Racism Against NorthEast Indians

An incident at Delhi University involving a senior professor being heckled with a racial slur by a student highlights how racism has become normalised as “funny” or “cool”.

About Casual Racism

• Definition: Casual racism refers to everyday, subtle, and often unintentional expressions of prejudice or stereotypes about a racial or ethnic group.
• Expression: It appears in jokes, comments, humour, social media posts, “harmless” remarks, or routine behaviours that normalise inequality or demean a group. 
• Reality: Casual Racism is a form of mental violence that reinforces power imbalances and discrimination by making bias seem normal.
  • It can be internalised, affecting self-esteem and a sense of belonging (making victims feel like “others” rather than part of India) among targeted groups.

Reasons For  Racism Against Northeast Indians

• Systemic Failure: Even educated, urban middle-class students engage in this behaviour, indicating that the education system provides degrees but fails to instill values.
• Fatal Consequences: Examples include the Nido Tania case (2014) in Delhi and the recent Angel Chakma case in Dehradun, where racial verbal abuse escalated into fatal physical violence.
• Social Safety Net Gap North East students in metros lack a support system and face discrimination in housing, transport, and markets.
• Institutional Failure: A police officer in the Angel Chakma case trivialised racial slurs as “jokes” made in excitement, which prevents criminals from fearing the law.

Bezbaruah Committee Recommendations (2014)

• Aim of the Committee: It was formed after the Nido Tania Case (2014) to address racial discrimination, violence, and harassment faced by people from the Northeast living in other parts of India.
• Some of the Key Recommendations are: 
  • Stronger Legal Framework: Strengthen Section 153A of the IPC (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)) regarding racism.
  • Reforms: Make racism a cognizable offence (arrest without a warrant).
  • Monitoring Mechanism: Appoint nodal officers in colleges and create special police units for the North East region.
  • SPUNER (Special Police Unit for North Eastern Region): A dedicated police unit (set up in Delhi) to address grievances, safety and security issues of people from the North Eastern states residing in the city.
  • Representation:  Include North East culture in NCERT textbooks.

Way Forward

• Mandatory Sensitisation: Institutionalise regular workshops for students, teachers, and non-teaching staff to build awareness about diversity, prejudice, and respectful conduct.
• Zero-Tolerance Framework: Enforce strict action against racial slurs and harassment, on the lines of anti-ragging laws, to create deterrence and accountability on campuses.
• Constitutional Values in Practice: Ensure the effective implementation of Articles 15 (prohibition of discrimination) and 19(1)(e) (right to reside and settle anywhere), translating constitutional guarantees into lived realities.
• Strengthening Unity in Diversity: Deepen initiatives like “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” through student exchange programmes, cultural immersion, and academic exposure to the North East, fostering empathy and national integration.

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Conclusion

India’s motto of “Unity in Diversity” must translate into lived reality. If citizens feel unsafe or discriminated against, our nation-building project remains incomplete.

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