coronavirus

Hmingtei Chhangte

.

Viman Nagar

Nagaland

Pimple Saudagar

Bhavani Peth

Vishwakarma University

When I pointed out other helmetless riders he had let off, a traffic cop told me, ‘Woh log toh local hai, tum toh China se ho, kisko pata tere paas coronavirus hai ki nahi’ — Namguilung Panmel, who hails from Manipur

Reports of racist attacks all over the world have filtered into the media after the outbreak of the novelsweeping multiple nations in the last few months — especially assaults on the people of China, which hosts the epicentre of COVID-19. Unfortunately, a similar wave of bigotry has also seemingly engulfed an unconnected community here in Pune.Multiple city-based residents who hail from the Northeast states of India have come forward to cite increased instances of hate-filled commentary and even verbal attacks since the viral epidemic took over the airwaves. From professionals to students, families and more hailing from the Seven Sisters, their own fears of contracting the disease are now tinged with the additional bitterness of people from other states deriding them as receptacles of COVID-19 and blatantly labelling them as Chinese.Young techie, who originates from Manipur, narrated that it was just last week when she visited a grocery store that a few men teased her saying, “Coronavirus aa gaya (has come)!” A few days later, at the bustling Reliance Mall in Aundh, the xenophobia escalated, with a woman shopper in the same aisle covering herself with a dupatta and making faces. When confronted, the racist began yelling loudly, which was captured on video, said Chhangte, adding, “I have lived and worked here for 10 years. Just recently, two instances of intolerance have left me sad and insecure.The woman at the mall kept rudely gesturing like I am infected and commenting ‘baap re (oh my)’. When I asked her what was wrong, she screamed so loud that mall staff had to intervene. I just left without buying anything.”Unsavoury comments in the local language were also faced by Namguilung Panmel, who hails from the same state as Chhangte. “While buying food at Undri the other day, some man at the back of the queue began yelling at the shopkeeper in Marathi, calling me ‘coronavirus’. I immediately reacted, but he denied saying anything. Everyone present smirked. I tried to speak some sense, saying we are also Indian. Later that afternoon, while returning from a friend’s place, I took off my helmet and hung it on the twowheeler I was riding. A traffic cop stopped me and asked for my documents and licence, all of which I provided. I paid the fine for not wearing the helmet, but commented that he had let all the other helmetless riders off, except me. His response left me shocked: ‘Woh log toh local aadmi hai, tum toh China se ho na, kisko pata tere paas coronavirus hai ki nahi (they are locals, you are from China, who knows if you are infected or not).” He shared that in a third incident last month at a grocery store in, the shopkeeper’s friend brazenly called him ‘coronavirus’ to his face and laughed it off.”Sangvi resident Cecilia Pete from, who works with a state-run insurance company, agreed that even simple acts like buying groceries have become hard. “Daily activities are a hurdle. As soon as I step out of my house, people stare and call me names, especially ‘coronavirus’. My relatives in the city are victims of the same. My aunt and her daughters face these issues at Dinosaur Park in Pimple Gurav. A cousin who works at Talegaon and travels by local train experiences this from her fellow passengers.”The harassment is across areas. Music teacher Superson Kamei shared, “As I walked along a footpath in Sangvi, I was subjected to slurs from two local youths. At my classes in, I was surprised to see well-educated IT engineers calling me the same thing. A guy in Aundh pointed at me just a day ago and did this very thing — ‘coronavirus’ dogs us everywhere. I kept quiet on all occasions. These are not ignorant people, they know about Northeast states. What drives them is something different — maybe hatred, prejudice or racism.”And, it isn’t just adults, but also the children these same elders are failing to instruct better. A Mizoram-origin music teacher with a reputed city college, who chose to stay unnamed, shared, “I was called ‘coronavirus’ by a bunch of kids playing on the street intwo weeks ago. Their parents just laughed. I didn’t retaliate as I was alone and feared a backlash. Now, I avoid the area altogether.”This mob mentality is no recent phenomenon, and has been showing its ugly face since the epidemic began late last year.student Timmy Yumnam, a Manipuri doing her Masters in counselling psychology, said, “At the end of 2019, a friend and I had gone to MG Road in Camp. We were subjected to casual slurs about the virus. And it wasn’t just one or two people — many spoke that way, including different age groups and genders.”For Mizoram native Rena Ialremruati, another postgraduate student, proving her Indian identity has started feeling like a joke. She shared, “We hear coronavirus, Nepali, chinky, Chinese, and more. It is becoming too uncomfortable. If we reply that we are Indian, they just laugh.”Added Cecilia Pete, “Why are we being discriminated against? Is it because we look different? It’s sad to see our own fellow citizens not consider us as one of their own. We feel insecure in our own country. The virus doesn’t discriminate — similarly, we need to work together and fight it as one.”With fear and anger rising, Northeast residents here have now made a WhatsApp group to share their experiences, and have written to the commissioner of police, seeking help for additional security and raising general awareness. Speaking to Mirror, Sk Souriio Hitler from Manipur, former president of the Northeast Community Organisation of Pune, said, “We will be meeting the CP and giving a complaint. But my humble request to Punekars is to kindly not pass racist comments towards people of the Northeast living here. Let’s all contribute and help each another as responsible citizens of India. Being a racist does not give any benefit from COVID-19.” The acting president of the same group, Stuti Rai, said, “There have been many incidents reported by all our friends and family on racial slurs against them since the COVID-19 outbreak. People from Northeast India have always been subjected to discrimination. It is a daily fight for us. This epidemic has merely highlighted the inherent xenophobia.”When Mirror contacted CP K Venkatesham, he refused to comment on the matter.