Looking for a Modern Indian

G S Oinam *

Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Lalthanhawla's remark has become a center point of discussing in many national papers. "I am a victim of racism; In India people ask me if I am an India. When I go to south (India), people ask me such a question many times. They ask me if I am from Nepal or elsewhere. They forget that the north east is part of India…"

There was nothing wrong when Pu Lalthanhawla delivered this speech. Every North East Indian visiting outside states are facing the same question many times. We don't mind when they ask the question for the first time.

If they ask again and again then we have some confusion and the nature of question is indifferent. Always they jump or guess as Nepali or Chinese. (No good impression at first sight) This is a question of ethnic sense.

When my new comer peon asks if I am from Nepal; I say no, I am from Imphal; what happen? Again he asks how far Imphal from Nepal is.

I feel very sorry for my peon for his lack of geographical knowledge of India. I spared some time for him to learn geography and know India then he was very happy and trusts me very much. When a gentlemen ask if I belongs to Nepal or Chinese; I told him politely, gentlemen you will be proper to ask if I where belongs to?

He was shy for his little ethnic scene. The question of being Nepali or Chinese is no problem; we respect Nepali very much. Nepali and Chinese are very popular in every uneducated urban and rural India. But, respect to other ethnic groups and ethnic sense is very important in every citizen of modern India.

When I ask to one aggressive Sardarjee if he belongs to Bihar; he was stunned and speechless. I know very well of the behavior of Punjabees. We have some similarities. Low pitch Punjabee can live in north east India comfortably.

I met one Bengali in a train he was sitting next to me. I look like a guest from a economy class citizen and I was not comfortable of his behavior at the first sight. After we talk about West Bengal and North East states, he was very frank, simple and helpful to me. This is a benefit of good communication skill and relationship, mutual understanding and ethnic sense. When you ask to a Bihari if he belongs to Marathi or Tamil then the question may be very difficult one.

I have visited south India many times. North east people are most welcome there then North Indian. In my experience south Indian people are very honest, kind, impressive to north east. Many students are studying in Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Benglore, Warangal, Hyderabad etc.

North east students studying in south Indian are averagely very simple and more discipline then students studying in north India. North India is closer to north east because of geographical physical feature and one common language (Hindi). North east is very backward and childlike state.

I do agree with Rashmee Roshan Lall "Man in the mirror" in Times of India. Our participation in national affairs is very poor. I do not feel shy to say this. Even Congress youth icon Mr. Rahul Gandhi does not shy away in poverty and the entire rich states of India do not shy away from the world-known "Slum Dogs".

How can we feel shy of backwardness? But, you will not find a single slum dog in North East even though we are backward. We had enough listening authoritative lectures of North and South India. Now, it is our turn to make them listen to north east voice.

North east Indians are visiting, studying, working in all over world but there was no report of racist attack to north east people outside India. It does not mean northeast have different face or different mindset. There is oneness of being an Indian and unity when they go abroad.

One Assamese boy married an Australian girl recently while India is protesting the racist attack to Indian students in Australia and Canada. Being an Indian, we are shocked to the recent racist attack to Indian students studying at Australia, Canada. Even developed countries like France, United States, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom have racist discrimination.

How can they deliver the message of Human Rights to the developing countries? But we have to learn and re-checked ourselves if we had done any mis-behaviour before we blame others.

Modern Indian can answer this question only. May be right or wrong in the Indian context of Pu Lalthanhawla remarks at water conference in Singapore, North East has now, gain strength of collectiveness and unity.