Moving to Delhi-NCR for education can be an exciting experience for students from Northeast India. It gives us a chance to meet new people, experience a different culture and become more independent. But living away from home also comes with challenges that people who have not experienced them may not always understand.

 

For Northeastern students, adjusting to life in Delhi-NCR is not only about getting used to a new city. It also means dealing with racism, safety concerns, language barriers, differences in food and religion, and sometimes being made to feel like we do not belong in our own country.

 

One of the most common things Northeastern students experience is being judged because of their appearance. Words like “Chinese”, “Nepali”, “Chingki”, “momo” and “chowmein” are sometimes used as jokes or insults. While some people may consider these comments harmless teasing, hearing them repeatedly can become uncomfortable and hurtful.

 

We experienced something similar while walking near our hostel after dinner. It was a common place where students would go for evening walks. There were small shops, street stalls and many students around us. While we were walking, a car suddenly stopped in front of us. There were three or four boys inside. One of them looked at us and said in Hindi, “India mein hum namaste bolte hain, toh humein namaste karo.” They were basically making fun of us and treating us as if we were foreigners. We immediately felt uncomfortable and scared. Instead of responding to them, we pretended that we had not heard anything and continued walking. At that moment, we felt that confronting them would not change anything. They looked intimidating and our safety was more important than proving a point.

 

This incident made us realise that racism is not always something direct or violent. Sometimes it can come through jokes, comments and mocking someone because of the way they look. Even though we were simply students walking after dinner, our appearance was enough for someone to treat us differently.

 

During a trip to Rajasthan last year, we travelled with a friend and visited places like Jaisalmer and Udaipur. We were excited to experience the culture and beauty of Rajasthan. However, during the trip, we were repeatedly asked if we were Japanese, Korean or Chinese.

 

At first, we laughed about it because we thought people were simply curious. But after hearing the same questions again and again, it became uncomfortable.

 

Even when we spoke to people in Hindi, some of them refused to believe that we were Indian. Some people told us, “No, you are not Indian. You don’t look Indian.” Others called us Japanese or Chinese and greeted us by saying “Konnichiwa” or “Annyeonghaseyo.”

 

We tried explaining that we were from Northeast India, but some people were still surprised. One of our friends travelling with us, who was not a Northeastern, had never witnessed anything like this before. Seeing the way people treated us made her feel disturbed too so she even confronted some people and told them that the Northeast is also a part of India and they should know more about their own country.

 

Once in Bangalore while walking in the street, a bunch of boys driving past shouted at us: "Chinese!" The comment made us feel uncomfortable and reminded us once again of how easily we are judged because of our appearance. The experience made us realise that racism is not limited to one particular city. 

 

India has many different cultures, languages, appearances and traditions. Being Indian does not mean that everyone has to look the same. Northeastern people are Indians too, and our differences are also a part of the diversity of India.

 

Apart from racism, there are also many cultural differences that Northeastern students have to adjust to.

 

We are very often called "momo". Momo is enjoyed all around India and most times at a Momo street cart here in Delhi-NCR, we usually see more customers from other parts of India than people from the Northeast. It is ironic that the same people who use “momo” as a name to mock us are also happily eating momos from street stalls.

 

There are also certain stereotypes about the food habits of people from Northeast India. Whenever we talk about food with people here, they sometimes ask us, “You people eat everything, right? Animals, insects and all kinds of things?”

 

We do not always know whether these questions come from genuine curiosity or prejudice. But the way these questions are asked, along with expressions of disgust, can make us uncomfortable.

 

There is a common stereotype that people from Northeast India, especially tribal communities, eat “everything”. Such assumptions make our food culture seem strange when it is actually just different from what people may be used to.

 

Religion can also be a concern. For many Northeastern students who are Christians, finding churches can sometimes be difficult because there are not many churches in some areas. Because of this, many students from the Northeast form prayer groups and pray together. These groups also give us a sense of community when we are away from home.

 

Language is another issue that Northeastern students sometimes face.

 

Although some of us know Hindi, many of our friends are not fluent in it. This can create problems when dealing with shopkeepers, auto drivers and other local services.

 

We have seen some of our friends being charged more simply because they could not understand Hindi well. Sometimes they are unable to negotiate prices or even realise that they are being overcharged.

 

This can be especially difficult when using autos or shopping in local markets. People who speak Hindi fluently may be charged the normal price, while some Northeastern students are asked to pay more because they cannot communicate confidently in Hindi.

 

Housing can also be difficult. While looking for houses, we have come across people who quote higher prices or charges, possibly because they assume that we will not understand the actual rates.

 

Safety is another major concern for us, especially when travelling alone or going out after sunset. Northeastern students can face different forms of harassment, including verbal, physical, sexual and discriminatory harassment. This is not only a concern for women. Men from the Northeast can also face harassment and violence.

 

The recent case of Chongtham Vikram Singh, a Manipuri man who was murdered for opposing lud noise, has once again brought attention to the safety concerns faced by people from the Northeast living away from home. For students living far away from their families, incidents like these can be frightening. They make us think twice before going out alone or travelling late at night.

 

Delhi-NCR is a very large area and many places are quite far from each other. The Metro service makes travelling easier and more convenient for students. However, good connectivity does not always mean that we feel comfortable or safe everywhere.

 

Living in Delhi NCR has also given us many good experiences. We have met people from different states, learned about new cultures and become more independent. But the negative experiences are also a part of our reality.

 

Being from Northeast India should not mean constantly having to explain where we are from or prove that we are Indian. We understand that people may be curious about our appearance, culture, food or language. But there is a difference between curiosity and making someone feel like they do not belong.

India is a country with many different cultures, communities, languages and appearances. Northeastern India is a part of that diversity. We are students. We are Indians. And being from the Northeast should not require us to prove that we belong here.