As I key in these words, 15 miners continue to remain trapped in a rathole mine in Meghalaya for almost a month now. The tragedy is grave, but none graver than the sheer lack of concern we as a nation have accorded to it!
Rescue missions should not be compared ¨C each poses its own share of challenges. However, what can be compared is the alacrity of action and clarity of intent. Think of the Thai footballers¡¯ recent rescue, or a certain Prince whose recovery from a borewell 10 years ago got the nation watching with bated breath ¨C you won¡¯t have to jog the mind any further to understand the contrast of treatment meted out to the northeast compared to other parts of the nation.
We are so alarmed by the annual monsoon waterlogging in metros, but are rarely moved by marauding floods that ravage the northeast year after year. What explains this apathy? Why is the ¡®Look Northeast¡¯ policy of central governments perpetually on life support - provided boosts of oxygen only around elections?
The Northeast ought to be more than a votebank, surely. Geographically, it commands a strategic place being the inter-laying segue to a neighbouring state which is always on a prowl. The transgressions in Arunachal remind me of the Annual Kabaddi league where Chinese soldiers want to make a case for themselves for being signed up for the Indian Pro Kabaddi league, by constantly crossing the Line of ¡®No Control¡¯. Not convinced? Key in the word ¡®Sikkim¡¯.
Assam Floods/AFP
We, the Indian people, exhort the diversity of our cultures on national platforms. But, how miserably do we fail to live the emotion. Instead of celebrating the multiplicity of the northeastern culture, we reduce them to terms like ¡°Chinky¡±, ¡°Momo¡± and other unsavoury expletives.
Strange that the region of the country that sees the sunrise first suffers the darkness of our prejudices. What else can explain the killing of a certain Nido Taniam in Delhi in 2014 or the attack on a certain Higio Gungtey in 2017 in Bangalore over something as trivial as water dispute?
The plausible reason to explain this distinction, nay discrimination, meted out to northeasterners is that they don¡¯t look like us. But then, who does? And isn¡¯t that the whole point of our diversity and the essence it beholds.
We pompously talk of bullet trains. Great Idea. But why have it run from Ahmedabad to Mumbai? Even normal trains cover that distance in 5-6 hours. How about having a bullet train from Guwahati to Mumbai ¨C where even on this day, the minimum time taken for train commuters to travel is 48 hours. Why aren¡¯t there enough airports, yet?
It would be absurd for me to make an economic case for us caring more about the northeast. There are very few industries there ¨C and thank the history of selfish unstable politics in that land for it. Even today when you broach the idea of visiting northeast to your friends, they ask: ¡°But, is it safe there?¡± Industries think similarly.
Even with that context, there is reason why northeast should matter from an economic angle too. The beauty of the landscape and the pristine gifts of nature is second to none. Everyone I know who has visited that region has come back smitten by the beauty on offer. That is a clear opportunity ¨C but, just not an economic one. It gives an opportunity for folks from other parts of India to be introduced to the beautiful culture there. No, they don¡¯t shoot you with bows and arrows, there. Just clarifying, in case you are wondering!
The Konyak Tribe of Nagaland/Greener Pastures
There is much to learn from northeast too ¨C Meghalaya is one of the few societies which is matrilineal. I have had some weird instances explaining that to friends who have known and seen India only through the patriarchal lens. I remember educating a friend once, telling him that Matrilineal society is where lineage flows through the womenfolk and rights like property, children surnames etc, which in other parts of the country is accorded to men, is given to women here. This friend shot back: ¡°Do women there get dowry?¡± I realised for most of us, appreciating the nuance of that beautiful culture will be hard especially because we are so coloured in the way we have grown up seeing India. Is Meghalaya then an alternate India. No, it is just a different India, and arguably, a better India.
Mary Kom has brought northeast into mainstream discussions through her skill. And yet, there was a viral whatsapp image being forwarded congratulating Mary Kom for being the top boxer in the world. Nothing wrong with it, except that the picture was of Priyanka Chopra.
I wonder if it is stupid to make a case for us to care more about northeast. Why should that question even arise? Have we ever thought if we should care more about Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Andamans? If thoughts like these don¡¯t occupy our minds, why this selective reflection only for northeast?
The answer is rhetorical. All names mentioned above are seen as a part of India; the northeast is seen as ¡®apart¡¯ from India. There is more than grammar and play of words in the last sentence.
Abhineet Mishra is a Meghalaya-born stand-up comedian, currently based in Mumbai.?
NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Indiatimes.