Such a long journey

Sudhish Kamath (The Hindu) *

People migrating to the big cities of India from Northeastern part of the country is not a new story. Even though at times the treatments are not very welcoming, every year, hundreds and thousands of people from the Northeast migrates to the more developed part of India for their further education or in search of a career. It is really a big shame for the governments of these eight states who couldn't even make their own people happy and secure in their own land.

And again, the migrants live at their own risk in that part of the country where they are alienated in every aspect. In various incidents happen in Delhi, not once has the government of Manipur given pressure to the GOI or their counterparts in Delhi to see into the situation.

An article in The Hindu, Such a long journey by Sudhish Kamat carries the stories of migrants from all over the eight northeastern states living in Chennai.

"Speaking different dialects, with long stories of struggle and a million dreams... the story of migrants from the North East are happy to call Chennai their home."

He writes, "In fact, they don't even speak each other's language. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura — eight states, over a dozen popular spoken languages, scores of dialects, hundreds of tribes, thousands of stories of struggle and a million dreams. And one answer — migration."

Photo courtesy of N. Sridharan / The Hindu

Take in case of Manipur, what else can be done than letting your child study outside the state when "text books" for the ongoing session are yet to be printed. Bandhs and blockades are like breakfast to us by now. Getting a government job needs tons of money for bribing the concern departments so the only option one has is to look out for an opportunity to survive for one cannot survive with the memories of the past.

The article further adds that an estimate of about 4.15 lakh people have migrated from the North East to cities around the country in the last five years for better prospects — education and employment.

"Chennai is today home to hundreds of such migrants, the number growing steadily with the increasing demand for manpower in the service sector. The hospitality industry thrives on this migrant population for its bulk recruitments, be it beauty parlours, salons, restaurants or hotels."

He writes one Achan came to Chennai eight months ago after completing Class XII. Jimmy's interest in the beauty industry made her study at the Nail Academy in Delhi while Lihola D. wasn't academically inclined. Esther just started working. None of these five want to go back to their homes in the North East simply because there are more opportunities here. They live together in a hostel and thanks to their friends there, they have now picked up a little Tamil.

The sense of being independent and self sustaining themselves is another reason for the large number of migration. Saptarshi in the article says, "Migration today happens because the youth have the confidence to pursue their dreams. Films and TV have redefined aspirations. However, insurgency has put the clock backwards. Though the infrastructure is developing, the exodus is a matter of concern because the governments have not been able to create enough opportunity,"

With no proper electricity and developments, people who have migrated enjoy the facilities provided in these big cities.

Would he go back? Pat comes the answer, "I would think twice."

Read the entire article here