What moral right do we have to complain about racism when we continue to treat our own citizens like this?
A Manipuri woman has alleged that she was subjected to racial harassment at the international airport here following which an inquiry has been ordered into the incident. Monika Khangembam alleged that on Saturday an immigration official at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport hurled racist remarks at her when she was on her way to Seoul for a conference. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that an inquiry has been instituted into the allegation of racial harassment and action will be taken if anyone is found guilty.
"We are examining the case. We have asked for a full report. There have been previous cases of harassment. We will take action if there was a harassment," he told reporters here. The inquiry will be conducted by the Bureau of Immigration, which comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. After learning about the matter, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed regret over the incident and said she would take up the issue with Home Minister Rajnath Singh "Monika Khangembam - I am sorry to know this. Immigration is not with me. I will speak to my senior colleague Shri @rajnathsingh ji to sensitise Immigration officials at the airport," Swaraj tweeted.
Monika Khangembam wrote on Facebook:
“The bloody racist immigration desk at it again! Looks at my Passport and says, "Indian toh nahi lagti ho". I get that all the time so don't react much to it but then he goes on, "Pakka Indian ho?" with a smirk. I still don't react. What really got me was when he said, "See... You yourself need to know your Indianess. How many states are there in India?" The lady at the next counter is giggling. I tell him I am really running late. He goes, "nahi nahi bolo bolo". I helplessly answer him as he is not proceeding with the process. And then he continues, "kaha se ho". I said Manipur and he is like, "so tell me how many states Manipur shares borders with. Name them". I totally lose it and I look away and roll my eyes and don't answer. And he is still insisting me to answer. This bloody moron has all the time to ask all this. I said I was really getting late and he goes like, "aircraft aapko chodke kahi nahi jaa rahi. Aaram se jawab do". What a bully and never felt so humiliated. It was like it was his mission to make me realise my 'Indianness' and he thought he was being funny. I was running late and felt I was giving in to the bully. Spoiled my night. Is there a way to complain against these bullies?”
She wrote another post thanking her supporters. She wrote:
“Last night I was just venting out my frustration on FB about what happened last night at IGI Airport and I had no idea it will get viral and some news agencies will carry the news. A lot of you came out to support me and thank you for that. But I also saw some comments in other pages saying," stupid woman, that's not racism. Immigration people ask all sorts of questions... don't play victim card bla bla" (liberal Manipuris please don't give lectures on reverse racism now. Some other time).
Let me get it straight. I wouldn't have minded if he asked me TRIP RELATED QUESTIONS like what's the conference about, how long are you there, where do you work currently, who is funding, what's the purpose etc. It's even perfectly fine to ask where I am from but it's not fine bossing around asking with that sarcastic smile "HOW MANY STATES ARE THERE IN INDIA?" "NAME THE STATES BORDERING MANIPUR?" This is NOT RELATED TO THE TRIP nor I am a kid. And yes I regret not raising the issue then and there as there wasn't much time left for my departure and honestly I was worried he might not stamp my visa.
I am right now in Seoul for my programme and I have a hectic schedule ahead so might not be able to do anything from here. I can only do anything after I am back after 15 days. I couldn't get the name of the officer but a friend working at the IGI airport told me they can find out from CCTV footage.
Me and a lot of people from North East have constantly faced subtle racist jibes whether in the form of a sarcastic remark, smile, or attitude. Sometimes you cannot define it but you just feel it so you never express. Maybe this time it was something tangible so I could express it. Sadly you have to be killed to prove there is racism. (Richard Loitam, Nido Taniam)
We constantly talk about auto walas and rickshaw walas harassing the NE people but what do you do when it's someone who deals with people from all over the world from different backgrounds and ethnicity daily? If they cannot be sensitive then how do we expect others to be respectful?”
Seriously, how can we complain about racism against Indians abroad when we can't even treat our own compatriots with dignity. While one can still understand that an auto-rickshaw driver might make remarks that could be deemed racist, how does one explain a so-called educated immigration officer behaving in the same way? Every Indian needs to introspect.
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