Neglect,
backwardness, colonial exploitation, discrimination etc are the words we grew
up with. As we grew older we began to understand the pathos underlined by these
words and began to wonder aloud why and how.
The North Eastern Region of India has always been ethnically, culturally and
linguistically distinct from India.
With a spectacular diversity in ethnicity, culture and languages this region
witnessed the formation of new and newer states, districts and communities over
the decades. Geographically this region is connected to mainland India only through a narrow corridor known as
the chicken’s neck or the Siliguri Corridor with Nepal
and Bangladesh
lying on either side. This region is also a natural paradise on earth and a
treasure house of natural and mineral resources.
A kind of
self-sufficiency and almost geographic isolation created the problems related to
the ‘words’. Neglect—because we never got adequate attention for making an
effective appearance in mainstream India. Backwardness—because of lack
of infrastructure and development projects. Colonial exploitation—because
precious resources are mostly taken out for refining and thus creating revenues
or employment outside the region. Discrimination—because the naturally slowish
and nervous people from the region are never taken seriously outside, let it be
with students coming out to study or any professional leaving the region for
work.
And, how we
struggled to realize our aspirations to study outside! There was an utter lack
of information or networking or facilities. Then, there were the inevitable
domestic pressures and economic compulsions. After somehow crossing all the
hurdles we rejoice at the opportunity to study outside, but soon we get
devastated when we find us being ignored and made fun of, our linguistic
abilities in Hindi laughed at and in English ridiculed. The plain or hill
tribal students, with their distinct ethnic look, find things worse than this.
In our study
years in Delhi
the apathy about our region was shocking. I was asked so many times ‘Is Assam in Darjeeling?’
My brother got more infuriating queries, like ‘Hey you! You dress like us yaar!
But do you wear anything at all out there in your native land?’ Angry and
exasperated my brother used to reply ‘You see, we keep on wearing it till our
trains reach Guwahati. Then we jump out of the train, tear off our clothing and
run into the jungles!’ Surprisingly, things did not change much since then.
Even now in my professional capacity I get questions ‘Where is Assam?’
‘How do you go to Assam
and the North East?’ and so on. This is really agonizing since the eternally
backward students that we are or were we still knew about the map of India and always remembered where Jammu and Kashmir was or where Maharashtra
or Tamil Nadu was. Besides, as the easternmost extension the North East is the
most recognizable portion of the map. The syndrome of isolation combined with
the compulsions having to fight for everything ranging from mere existence to
languages contributed as one of the most important factors to the growth of
extremism in the region.
Recently there
were two deaths of north eastern students—Dana Sangma from Meghlaya who
committed suicide in around Delhi and Richard
Loitam from Manipur who was killed under mysterious circumstances in Bangalore. Students of the
region in different parts of the country did not accept it passively this time and
rose in protest marches. Yesterday in the national capital Delhi there was a candlelight protest where
hundreds of students from the seven states of the region took part
spontaneously. High time all the intimidating ‘words’ get eliminated from the
mainstream dictionary.
Belonging to the
beautiful North East we extend our support and we appeal to all northeastern
communities to unite and launch a righteous movement all over India for
justice and equality. Allow us to feel like proud Indians too!
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