Racism and exclusion of north-east Indians from mainland India

North-East Indians, distinguished by their Mongoloid features, often face racial discrimination within their own country. Despite India’s rich cultural diversity, North-East Indians continue to be stereotyped, marginalized, and misrepresented in media and society. Films like Axone (2019) and the short film Stranger in the Land vividly depict the daily prejudice faced by this community, highlighting issues like culinary racism and ignorance from mainstream Indians. The book Discrimination, Challenge and Response (2020) further explores entrenched stereotypes, myths of a raceless India, and the ‘othering’ of North-East migrants. Social media exacerbates these biases, where derogatory labels and memes mock their identity and appearance. Research papers, such as Sociology of Racism by Clair and Denis, and Zaheer Baber’s analysis of racialisation in India, explain how racism persists beyond overt acts, intertwining with class and social hierarchies. Reports and articles emphasize the neglect and exclusion of North-East Indians from India’s national narrative, calling for better representation in education and policy implementation. This paper draws from literature, cinema, digital platforms, and academic research to highlight the persistent racism, everyday challenges, and urgent need for awareness and inclusivity for North-East Indians—urging mainstream India to recognize, respect, and integrate this diverse community within the larger Indian identity.