Backlash Against North Indians in Mumbai
TAMIL TRIBUNE, June 2008 (ID. 2008-06-01)
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The North Indian controversy was waiting
to happen. What is surprising though is that it happened in Mumbai and not in
any southern metropolis. The constitution and law guarantee complete freedom
to every citizen to live and work without restriction in any part of India, and rightly so. Having said that, I feel we need to delve deeper into
the reasons behind recent events. [Editor's Note: Author is referring to
certain events in Mumbai (Bombay) in early 2008. Members of
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), headed by Raj Thakeray, attacked north
Indian taxi drivers and street vendors as part of their opposition to north
Indians living in Mumbai not respecting
Maharashtrian culture and also wanting to make Hindi an official language of
Mumbai City Corporation. Mumbai is the largest city and business centre in the
western state of Maharashtra.]
From the time of independence until
recently, all decisions were north centric. This was not surprising as New
Delhi is located in the north. The power centre being in the north created a
false feeling that all other regions were mere vassals of the BIMARU
States [BIMARU States - The northern states of Bihar, Madya Pradesh, Rajastan
and Uttar Pradesh]. Northeasterners
were referred to derisively as Chinks, the Southerners as Madrasi or even as
Iddly-dosa, and the Marathis as Ghatis. Whether
it was industry, culture or any other field the Southerner was run down
constantly. South Indian industry could not obtain licenses, could not
influence policy and were relegated to the backyard. For everything one had to
run to New Delhi, which neither understood the South Indian/Eastern
Indian/Western Indian languages or ethos. Most other Indians could not but
help feeling like second-class citizens vis a vis their Northern brethren.
.
Hindi was pushed down the throats of southerners. Knowledge of Hindi was equated with patriotism. I wonder why
these patriotic North Indians did not similarly push Tamil or Kannada down their
own throats! In fact there are large parts of southern India which
neither understand nor speak Hindi. Instead of encouraging integration, this
Hindi arrogance fostered the North- South divide. This same arrogant attitude
is being displayed by our Railways minister. He arbitrarily dropped
South Indian food from the railways catering menu [Reference 1 provides more
details].
Today Bangalore and even Chennai
(Madras) are
being swamped by North Indians coming for jobs, bringing with them their arrogance, brashness and
intolerance. By and large they do not want to learn the local language, nor
understand the culture and ethos. In fact everyone is expected to converse in
Hindi. Lack of understanding of this language is greeted with amazement and
arrogance. They could do well to learn from the early Marwari and Sindhi
settlers who have successfully integrated locally and are viewed with
affection rather than hostility.
What has made the situation worse is the
fact that today, economic development is largely being driven from the South.
In the earlier days many a southerner needed to go North to earn a living.
Today he/she does not need to do so, however he is facing an invasion which is
threatening his language, culture and livelihood.
The North Indian coming South must learn
to respect other languages, culture and people.
Until then I am afraid he will
have to face the kind of backlash we are seeing in Mumbai. Unfortunately it is
the poor taxi drivers and street vendors who would face the music for the
insensitive boorishness of their more educated brothers.
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REFERENCE
1. No Sari, No Idli : South Indians Go to Hell! (by Sharada T.P.K.), TAMIL TRIBUNE, July 2007 (8 KB)
FIS080526 2008-a1d
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