2015 in an attempt to minimise negative impacts on trade, animal welfare and avoid causing offence to social, cultural, national, regional or ethnic groups.
The discrimination towards Northeast people in mainland India is not a new thing and has been taking place for a long time now. In the recent past, it was brought into mainstream news when a student from Arunachal Pradesh, Nido Tania was murdered brutally in New Delhi because of racial discrimination in 2014.
“Racist incidents of North-easterners being targeted recently in many parts of India -- from Bengal to Maharashtra to Delhi -- should not be understood as an effect produced by the pandemic coronavirus. Racism has existed prior to the arrival of the pandemic and is now being brought to the fore. This is yet again a reminder that crisis situations amplify already existing social hierarchies”, says a senior Guwahati-based expert.
As the whole country observed Janata Curfew on the 22nd March 2020, a girl from Manipur was racially discriminated, humiliated, abused and spat upon by mainlanders in New Delhi. On March 3, a woman from Northeast has alleged that she and her friend were hit by water balloons and called ‘Coronavirus’ by two men on a bike near Delhi University’s North Campus. The incident was reported to have happened near Kamla Nagar. Following a police complaint, an FIR was registered.
Ever since the outbreak of Covid-19 in India, many cases of discrimination have been reported from places like Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, parts of Punjab, Mysuru and Ahmedabad. The cases range from publicly calling names, addressing people from NE as ‘Corona Virus’, asking them to vacate rooms, sending them to forceful quarantine centres to physical assault as it’s reported from Kolkata.
Tapir Gao
On March 17, 2020 Lok Sabha MP Mr Tapir Gao had urged the Centre to issue an advisory to all the states of the country against the alleged racial discrimination against the people from North-eastern states. However, when he was addressing Parliament his fellow parliamentarians were seen laughing and they were ostensibly mocking about the situation in the Parliament.
Unfortunately, this has been perceived by many as the social reality persisting in the society. Many, especially netizens from the region thought when people representing the country are sitting in the Parliament and laughing about it, how far will any actions be taken to control such discrimination?

Government and civil society response

Presently, except New Delhi, there are hardly any Northeast Help Cells available to provide assistance to the people of region facing discrimination in parts of the country. Being in a small minority, it’s difficult for them to raise their voices too. In many cities students’ bodies from Northeast are active to play supporting role for the victims. But they cannot cover each and every such case.
The discrimination towards Northeast people in mainland India is not a new thing and has been taking place for a long time now
After spurt of discriminatory incidents across the country the Home Ministry has issued a notification asking all the states to look into such cases on the March 21, 2020. In a letter to chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, the ministry said it had come to its notice that people from the Northeast have been facing harassment after the occurrence of the deadly COVID-19 in the country.

Way forward

The only way some cases are being heard are through people who are being vocal in social media and the victims who are capturing videos of the live event and streaming in the online platforms. These are then shared by some well-known personalities (mostly from northeast region) asking the competent authorities to look into such matters. There are many cases which are not reported and many victims are not escalating the cases of discrimination simply to avoid police and not antagonising neighbourhoods.
In 2012, the Ministry of Home Affairs had mandated all the states and union territories to penalise anyone who commits an act of atrocity against people from the region under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, many potential target communities (like the Ahoms, Gurkhas, Meiteis and many more communities with Mongolian features) do not come under Schedule Caste or Scheduled Tribe category.
The latest incident on the March 28, 2020 at Mysuru wherein two youths from Nagaland were denied entry into a supermarket store is testimony of the fact that only Government Regulations are not going to eradicate this social menace.
This is a sad reality that Indians are feeling unsafe in their own country because of such bigotry, prejudice and stigma in the society. One must remember that the victims in such cases are mostly youths, workers and students stuck thousands of kilometres away during the national lockdown without any option to return to their native places. They are also struggling for their livelihoods. Discrimination towards them only adds to their existential misery.
---
*Rishiraj Sinha is a student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Campus, contact: rishirajsinha28@gmail.com. Biswanath Sinha is with Tata Trusts, Mumbai, contact: mbiswanath@gmail.com. Views are personal

Comments

Lalpal said…
Every Indian must read this article. Well pened bro. Keep it up.��
Anonymous said…
What is the point of anyone reading it, their sympathy will only last for the few mintues they read. The discrimination is never going to stop, people will always treat us as second-rate citizens and such acts, crimes will continue. Like the article said, even our so called netas, law makers, the ones elected to protect the people are the ones laughing at us, than the people will only do as they do, like monkey see monkey do. India is hopeless at this point, the few who care are just a pebble in the ocean, the country itself sees us NE people as easy targets just because we dont act back so quick in fear we might attract unwanted attention. Maybe it will someday end, but i can only see that in a fantasy world, even than its still uncertain. Its a great article, im not throwing any shade, but the people wont change not in a million years, maybe someday we(NE) might just find our ticket out this hell hole but than again... Its still to close anywhere we go in this world.
This is true. Well written and researched upon. And it has been like that since a long time. And nothing has ever improved. Racial discrimination still persists and will remain to persist until the Indians from other states don't enhance their knowledge upon the inhabitants of India itself.

TRENDING

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy  Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor*  Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative  The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment.  The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents.   The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor*  A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

How polarization between different ideological trends within the communist movement sharpened in India

By Harsh Thakor*  This article is a rejoinder to A Note on Slogans of “Left Unity,” “Unity of the Communist Revolutionaries” and “Mass Line” by Umair Ahmed, published on the Nazariya blog .

राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी: जल जीवन मिशन के लक्ष्य को पाने समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी

- राज कुमार सिन्हा*  जल संसाधन से जुड़ी स्थायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी साबित हुए हैं। जबकि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी गई है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाए। 

Implications of deaths of Maoist leaders G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor*  In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.