‘You people have brought the virus here’: Othering experience of northeastern people amid COVID‐19 in Delhi, India

Abstract

Racial discrimination is a common phenomenon against the northeastern people of India on the mainland. They are prejudiced and othered mainly because of their very identity—mongoloid features—and by assuming their Chinese affiliations. The outbreak of COVID‐19 has exacerbated discrimination, violence, and othering across the globe. The case of northeasterners living in the mainland of India is not different either. Racial discrimination and the othering experienced by northeasterners have not yet been studied extensively, especially in the context of the pandemic. Against this backdrop, the present paper examines the othering experiences of northeasterners living in Delhi by analysing nineteen qualitative interviews. We also have attempted to unveil their experiences of being othered before the pandemic. The participants were recruited based on inclusion criteria. The findings of the paper underline othering as the everyday experience of northeasterners living in Delhi. The worst forms of othering and discrimination amid the COVID‐19 pandemic resulting in stigmatisation and bullying, insecurity and helplessness, and mental and emotional strains are evident in the participants' experiences. The instances of growing racism in India against northeasterners evidence the stereotypical attitude of the mainstream population towards them and urges legal measures to prevent it.

Political Polarisation, Social Exclusion, and Violence Against Foreigners: A Death Knell for the Inbound Tourism Industry in India

“…Particularly during COVID-19 period there have been incidents where Indians from northeastern states were harassed and attacked in mainland India. During this period, there were media reports on racial slurs, attacks, and discrimination against people of the northeastern states residing in India's metropolises (Azeez et al 2022). These attacks were attributed to the ethnic identities of Indians living in north-eastern states who have a specific mongoloid appearance.…”

“…These attacks were attributed to the ethnic identities of Indians living in north-eastern states who have a specific mongoloid appearance. The nationalist individuals attacked them, purposely harassed them, referred to them as 'Chinese', and purposefully forced them to go back to their native place (Azeez et al 2022;Banerjee 2020;Dikshit & Dikshitjutta 2014). This is not merely because of 'suspicion of being foreigners' but it is clearly a result of rising pro-Hindu nationalistic sentiments across India.…”