Most people in Delhi (or even most parts of India) are quite ignorant about the Northeast. And this applies equally to ‘educated’ people. In fact there seems to be indifference towards that ‘area’, and its people. The govt. also seems to be apathetic to the development of these States or their greater integration into the ‘mainstream’. The country belongs to all Indians and the Constitution gives everyone the freedom to study, live or take up a job anywhere in the country. No one has the right to decide this for others. How can we try to hurt someone (that too, violently) just because we do not like his looks or way of living? The people who show racial discrimination, in any form, must be dealt with strictly and treated as threats to the unity of the country. I have done my schooling in six different States, as my father was in the Army, and I later served in more than 15 different States as an Army officer. Over the years, one of the most admirable things I have experienced about our country is its diverse and colourful culture. It is a pleasure to meet different folk in the different topographical regions, having their unique dialects and customs, yet welcoming you with open arms because you are their fellow countryman. They feel elated when you try to learn their language or try to be a part of their culture. In the Army we have a very good tradition on this. Every officer has to learn the language of his troops, and also learn about their customs, rituals and festivals. The officers are even required to pass a language test. It is a pleasure to hear a Sikh officer talking in Nepali or a Tamil officer calling himself a proud Jat (Jat Regimental officer). These gestures help immensely in binding and bonding an officer and his team. It is one of the most effective ways of earning respect and loyalty. Ironically, no modern Human Resource Management theory seems to propound this.
Coming back to the Northeast, why can’t we try and learn something from the boys and girls who have come all the way from their hills to our plains, often for higher education and jobs? When we can welcome so many others (including foreigners) and feel proud to be good ‘atithis’, why can’t we help our own folk from the Northeast feel more at home? Do we not want them to remain proud to be a part of this wonderful nation? Why do the youth of the North in general and Delhi NCR in particular behave in such a deplorable manner? Perhaps it is because of their lack of knowledge. They seem to see all people with ‘slit eyes’ as ‘Chinese’ – and therefore almost ‘enemies’, or at least culturally not acceptable. The people from the South fare slightly better – maybe after decades of ‘familiarity’. Our school textbooks hardly try to educate the children about our diverse culture. Some of the best schools during the British period existed in the North East. Places like Shillong and Darjeeling were educational hubs, with some of the best boarding schools. A visit to some of the North East towns may open the eyes of these ‘biased’ children and adults of the North, whose domestic tourism is normally restricted to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan or the Kashmir Valley. A visit to Shillong will convince them why it was called the Scotland of the East by the British. Unfortunately, very few domestic tourists visit the North East States. The Northeast Museum, Barapani Lake, Shillong Peak, Butterfly Museum (a one man collection, at his home), Cathedral and the markets in central Shillong are some of the beautiful places worth a visit. Nearby Chirapunjee offers a voyage into natural caves, some of which are many kilometers deep. Tourists are permitted in only one cave, which is about 200 meters long, and lit. In Assam, the Kaziranga Sanctuary is a must visit. You can see herds of elephants crossing the road in front of you or a rhino lazing out in the water. The scenic beauty of the tea gardens and the lush green jungles all around are a treat to the eyes and the senses – which have become so used to seeing only concrete jungles. You can also see some rare flowers, like the Himalayan rhodendrons from Sikkim, the beautiful orchids from Arunachal (there is an Orchid Garden at the foothills), the fine cane from Assam and the anthuriums from Mizoram. A large variety of wild flowers also blossom in the humid climate of the Northeast. The rolling hills of Meghalaya and Nagaland offer unique scenic beauty – and a great climate. If developed properly, the Northeast can offer golf tourism, wildlife tourism, cultural tourism and cave exploration to the outside world. Religion is never far behind. Perhaps Manipur is the only State that connects itself so deeply to Lord Krishna, who is considered to be its son-in-law, having married Rukmani. The Raaslila act of the Manipuri dance is so mesmerising and graceful that it leaves an everlasting effect on you. Their martial dance, with drums, is awe-inspiring. Sport is in the blood of the people of the Northeast. You will rarely find a village that does not have a Football field. Remember, Manipur got the highest number of medals at the
National Games held recently at Guwahati. However, we only seem to hear about sportsmen from Haryana.
Some of the immediate steps that the Central Government can take are to include a comprehensive chapter on Northeast in the school syllabi, so that students are not left ignorant about a vital part of the country. Student exchange programs with the schools and colleges of the Northeast should be encouraged. Cultural troupes from Northeast should be sent to other parts of the country, to familiarise the locals with their rich culture. A couple of battalions of the Assam Rifles should be deployed at Delhi NCR. This is the oldest para-military force in the country, and is staffed mainly by soldiers recruited from the Northeastern States. This would be a confidence building measure for the people from our Northeast, and also provide a tenure and opportunity to the soldiers in a new area. They would also be of great help in organising cultural events. The Northeast States should be encouraged to open up to tourism. It would not only help in their better integration with the rest of the country, but also help them economically. Of course, their unique cultural identity and way of living must be protected. Many in the interiors are simple, very conservative folk, and still like to follow their age-old customs. After many decades we are seeing a steady stream of students and workers coming down from the Northeast hill areas to the plains. We have no business trying to scare them, or discriminate against them. They are fellow Indians, and they are not looking for any special treatment. Let us learn to welcome them graciously, and hopefully embrace them in a while. They will help enrich our society, as have so many other castes and tribes and communities…over millennia.
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