Isn't Shillong in a foreign country?

Isn't Shillong in a foreign country?
Neikula Mera

In December, Manipur was involved in a political wrangle that almost warranted President's Rule. On December 19, a Delhi-based newspaper carried an editorial, entitled `Kohima Calling'. It had mixed up the capitals of Nagaland and Manipur!

January saw tensions in Shillong, which led to the murder of some businessmen. The editorial in another newspaper on January 18 talked about ``five Indian businessman'' being killed in Shillong. Apparently, the editorial team did not think that the other inhabitants of Shillong are Indians too!

During the unfortunate killings of migrant workers in Assam, late last year, most national dailies along with leading news channels carried the story, and there was unanimity in terming them as the killings of ``Hindi-speaking people'' in Assam. Did they mean to say that they were killed by virtue of their speaking in Hindi? There's an implication here that people in the Northeast do not speak Hindi at all, which is definitely not the case. All these examples underline a viewpoint that seems to categorise the people of the Northeast as being somehow different from ``conventional Indians''.

There is, besides, the general apathy that newspapers seem to exhibit for issues related to the Northeast. This, in turn, is one reason why the ordinary person on the street has relatively no idea about the region. Talk about Nagaland, Meghalaya, or any other state, and they assume it to be a foreign region. Many don't know the difference between Meghalaya and Mizoram. Patricia Mukhim, a recipient of the Padmashri and a popular columnist, recently observed that ``there is very little coverage of the Northeast and, if there is any, they have been very negative pictures.''

Very often, the insurgency factor has been given a much larger dimension than warranted. Interestingly, one man alleged that ``all Nagas carry guns, they are all murderers''. Others who do have a clue, can only talk of the ULFA, the NSCN, or the plight of Bengalis in Tripura. One can only wonder how these notions come about. But one reason could be the fact that whenever the media does stories on the Northeast, it is only insurgency related.

The Northeast has always suffered alienation. There is an urgent need to change popular perceptions about the region and the media needs to be more sensitive in their coverage. For starters, it must shift from just conflict-centric news coverage to issues like development. There is no dearth of stories to be covered in this area, given the interesting facets about the lifestyles of the people and their struggle to survive even in the midst of great adversities.

But, perhaps, like social scientist Niketu Iralu once put it, ``people expect too much out of the media''. He strongly feels that differences have arisen because of differing perceptions: ``We have genuine convictions, feelings and aspirations and are articulating our convictions out of our history, but you are looking at us from your historical background and hence the clash''. He feels that people of the Northeast should themselves explore ways to let the rest of the country know about their feelings and seek ways to clarify popular doubts.

The Indian nation, with its pluralistic society, has existed in perfect harmony over many decades. This is because of its ability to accommodate diversity and, yes, change. And now it lies in our hands to further this tradition and history by respecting the identity and sentiment of each and every Indian.