Solidarity protest & vigil for Arunachal student killed in Delhi market - Rajghat February 2 // Delhi’s ‘casual’ racism
Dear Friend,
It is impossible to see in isolation the latest beating that resulted in the death of a young boy from North East who was studying in
The rational and peace-loving people, who subscribe to sanity, cannot but oppose any and every discrimination - be it on the basis of geographical region, such as north east, or religion, or caste, or gender, or colour, or nationality, or any other.
We consider it our moral duty, and constitutional duty of the law enforcing agencies, to ensure that each and every person, who is a bonafide resident of, or visitor to, our country, moves about or lives, anywhere in our country without any fear of discrimination.
Friends, as an expression of solidarity with the discriminated sections of our society, in order to take our society along the desirable path of equity and justice, and to demand upholding of the law of the land, let us assemble as per the following details:
Venue: In front Rajghat ,Samtha sthal
Date: February 2 Sunday
Time: 5 PM
By: NAPM, Khudai Khidmatgar , SSSC
Contact for further enquiry
9911292235,
By: NAPM, Khudai Khidmatgar , SSSC
Contact for further enquiry
9911292235,
9990834355,
9718011766
The recent death of a student from Arunachal Pradesh in the capital after being beaten up during a fight, reportedly triggered by a racist comment, has created an uproar. Purportedly, the student, who was looking for an address in Lajpat Nagar, got into a fight with locals after he smashed a shop window in anger when the shopkeeper passed a racist comment. Students from the NE in the capital say that while racism is a part of their lives in Delhi, incidents like these bring to the fore how deep Delhi's racism runs, and how serious the situation is. Even after the death of the Arunachal-born student and the recent Khirki Extension case - where Delhi's law minister had ignited controversy after raiding the house of four Ugandan women on the presumption that they were running a sex and drugs racket - many in Delhi refuse to believe that the city is racist. Apparently, Delhi's racism is so casual and pervasive that it seems perfectly natural to many locals. We spoke to Delhiites, NE students and foreigners to find out more.
What NE students say: Parents calling us back
"After the exodus of NE students from Bangalore, last year, our parents were worried sick. And now, this has happened in Delhi. I can only imagine what our parents are going to do. My parents are going to hear about this soon and I am already dreading their calls. Of course, they don't trust Delhi anymore," says Rolish of Ramjas College. "I studied in Delhi for five years and have just got a job. My parents are already booking my tickets for home and if I resist, they're going to come over and take me back. I can't even blame them. Their panic is justified after hearing about this, back in Guwahati. But I can't afford to lose my job over it, either," says Priyadarshini*, a fashion designer. "I had come home to visit my parents. My classes are about to start, but my parents aren't letting me go. I don't know about Delhi, but here, in Arunachal Pradesh, the situation is very tense. We are going to organize a peace rally where we will march to the Governor's house. There's no way I am going to make it back in time for my classes," says Jhupi, a law student.
Racism part of life in Delhi
"The discrimination is an everyday thing. The comments come uninvited, especially from less educated people. I don't know how many names they have for us, and now, it's a part of our lives here. We too have a 'different' attitude towards them, I'm not going to deny that. But that's probably reaction or self-defence. There is disrespect on both sides, but killing someone over it is beyond me," says Zingjar Vashim of Ramjas College. "In some parts of Delhi, we are treated very 'differently'. They don't give us accommodation, and the landlords try to overcharge because they think we can't bargain in Hindi. Even in the Metro, people just don't stop staring. And they always tease us about Chinese food. But we have to live with it," says Karry*, Hansraj College. "I can't generalize, but yes, the discrimination has become routine to the extent that people hardly even notice it anymore. They still call us chinki, even though that's been criminalized. Even in DU, people 'X-ray' us, up and down, when we pass by. Personally, I don't care so much, but yes, if we are in a bad mood, it becomes hard not to react," says Rashmi Mania of Ramjas College.
We too are human
"Our parents always advise us to not react to these comments. They always tell us to choose safety over retaliation. But we too are human. We end up reacting sometimes, and when we dare to do that, this is how it ends," says Sashi, an MA student. "Discriminatory comments are very common in Delhi, but we've learnt to ignore them, because if we start reacting, the situation is only going to get worse. Even so, we are only human. It takes a lot of strength to brave the comments on a daily basis, and continue with our lives," says Daniel, Hindu College. "I don't know why he got so p**sed off, but I am going to take the liberty of guessing that it was pent-up emotion. Wouldn't anyone get tired of being bullied day in and day out? So he reacted. I am not defending violent behaviour, but isn't he even allowed a human reaction? Even if an immature one?" Goju*, MA student.
We don't trust the police
"What the police did, as per the reports, was extremely irresponsible. Actually, irresponsible might be an understatement. They arrested the guy, took him to the police station, levied a fine, and then dropped him back at the same shop where the fight had started? What for? And why wasn't he taken to the hospital?" asks Todak, Hindu College. "We never trust the Delhi police with our safety. They are biased against us. Last month, my bike was stolen, and they refused to even file an FIR. They said pehle Manipur se identity card lekar aao," says Pema*, a DU graduate. "If there's a case of eve-teasing, we never go to the police because they too keep staring at us all the time. My friends even say that sometimes the policemen pass comments when they pass by. I think Delhi is in dire need of cultural integration. People should at least know about all the states of India," says Veronika, an MA student.
While African immigrants say that they fail to understand why the locals discriminate against them, locals say that their lack of knowledge of the history and culture of 'these people' makes them resort to racial epithets for them, unintentionally. Apart from the assumption that any foreigner is a drug peddler, we explore what other assumptions the capital is clinging on to when dealing with foreign immigrants and tourists. Here are some of the shockingly racist responses when we asked Delhiites asked how they feel about the African immigrants in the city... read more:
The nation’s capital has tested 20-year-old Delhi University student James Haokip from Manipur in ways he wasn’t prepared for. Haokip’s east-Asian physical traits – narrower eyes, smallish nose, wider cheekbones, fair complexion and shafts of straight hair – have rendered him vulnerable to a more nefarious form of discrimination, one that is blatant, not subtle. Although most Indians would decry any racism abroad, a large community of people from India’s Northeast says bias against them is growing, amid fresh concerns over safety. The suspicious death in 2012 of Manipuri student Loitam Richard in Bangalore, the suicide by Meghalaya girl Dana Sangma in Noida in 2012 and the January 29 fatal attack in Delhi on Nido Taniam from Arunachal Pradesh are grim reminders of India’s very own problem of race relations. Read: Racism is rampant in Delhi, say family, friends
“I don’t find friendly attitudes anywhere. My landlord took six months’ rent in advance, instead of the standard two months, saying that was the rule for guys from the Northeast,” Haokip says. Over 1 million people from the Northeast stay, work or study in major cities, according to the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (CNESPR) at Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia. Their problems are now in national focus, with Facebook campaigns like the popular page: “Stop Discrimination against People from the Northeast”.
Women often face abuse. A National Commission for Women-funded study by the CNESPR found 81% of Northeast women faced harassment in Delhi, according to the centre’s director Sanjoy Hazarika, who authored the iconic 2003 book on the Northeast, “Strangers of the Mist”. Meghalaya girl Linda Sangma, who formerly worked at a south Delhi mall, says she is frequently taunted. “I always got extra attention. A customer once pressed for my contacts.” The man turned up again a few days later and asked if Linda enjoyed “friendship and parties”... read more
