Delhi`s step motherly behaviour `hurts` NE people

New Delhi: Facing racial discrimination has become a part of daily life for a majority of youngsters coming from the North East to the national capital, which touts its tag of being a cosmopolitan city.

Often referred to as `chinki`, `chowmein` and `momos`, these youngsters say they have to resist discrimination and fight against abuses hurled at them by their compatriots. Coming from the eight NE states of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim, these youth hope to get better education and job opportunities in the national capital. Women from North East face even worse as they undergo traumatic experiences daily while living in the national capital region, comprising neighbouring Noida and Gurgaon. Be it public transport, educational institutions or workplace, NE people feel those belonging to so-called mainland India discriminate them because of their different facial features, hair style, dressing sense and language. Despite hailing from an integral part of India, these survivors of racial abuse feel compelled to overlook instances of mental, physical and verbal assault on a daily basis. However, days after the death of 19-year-old Nido Tania in a suspected case of racial killing, the cries for safer spaces for northeasterners have augmented. Pemilla, a second year Sociology student from Manipur, says she is always asked about her nationality. "In college, based on my looks, many people have asked me if I am from China, Tibet or Nepal. They don`t even know what northeast people look like which is very shameful," she said.