Our Eyelids Don't Make Us An Outsider: North Eastern Women Speak

Can you imagine dealing with racism in your own country and fighting for equal social rights daily? Can imagine being called names for the way you look? Can you believe that the skin fold on your eyelid is enough to otherise you in the country of your birth?

Women have been subjected to brutal discrimination in this country, but North Eastern women have it particularly difficult. They've been mocked for their appearance, culture and eating habits, and whatnot.

It's not just about having "small eyes," being a northeastern girl entails much more. Furthermore, when we talk about discrimination, we only talk about the crimes that happen to them or the major things that happen to them, but we forget that life is not always about the major events; it is about the minor things that happen in our daily lives. For people like us, it may be just another anecdote to read or hear, but for the women who are facing these situations day in and out, it is much more.

Here’s an incident that Pooja Rajkumari, a 23-year-old Assamese woman shared with SheThePeople:

"Once I was having dinner with a family of some known acquaintances. There was this young kid in the family, barely a sixth-grader, who told his father that he would never visit Assam because everyone who goes there becomes tiny-eyed and went ahead to pull the corners of his eyes to make them look squinted."

North Eastern Women Speak

Rajkumari adds, "I was baffled not just because of the comment, but also because his parents laughed and appreciated the 'joke'. Now that is not exactly discrimination but it was a big racist comment coming from a sixth-grader.”

Sadly, this kind of thought process among the 'young minds' is normalised by the elders. People make comments about them based on how they dress, and some believe they are not even Indian.

Suggested Reading: Assam Assault Video Case: Has India Left North Eastern Women To Fend For Themselves?

Rajkumari also expresses what she feels about discrimination, “What I feel is instead of outright discrimination, people from outside North-East are curious and racist against the people of North East. They are looked upon differently. They have questions that sound so silly such as "Do you guys eat rice?", "Do you guys eat dogs?", "Are Momos your staple diet?", "You guys in the hills do drugs all the time, right?" Questions like these make you wonder how we are so far away from inclusivity.”

Many celebrities have also spoken about this discrimination. Fitness enthusiast Ankita Konwar pointed out that the only time we consider Northeastern women as Indian citizens is when they bring fame to the country. She said this after Mirabai Chanu’s victory at the Olympics. Badminton player Jwala Gutta also spoke about how racist jibes increased on her once she started using social media frequently. Manipuri actor Lin Laishram has questioned the representation of North-Eastern people in Bollywood.

Mirabai Chanu

Most of us are indeed unaware of the varied culture and delicacies of the region. Several surveys have pointed out that in metro cities like Delhi women from the northeast have been discriminated against and abused. Women from these states are as successful in all aspects of life. Dipa Karmarkar, Alana Golmei, Lovlina Borgohain, Hima Das, Temsula Ao are some of the women who are role models to many. Yet there is a long way to go for these women to feel part of the mainstream.

We must understand that as humans, we must be empathic rather than sympathetic a small comment or question on your part can have a significant impact on anyone's life. There is nothing wrong with broadening your horizon and getting rid of one's long-held prejudices.

The views expressed are the author's own.