Double Standards

It irks me so much when I hear about the double standards of the people of our country every now and then. When I was small, making fun of people from the Assam and North east by calling them with the name "Chinki" or "Chinese" was cool. But, that was then, when I was a child. I did not know or understand how bad the people might feel whose fun we make. In school, we used to pledge that all Indians are my brothers and sisters. But, then I really did not know or for that matter did not care to understand that North East or Assam is as much a part of India as any other state.  As a child I was so patriotic for my country that I can imagine how bad it would have felt to me if someone would have told me that I am not an Indian. For that matter even after I have grown up if someone calls me a non-Indian, I would get so much irritated and feel hurt.

As I grew up, slowly I realized that its not funny to make fun of our own brothers and sisters from another part of our own country India. I understood its called racism, and racisim is a crime. If we cant understand such simple things then why feel irked when someone calls us a brown or a paki in the US  or Australia? Can you imagine how much it will hurt you if someone calls you a Paki? If you can understand it my dear friend then its the same calling an Indian a chinki or a chinese. What is their fault if they are born in another geographical region (mind you that is very much a part of India) based on what they have derived their facial features?

To me they are the most hardworking people you will ever come accross. They have the physique and stamina that helps them achieve the toughest of physical tasks. No wonder you can find them performing way better than others in any sport they decide to play. The lastest and shiniest example is Mary Kom who has won the boxing bronze medal for India in the 2012 London Olympics. And when we thought that she would really be proud of her achievement, the first statement she made in the media was, she was sorry for not winning a gold medal for India. One can imagine what dedication she had for her game and her pride for her country makes you salute her. You have really made us proud Mary. I am sure every Indian would be very proud of your no mean achievement.

It shattered me to hear and read the news that people from North East are targetted in Pune and other parts of the country for belonging to Assam. Can you believe that the reason behind hating them is just that they belong to the state of Assam where there are some communal riots going on. How ridiculous? How can innocent students studying way away from their home be held responsible and punished for something they have nothing to do with. It is a well known fact that people committing a henious crime of hurting another human do not belong to any religion. They do not belong to any community or any particular state. They are just brain washed, illiterate bunch of people who have been just taught to kill.

Why does people hating the North Easterns only see one side of the coin? Why cant they see that there are people from North east only who are winning medals for India and making India proud? Why only hatred? Why not share love? We are on the brink of another Independence day. why cant we make our own people feel independent and comfortable in their own country? Why these double standards? Let us really mean what we all have pledged in our school during our childhood. Every Indian is my brother and sister.

A gist of this blog was published in the Pune Mirror on 14th of August 2012. Here is a scanned image for it. My contribution is highlighted in green.