Panic caused by rumours had led to the exodus of Northeastern Indians from Karnataka. The return journey has begun. In mid-August, 350 youth who had fled took the first special train from Guwahati to Bangalore. The second special train will take off later this month. The fear caused by rumours appears to have been largely allayed. But it is no cause for complacency. It is time that the government and civil society groups ensured that such panic should not hit people from the Northeast in other parts of India. The endeavour to address the problem has started. The Karnataka government was initially slow to act but it later stepped up the effort. Karnataka’s deputy chief minister R. Ashok visited Assam and announced that his government had directed employers not to cut salaries of the Northeasteners during their period of absence. Individual employers have also taken the initiative to remove the fears of these workers.
The question is how ethnic clashes between Bodos and Muslims spread such fear in distant Karnataka. SMSs and MMSs played a role in creating panic. A debate has started on regulation of social media in times of crisis. India’s regional diversity hits rock-bottom with regard to the Northeast which is not fully integrated with mainland India. Northeastern rebels have widened the gap. The solution lies in greater mobility of people from the Northeast to the rest of India despite the ethnic and cultural hiatus. The best way to remove the obstacle will be to promote cultural exchanges and sports meets. The people of other states should get an opportunity to see Assamese films and read Assamese literature in translation. The Northeast needs more people like Bhupen Hazarika and Indira Goswami.