A woman from Meghalaya recently shared two disturbing racist incidents she was subjected to within hours. In an Instagram video, she shared her painful experience in an emotional video that has sparked conversations about racial discrimination faced by Northeastern communities in India.
The first incident occurred in Kamla Nagar, where she had gone to run some errands. While walking, she passed a group of three or four men sitting on a scooter. One of them made a derogatory comment: “Seng chong.”
“I went to Kamla Nagar for some work. I was walking, and then there was a bunch of grown-up men, around three or four. They were sitting on their scooty, and as I was passing by, one man said, ‘Seng chong.’ As soon as I heard it, I turned back and looked at him, and then all of them started to laugh. My brain couldn’t process what I just heard, and they were looking at me and laughing. Still, I kept quiet and walked to the shop,” she recalled.
Story continues below this ad
Shaken but trying to carry on with her day, she encountered yet another distressing event, this time while travelling on the metro. A man directed a racial slur at her, mocking her appearance by saying, “Ching Chong China.”
“That was the second time it happened in one day,” she said. “I just stared at him and didn’t say a word.”
“I’ve been to different countries, but they never made me feel like I don’t belong there, I am not welcomed there. But today in my own country, fellow Indians made me feel like I don’t belong here,” she said. “It breaks my heart. My only mistake is that I am born in India and I look like this, and I don’t look like the rest of the Indians. They make fun of me and they laugh at me just because I look like this.”
Sharing the video, she wrote, “To the guys in Delhi who thought ‘Ching Chong China’ was a joke — you didn’t just insult me. You insulted every person who’s ever felt ‘othered’ in their own country. India is diverse. Our faces, our languages, our cultures — all valid. You don’t get to define who belongs and who doesn’t.”
Story continues below this ad
“I cried today. Tomorrow it could be you, or it could be worse than what I experienced. Let it be a reminder: racism thrives in silence. I will not be silent. And I prefer to end this racism with ‘Love, not Revenge’ because that’s what my parents have taught me,” she concluded.
The viral video quickly gained traction, sparking backlash against the discrimination. “We are living in a cruel world. Be safe and take care, My Strong girl. May God protect you and be with you always,” a user wrote. “Not being racist or judgmental. But truth be told, Those kind of people who call us names in our OWN country have made quite a reputation for their “own kind” abroad. They’re famous for their body odour, lack of civic sense, and the list goes on,” another user commented.
“Pathetic. It’s just sad to see how people are. Just stay safe out there. These people will never change and no point giving it back as well because their upbringing is so bad. I’ve always hated Delhi idk why but never hate that place and people,” a third user reacted.
