Northeast Exodus: A Blessing in Disguise?

Many Indians from the Northeast region of the country - hereafter referred as the Northeasteners - staying, studying and living in various parts of India, fled their respective places en masse last month due to death threats and attacks from miscreants who were intent on disrupting the secular fabric. The rumour was that Muslims will retaliate the loss of lives of their brethren during clashes between Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam's Kokrajhar. Could the mass exodus of Northeasterners from various parts of their own country be a blessing in disguise?

It was alleged that the miscreants circulated an MMS clip showing torture and killing of Muslims in Northeast India, especially Assam where there was communal violence between the ethnic Bodo tribals and the Muslims. However, the police later revealed that the graphics and photos used in the video were morphed and was an exploitation of the violence in Assam to arouse communal passions and tensions. The miscreants who disseminated misinformation was subsequently arrested and their computers and mobile phones used in the cruel, inhumane and unjustifiable act were seized.

Nevertheless, it did not stop many from fleeing. The reason was, in the death threats circulated among many Northeasterners, it was alleged that once the holy fasting month of Ramzan was over, Muslims will start attacking Northeasterners living in different corners of India. Ramzan was over and no such killings were reported from any parts in central India. Though some miscreants took advantage of the situation and attacked or threatened some of them even before the Ramzan was over. Many Northeasterners panicked and fled cities like Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, etc. The Deccan Herald reported that more than 30,000 Northeasterners left Bangalore city alone.

Many Muslim organisations and leaders including the Mullahs (priests) assured the fleeing Indians to not succumb to such false alarms and rumours. The respective state governments as well as the police authorities in various parts of the country also assured the Northeasterners of their security. But stray incidents like one Tibetan man, who also looks like the rest of Northeasterners was attacked with knife by two men; he was stabbed twice and had to be hospitalised in Mysore city; and the beatings of some and face to face warnings given to many spread fear and resulted in the largest exodus ever in the history of India.

The unprecedented security situation had forced Northeasterners from various states and tribal backgrounds to unite under one platform to hold meetings to resolve the impasse in cities affected. Except for Assam, the rest of the Northeast states have the presence of high percentage of Christians; for many it was a crucial time to come together and join hands in prayer. One Christian leader from the region said, "Earlier it was too difficult to hold prayer meetings amongst us, but now the situation has forced us to come together for the betterment of our respective communities and tribes."

One important factor is that Christians form majority in most of the Northeastern states except Assam and Sikkim; for the Christians it was a time of retrospection and self-examination as well. Another leader said, "We live among other faiths, we should be descent in the way we dress, the way we live our day to day lives. Let us not forget we are also ambassadors for Christ."

Another leader also commented that it was a constant reminder to realise and know that they are not in their home state. They should respect and honour the taste and ways of their hosts. "If we do not behave well, miscreants can take advantage of the situation and may attack us anytime. We must be very careful. There is a saying, 'While in Rome, do as Romans do'," he said. The unwonted situation has allowed them to give advice and admonitions like never before.

It is a fact that Northeasterners have Mongoloid (Chinese) structure in their physical appearance and it is very easy to single them out in most of central India. They are very conspicuous and visible. This has also made racial profiling very easy. And the awareness of them being Indians seems to be very low in the rest of the country. They were often teased or labelled as foreigners, Chinese or other Asians. The situation even forced the matter to be debated in the Parliament. The lawmakers assured the panicking Northeasterners that they will do their best to protect them and give them adequate security and they came down heavily on the ones who spread hatred. They spoke in length about how these Mongoloid looking people of the Northeast too are Indians as much as the rest of their countrymen. And therefore, no one should threat them differently. More awareness was created as various online, offline newspapers, blogs, websites, and television channels remained focussed on the issue for weeks. It was something to be noted.

Various lawmakers from the Northeast states also visited cities in central India where many Northeasterners reside to address their grievances and also to show their solidarity with their fellow countrymen. They met with various authorities responsible for maintaining the law and order situation. In some cities, the Northeast Forum, an umbrella organisations represented by various states were formed; in some cities like Bangalore they also promised to have Northeast Cultural Centre to address the grievances of their people, not only this time but such should exist as a matter of fact.

It was an unprecedented situation indeed. Though many Northeasterners look alike they are not same. They speak many different languages. They are from diverse ethnic and tribal backgrounds. Many of them have had fought among themselves due to various factors at play. But they too came together, sharing one platform to address the grievances of their fellow Northeasterners. One can say only that it was a blessing in disguise.

However, we must not forget that many have suffered much due to this. Due to the rumours and the subsequent attacks, many have lost their livelihood. Some have not returned to their work places or to their educational institutions. For many students including for the writer's nephew, it was loss of money, time, energy and one good academic year. It pains me to think about the loss and humiliation incurred on many. But the isolation and discrimination of Northeasterners is still prevalent in many parts of the country. The situation has brought many factors to the fore and the country cannot turn a blind eye. I believe this will bring a positive change in the minds of people that no progressive societies can discriminate their fellow countrymen, and injustice in any form is deplorable to man and his creator God. And the progress of the country depends on everyone including the Northeasterners. Though the sad incident brought much inconvenience, I believe it was a blessing in disguise. God has a plan for his people to dwell in their land peacefully and harmoniously; unfortunately as one writer pointed out rightly, in a rebellious and evil infested world peace often comes at a price. Indeed no good things come without pain. I say this with a heavy heart. Considering all factors involved and the attention it drew from across the world, we can conclude it was a blessing in disguise. Let's hope the results will be good for the country.