India, North-East India and the People!!

Before I begin, let me remind you that it doesn’t matter to me what others think of me, for being part of the north-eastern part of our diverse country. It doesn’t matter to me what others think I have for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It doesn’t matter if the rest of India believes that we, the people of the North-East live in forests. It doesn’t matter if my countrymen think that we wear shabby clothes. It even doesn’t matter to me if the rest of India thinks that North-East India actually doesn’t belong to India. What really concerns me is the way the rest of India treats us, the North-Eastern people, who are Indians as well. Why is there a big question mark over the security of the people of this part of the country? Are there any valid answers? Now, this doesn’t matter even to the political heirs who are ruling our country, without any manifesto over the concerns of the people of the north-eastern part of India.

The recent death of a boy from Arunachal Pradesh which was a result of racial torment will give you a clear indication of the situation. While the death is obviously sad news in terms of humanity, but in terms of the gravity of the crime, one can’t take away the very reason for which the incident happened. It is obviously a crime against humanity. No doubt it is. But, in actual phase, the boy was a victim of racial attack. Even the police didn’t take into account his complaint, as was reported in the media. They simply neglected the boy’s plea. And the result is right in front of us. Now, if the law enforcers do not help the needy, then I am afraid there is no batman in real life to accomplish that feat.

Why does it take a sad incident to remind the government of the kind of situation North-Eastern people face in the rest of the country, especially in the national capital itself? Why does it take a few protests to remind the people that even we, the North-Eastern people belong to the same country as the rest of countrymen do? Why is it that we have to give our own introduction in our own country? Isn’t there enough brain-power to even understand the feelings of humans belonging to the same country? Aren’t these the same brainless people who uselessly exchange patriotic messages on events of “Independence Day” and “Republic Day”? I do not care if the rest of the country actually take us to be the same countrymen or not, but at least on the grounds of humanity, these hate crimes or the racial attacks need to stop. When the pledge is read aloud, “India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters…..” and by taking the pledge, is justice really showered on to it? Well, we are tired of explaining how much we belong to this country as much as the rest of the countrymen do. And what is more shocking is that after some 67 years of independence, the country is still facing solidarity issues in terms of ethnicity. But then, after every such incident, we are assured of safety by the government. And this sounds even funnier because we have to be assured of our safety within our own nation, a nation which finds it hard to punish criminals. A nation where countrymen kill other countrymen. A nation which finds its place among the most racist countries in the world. A nation where people need to be reminded that a certain part of the country is actually a part of the country, in real and actual terms. Moreover, the mindset of the people needs to change. It is not that we have to go on knocking around doors and say, “We are Indians too.” The perception needs modification. And if needed, there has to be education, in terms of educating people to become real humans. And not someone who even forgets what is a country and who are the countrymen. I am not demanding some king-size, royal treatment for us. Treat us equally, that’s it. Till then, be happy. Respect. Rise above hate. Jai Hind.