Don't call us coronavirus: Northeast students react to racist remarks

NEW DELHI: The coronavirus pandemic and the panic it has caused have had another effect. Amidst the worsening health crisis, cases of racism and discrimination targetting citizens from northeastern states of India have emerged.

Students of Delhi University who are from the northeastern states are being taunted and called coronavirus because they “look Chinese”. The Indian Express has reported that several of these students have complained to the police and also spoke up about it on social media. The novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, originated in China.

Students allege that they are used to racist slurs like “ chinki ”, “ momo ”, “ Chinese ” and “ Nepali ” for looking a certain way, hailing from the North East and for speaking Hindi with a different accent. But, ever since the first case of the Coronavirus was reported in India, these students have noticed that a new term has been added to the repertory of slurs. Students and youth have complained on social media that they are being called "coronavirus"

Government response

On Monday, in response to a post on Twitter about a young Manipuri woman who had been spat on in near Delhi University, Swati Maliwal, the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women tweeted: "This is really shameful. @DelhiPolice should immediately act against the culprit. People from the North East are our brothers and sisters and this cannot be tolerated under any circumstances! Let’s support each other in our fight against Covid 19!"

This is really shameful. @DelhiPolice should immediately act against the culprit. People from the North East are our brothers and sisters and this cannot be tolerated under any circumstances!

Let’s support each other in our fight against Covid 19! https://t.co/f25Jn4SoEA

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) March 23, 2020

Later in the day, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs also tweeted saying the ministry has written to the states "to ensure sensitization of law enforcement agencies to take action against harassment of people of North East by linking them to #COVID19outbreak in India". The letter, dated March 21, was attached to the post.

Do I look like a virus?

The harassment has prompted some students to attempt a campaign against racism on social media. One post has a young woman holding a placard that asks: "Do I look like a virus?"

Source: Facebook- Duyu Rija Karcho

Another Assamese student told Indian Express: "Everyday, on multiple occasions, we get called 'Coronavirus'. People have told me that the virus spread to India from China via the North East," she says. No case of coronavirus infection has been reported from the northeastern states so far. In fact, the first case was reported from the other end of India -- Kerala.

Source: Facebook - Avitoli Zhimo Pame

‘I feel helpless’

On how students from the northeastern states react to these insults and racist slurs, one student told The Indian Express , "I mostly say nothing and walk past these racists ignoring them. That is the only thing that I can do. I mostly feel helpless."
Delhi police has registered a case against a man for allegedly racially abusing a northeastern woman, calling her 'corona' and spitting at her.

Not just on the streets. Students and youth from the northeastern states are also being subjected to racist bullying on social media. Former Delhi University student leader, Angellica Aribam has filed a police case in response to racist comments directed at her on Twitter with one using the phrase "bat eating tribe".

Filed a zero FIR with @DelhiPolice for these tweets by @_MayankSikarwar @doctormulliner @AglBrKhKeLoonga . #Racism pic.twitter.com/XwgYEsCAoH

— Angellica Aribam (@AngellicAribam) March 22, 2020

A video shared on a Facebook page on March 13 was viral. Its caption said: "Stop calling us corona, ch***i, Chinese ... North East students of Punjab. #Govt_Of_India #say #No #to #Racism #Students #Northeast #India". The students from a small village in Punjab took to Facebook to post a video on how people have started calling them with names and how it hurts and impacts their studies.

Times of India reported that the Northeast Students’ Forum of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has written a letter to the institute alleging racial discrimination in and around the campus since the coronavirus outbreak because of their appearance. They have requested the institute’s administration to intervene and ensure the safety of these students.

Currently, there are 438 confirmed cases in India with 415 “active” cases and seven deaths.

Also read:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: Latest Updates
• Coronavirus: Delhi University shuts for students and staff

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