NAGPUR: As India's MC Mary Kom stood on the podium with her bronze medal, the nation cheered for her. The medal belonged to an Indian, and hence the whole country was proud.
Luckily for her, like her many brethren from the seven sister states of North-East India, she didn't have to prove her 'Indianness' at this instance. Speaking to the people from north-east after Kom's triumph revealed a hurt buried deep inside their hearts at being constantly subjected to tests of nationality and a hope of recognition of their Indian identity.
"I am proud and happy. This win by Kom will help give recognition to the north-eastern states," said Joe Alfred H Buhril, a student of VNIT. He said when he came to Nagpur people asked him questions like 'Are you an Indian?' "They didn't even know the existence or location of Manipur," he added.
The feeling of alienation among the people of north-east can be felt in their words. "It's an honour for the people of north-east and a moment of pride as we don't get many opportunities. Socio-economic benefits from the central government are also restricted. So her coming up to the international level to bag an Olympic medal is a great thing. She has struggled a lot to reach this position," said Among Jamir of National Churches Council of India. He hoped that this win will give recognition to the north-eastern people and make others realize that they are part of India and leads to more unity.
Virag Pachpore, vice-president, Friends of North-East India said, "There is a communication gap, a little alienation due to various factors. Students from these states are sometimes asked for passports. This affects them."
But this win, he said, will probably have a positive impact as the whole country came together to congratulate Kom. "This is very good, and especially the fact that the medal is coming due to the efforts of a lady from the north-east, many states of which are unknown to many people in the rest of India," Pachpore said.
But all were not this positive. "I am very proud. But I am afraid that this excitement will just be temporary and that Kom, like the other forgotten legends of the region, will just live in history books. This won't translate into the attention that the region needs for development," said Bimalendu Sil, a government employee.
"I hope that this win will put the north-east on the map of common Indians and that they recognize our potential. It is sad that sometimes it feels like an outcaste in our own country where people constantly doubt our nationality," said Vepu Pfuno, an MSc student.
It is a sorry state when a section of the population has to constantly give evidences of their nationality to their fellow citizens. This win by Mary Kom is something which is being looked up to solve this problem of identity and anonymity of the north-east citizens of India. But will it?
"We are never called Indians, though politically, geographically we are. We are not fully accepted and are neglected. We don't get enough chances and this medal gives us recognition. We feel hurt, we also cheer with the whole country when Sachin makes a century or Saina Nehwal won the medal because we are as Indians as anybody else. But if even prominent people of the society are not aware from where someone like Kom hails, imagine the situation of us commoners," said John Rameson Monsang, a MSW student.
