-By Shweta Raj Kanwar
August 21, 2017: Shillong has often been termed as a place that provides a warm and hospitable environment, especially for people who come here to reside from outside the country- be it for purposes of education, employment or merely just sight seeing. The picture may be absolutely rosy and untainted for many who come and leave the place with happy memories to share. But more often than not, it may do no harm to snap out of the ‘Pink coloured glasses’ that we make people don and do a reality check on how some people here are bent upon tainting the image of the place.
‘Racism’, a term that has gone on to encompass a wide range of perspectives in due course of time is now, not just limited to discrimination of a person based on their race or ethnicity. Today, the use of the term racism does not fall under a single category. It is depressing to see how the concept of ‘Discrimination’ or segregation of one person from another has become etched into our minds, so much so that we are sometimes unable to contain it, thus bringing it out in the open thereby causing immense pain and suffering to the victim.
Recently upon my interaction with a group of African students from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, I came across a bitter trend that was manifesting itself upon some youth in Shillong- the trend of racially discriminating African students by calling them offending names, making them feel inferior due to the colour of their skin and instilling in them a sense of un-belongingness to the place that has been presumed by many as ‘All embracing and welcoming’! Not trying to steal the ‘Rosy picture’ of Shillong painted by many but, since every coin has two sides, this is just another side of the place where we live in.
Thoba Mthempu, an African student studying in St. Anthony’s College has had his own share of ‘Mixed’ experiences in Shillong when he narrates his ordeal:
I have been in Shillong for almost three years now under a scholarship awarded to us by the government of our state for pursuing higher studies. I am a student of St. Anthony’s College. There have been times when the people here treat me like I am one of them- making me feel so invited, welcome, accepted and full of life but then again there are a few who make it impossible for us to live here. There have been times when the moment we step out, people start calling me names like- “Hey Negro!” and I begin to wonder what wrong have I even done to these people! There is one particular incident that still gives me chills down the spine, an experience I will never forget.
One night I went out of my house to buy a bottle of water when a group of boys riding on a bike came up to me and started pushing me and acting violent with me, calling me names and asking me to go back to my own country. I was alone and these boys just surrounded me, hit me, called me names and I just could not understand what was my fault. I somehow managed to escape the situation and ran away from the place as fast as I could.
I wanted to approach the police regarding this but then people around here advised me to just stay indoors and be safe rather than make an issue out of this incident. Nobody supported me and I did not know who would be the right person to approach as everybody kept telling me, “Do not look for trouble”, and things like that. This was really discouraging for me and hence my only resort was the media as I want people to know that we are also humans and we too feel emotions. Not all of us are drug peddlers- many of us have literally come here to study and wish to go back home with a good education. We are not here to do anything bad. Why is our existence such a hindrance for some people I do not understand? Why are we labeled by people as drug dealers, cannibals and murderers?”
Thoba’s issue is just one among the many ordeals faced by other African students in Shillong and elsewhere in India. Irked by this bitter trend and to try and put an end to this by creating more understanding between the African and the Indian community, Pete Ngugi, a 25-yr-old software engineer from Kenya has decided to launch a campaign for a mission. Pete, who is in Shillong for the past three years since he left his job with IBM in search of his passion to do something good for the society has been closely associated with the cause of the downtrodden sections of the society, especially in Meghalaya and has been closely working with the Bethany Society along with his companion Prakarsh Diwaker in projects such as RAISE-Northeast for propagation of inclusive education opportunities for one and all. ‘
Talking to TNT- The Northeast Today, Pete expressed his deep concern for the ongoing racial discrimination against his African Counterparts stating that he had conducted research on such issues and found that more often than not, both parties are to be blamed but this is of course, not the case all the time.
He said, “Africans have been accused of engaging in activities relating to drugs and there is viable evidence that they have been arrested. But we must note that not all Africans are selling drugs but the manner in which the media portrays us is what creates a very negative perception about us in the people’s minds. A general notion that ‘Africans are Drug Peddlers’ is created in peoples’ minds. Looking at the other side of the coin, Africans also have a notion that Indians are racists but I can assure from my own personal experiences that not all Indians are racists”.
Therefore, in order to spread awareness about this issue as well as to sensitize people to be sensitive to the feelings of one and all, Pete has decided to embark on a campaign in India starting from October 2017- a campaign to spread peace and awareness between the Indian and African society living in India and to find out what as to what exactly root cause of conflict between these two societies. He says, “Soon enough I will be on the open road, devouring kilometers across India, campaigning against racial prejudice, ethnic prejudice and classicism. Lets get this right, not all Indians are racists, not all Africans are drug Peddlers and human traffickers” .
Pete says, “The experience of each person however varies. For example, my experience might have been a good one but that of my friend Thoba has not been a very pleasant one. But we strongly believe that it is important for us to change our perception to all criticisms that is meted out upon us by a handful of ignorant people, because change begins with oneself and we, the Africans are willing to have a positive mind towards all forms of criticism and we hope that one day our positive mind will dilute all negative effects and we can live together in harmony.
As Pete rightly quotes, “Racism is not the issue, how we respond to racism is the issue. We must undo negative brainwashing and reclaim a new state of race-based self-esteem and self-actualization”. This positive attitude is a form of bulletproof that Pete has imbibed in himself and wishes to instill the same among his African counterparts in India and different parts of the world. This is what he exactly means when he says, “Change begins with oneself!”
Let us then, all try in our individual capacity to educate some fickle minded youth and check their behaviour towards our fellow counterparts, whoever they may be; Let us imbibe in ourselves as well as others a sense of responsibility- one that encompasses diversity and eludes negativity. Because after all, ‘Together We Can!”
You can also support Pete’s cause by contacting him on Facebook HERE
-For any queries or clarification on the above story, the writer can be contacted at shweta@thenortheasttoday.com and shwetarajkanwar@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER: The article has been written based on the first hand account of the concerned persons and is the writer’s opinion. The media house does not take responsibility of the opinion expressed
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