Mumbai, June 10: Renowned singer Sona Mohapatra frequently shares her views on social issues. On Wednesday, she openly addressed the serious topics of discrimination and racism among people from different states in India. In a video shared on Instagram, she posed sharp questions to those who treat citizens from other states as outsiders and mistreat them.
Mohapatra began her video by referencing the discrimination faced by Indians in the United States. She stated, “Lately, my Instagram feed has been filled with videos of Indians in America being told to ‘go back to their country,’ mocked for their accents, and subjected to racist jokes. This is very wrong and ignorant, and we must raise our voices against it.”
In her video, the singer advised Indians to introspect. She said, “Watching these videos made me uncomfortable, and I want to share a thought. Before getting angry about racism abroad, we should examine what is happening in our own country. Are we really different from others?”
Mohapatra highlighted the discrimination present in India, saying, “Many of us have likely referred to people from the North-East as ‘Chinki.’ Migrant workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, or Odisha often fall victim to stereotypes upon arriving in other cities. Many young women from the North-East have told me they feel unsafe walking on the streets of their own country. In a salon in Odisha, some girls shared stories of their experiences, facing racist comments and mental harassment.”
She clearly stated that while India is often seen as a welcoming country, it can also be extremely cruel and filled with discrimination. Today, our nation is embroiled in conflicts of North versus South, state versus state, and language versus language.
Concluding her remarks, Sona Mohapatra said, “Discrimination doesn’t always require a different nationality. Sometimes, your surname, accent, or appearance is enough. If discrimination against Indians in America is wrong, then the discrimination we inflict on our own people is equally wrong, whether they are from Manipur, Bihar, or Tamil Nadu. The real question is, how much do we accept one another? It’s something to ponder.”
Leave a Comment