DU’s friendly for NE students, Delhi’s not
New Delhi: Hopes, dreams, fears, worry and anxiety are common to all the applicants who queue up outside the colleges in the Delhi University. If in doubt, head to help desk
But while for others, the concerns end after securing a seat, for some it is just the beginning. The latter are the students from the NorthEast. “Will the city, students and teachers accept us. Will be one of them?” – is a question that bothers them all along. A few such students shared their experiences with us and told us that the problem existed more outside the gates of the university, than inside. “It’s the city that’s hostile to us, not the university,” they echo.
A stranger in the city?
The one question that troubles anyone who sets foot in the city for the first time is – Are DU students and teachers, NorthEast friendly? “Most of the applicants hear about certain racist attacks from their friends, cousins, neighbours, etc, much before they arrive. We try to show them the real picture by sharing our experiences with them,” says Lamtinthang Haokip, who belongs to Manipur.
He adds, “In reality, the university is quite friendly towards us.” Says Kaipou, another student, “I too had heard a lot of stories on how the students are ill-treated here, but soon I made friends with people from other states.” Agrees Chong, a final year student from Indraprastha College, “Initially, I was apprehensive about coming to Delhi, but once I arrived, I realised the students were friendly and nice.” Choga Kingkangmai, who graduated from Satyawati College, also changed his opinion about the University when he started interacting with fellow students. “They were very nice and always eager to help,” he says, adding, “The university is safe, it’s the outsiders one needs to be wary of.”
Lien, a lecturer of Economics at Shyamlal College says, “I did my graduation and post graduation from here and now I’m teaching at the same campus. I have had a good experience both with fellow students and colleagues. It’s the people on the roads who make you feel uncomfortable.” Jason Meitei, a second year student at DU, says, “It’s the Delhiites, outside the university, who call us names, look down upon us and treat us like aliens.”
Keep the fears at bay
The help desks set up by the students from the NorthEast clear the doubts that many students and parents have regarding the university and the city. “Initially, I was a little apprehensive in leaving my daughter all by herself,” says Prem who is from Manipur. Adds his daughter, Shylin Chanu, “We spoke to the volunteers at the desk and that helped us relax.”
Khuren, another applicant says, “I too had heard a lot of stories about ill treatment meted out to the residents from Northeast, but now that I’ve spoken to the seniors I’m looking forward to be a part of DU.” Adds Sathui from Manipur, “And then there is always the option of approaching the seniors or teachers in case of any problem.”
Life in a metro...
Says Lamtinthang, “Our lifestyle is different from that of the Delhiities and if one of them was to come and stay in Manipur, they too would have to make adjustments. So, one should be willing to do so and also interact with not just people from their own state, but everybody else too.” He adds, “However, girls need to be extremely careful.”
What’s in a name?
Students from the Northeast are often referred to as Chinkys. “When we walk down the road, people in Delhi call us Chinky, Nepali, Bahadur, etc,” says Livingson, a student of Economics at Ramjas College. He adds, “I have a lot of friends from Bihar and Haryana, but we don’t mock at them by calling them Biharis or Jats. Also, I don’t have a problem in being called a Chinky, provided it is not done with the intention to put us down.” Chips in Kaipou, “Some people call us Chinkys to insult us, that’s when I get offended. We too have nicknames for each other, but we utter them with the right intention.”
Source: Times of India
But while for others, the concerns end after securing a seat, for some it is just the beginning. The latter are the students from the NorthEast. “Will the city, students and teachers accept us. Will be one of them?” – is a question that bothers them all along. A few such students shared their experiences with us and told us that the problem existed more outside the gates of the university, than inside. “It’s the city that’s hostile to us, not the university,” they echo.
A stranger in the city?
The one question that troubles anyone who sets foot in the city for the first time is – Are DU students and teachers, NorthEast friendly? “Most of the applicants hear about certain racist attacks from their friends, cousins, neighbours, etc, much before they arrive. We try to show them the real picture by sharing our experiences with them,” says Lamtinthang Haokip, who belongs to Manipur.
He adds, “In reality, the university is quite friendly towards us.” Says Kaipou, another student, “I too had heard a lot of stories on how the students are ill-treated here, but soon I made friends with people from other states.” Agrees Chong, a final year student from Indraprastha College, “Initially, I was apprehensive about coming to Delhi, but once I arrived, I realised the students were friendly and nice.” Choga Kingkangmai, who graduated from Satyawati College, also changed his opinion about the University when he started interacting with fellow students. “They were very nice and always eager to help,” he says, adding, “The university is safe, it’s the outsiders one needs to be wary of.”
Lien, a lecturer of Economics at Shyamlal College says, “I did my graduation and post graduation from here and now I’m teaching at the same campus. I have had a good experience both with fellow students and colleagues. It’s the people on the roads who make you feel uncomfortable.” Jason Meitei, a second year student at DU, says, “It’s the Delhiites, outside the university, who call us names, look down upon us and treat us like aliens.”
Keep the fears at bay
The help desks set up by the students from the NorthEast clear the doubts that many students and parents have regarding the university and the city. “Initially, I was a little apprehensive in leaving my daughter all by herself,” says Prem who is from Manipur. Adds his daughter, Shylin Chanu, “We spoke to the volunteers at the desk and that helped us relax.”
Khuren, another applicant says, “I too had heard a lot of stories about ill treatment meted out to the residents from Northeast, but now that I’ve spoken to the seniors I’m looking forward to be a part of DU.” Adds Sathui from Manipur, “And then there is always the option of approaching the seniors or teachers in case of any problem.”
Life in a metro...
Says Lamtinthang, “Our lifestyle is different from that of the Delhiities and if one of them was to come and stay in Manipur, they too would have to make adjustments. So, one should be willing to do so and also interact with not just people from their own state, but everybody else too.” He adds, “However, girls need to be extremely careful.”
What’s in a name?
Students from the Northeast are often referred to as Chinkys. “When we walk down the road, people in Delhi call us Chinky, Nepali, Bahadur, etc,” says Livingson, a student of Economics at Ramjas College. He adds, “I have a lot of friends from Bihar and Haryana, but we don’t mock at them by calling them Biharis or Jats. Also, I don’t have a problem in being called a Chinky, provided it is not done with the intention to put us down.” Chips in Kaipou, “Some people call us Chinkys to insult us, that’s when I get offended. We too have nicknames for each other, but we utter them with the right intention.”
Source: Times of India
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