The Dimapur- based group raises racism faced by North Easterners in its latest viral video Popular Dimapur-based theatre and film production house, Dreamz Unlimited (DU) released a video on YouTube titled “North East India and Racism” on Thursday. Known for producing plays and videos on contemporary socio-political issues, Dreamz Unlimited combines their trademark humour and wit in the video while seeking to highlight the racism faced by people from the North East in Indian cities. The video starts off with gun-wielding terrorists videotaping a message to the government of India demanding the release of their commander in exchange for an Indian man they have held hostage. However, to their surprise, the hostage contends that the Indian Government would never release their commander. “For them, I look like a Chinese,” the hostage – a man from the North East says. “Are you no Indian?” the gunman asks. “Of course, I am, I am from North East India, Nagaland.” “Then why won’t they believe me? They have to listen to my demands.” “Most of them don’t even know where Nagaland is. We are not even considered as a part of India by them.” As the conversation continues, the exasperated hostage cries out to his captors: “Ahhhh… stop wasting your time!” “I have been living in mainland India for the past 15 years and I have never been considered as an Indian,” he says. In the cities, the people from the North East are called as “chinkys, momo wallas, chow-chow, Chinese, Nepalese,” he explained. Stigmatization, stereotyping, discrimination based on race, appearance and food habits - largely arising from ignorance about the region – have translated into an often unforced disdain and aggression towards the people of the region. Abuse and attacks have remained a recurring theme whenever people of the Northeastern states move beyond, especially to the metros. The abuse continues despite the Bezbaruah Report. An 11-member Committee headed by MP Bezbaruah, IAS (Retd) was constituted by the Government of India following a racially motivated attack and murder of a 19 year-old youth from Arunachal Pradesh – Nido Tania, in the national capital in 2014. The Committee was entrusted to look into the various concerns of the citizens hailing from the Northeastern States and also suggest suitable remedial measures. The committee submitted its report but there is silence on many of its key findings. The report, on the whole, paints a grim picture of the nature and extent of discrimination and attacks against the Northeast community and also provided a comprehensive list of short-term and long-term measures that must be taken by the government. Coming back to the present video, it has garnered over 44000 views in just over 24 hours. Commentators on the video-sharing portal were all praise for Dreamz Unlimited with one user going as far as to compare the DU team to Key and Peele – an American sketch comedy television series. Users also shared their own experiences of facing racial discriminations while yet another user wrote, “Sorry guys for the discrimination … really sorry … love from West Bengal.” While there was praises aplenty in the comments section, ‘reverse racism’ faced by people from the mainland residing here was perceptible too. One user shared on the racism he faced growing up as a non-Naga in Nagaland. “Every day I had to face discrimination in school as well as outside the school campus… I am born in Nagaland but people don’t consider us (to be) from Nagaland.” In reply, another user wrote apologizing: “I’m sorry you had to experience that. When there is a majority, these things happen.” “Children should be taught not to hate on people just because they look different,” the same user suggested.
(Morung Express News)
