Bhaichung Bhutia slams racism against NE Indians in exclusive interview

GUWAHATI: Bhaichung Bhutia, football superstar-turned-politician in an exclusive interview with InsideNE gave his two cents regarding the racial discrimination against those from Northeast India and gave inputs regarding what can be done to offset the age-old practice. Bhutia, who has been vocal against racial discrimination against the Northeast Indians in the larger cities, said that perceptions about the region are starting to change, albeit slowly.

"Discrimination was there when we were playing in the 80's and 90's. Right now, there is discrimination and we have been seeing discrimination against Northeast India. There are two kinds of people that you need to distinguish. There are people who are not aware. If I am travelling by a train and I come out and I try to catch a taxi or a rickshaw driver -- that taxi or rickshaw driver who might ask me if I am Chinese. That is because he is not aware of it. But there are people who are aware and know you -- if they discriminate based on your looks -- that is something that you must not tolerate," he told InsideNE Editor-in-Chief Afrida Hussain.

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Bhutia says that discrimination also exists in his own state of Sikkim as well where African players who play for his club are subjected to profiling in the insular regions.

"With African players in Sikkim when they go to villages a lot of villagers say things because they are unaware and that hurts me as well. They are not saying this to discriminate against the African players," he said, adding that there is a need to "educate" and "create awareness" against such behaviour.

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The former footballer said that he has also faced discrimination during his footballing years when opposing teams' players would make jibes based on his looks.

Bhutia attributes this to a "lack of awareness" about Sikkim and the Northeast in other parts of the country.

"But now, a lot of people from the Northeast have now played at the top level. That is why, we need icons from the Northeast not only in sports but in other arenas as well," he said, adding that actors from the Northeast should be cast in Bollywood films as a large part of India looks upto the industry.

Bhutia also said the fate of Paras Singh will set an example and sensitize them against making such discriminatory remarks in the future.

The 'Sikkimese sniper' also rued the fact that the COVID-19 vaccination scheme in the state has not been very successful and is currently halted due to a shortage of doses.

"That is why I say, I will not take a vaccine until free vaccines are available for the people as there are many others who have more need to get inoculated," Bhutia said.

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