Xenophobia

Merriam Webster defines Xenophobia as “fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign”. Its traditionally interpreted as racism. But in India, xenophobia often plays out differently. Relations between immigrants and host communities are multi-layered and stress points between the two exist, globally. In India, xenophobic sentiment is aimed at Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and African migrants, when it comes to prejudices against people who are not Indian nationals. Xenophobia can be witnessed against numerous north-east Indian people as well during the time of pandemic. The fear or hatred of coronavirus being linked to China and general public associating north-easterners with people having so-called similar features with people in China, has caused a new wave of violence and discrimination towards them. It is needless to point out that the local migrant issue is seen to be going out of hand. State migrants are treated with certain alienation when it comes to aiding them at this time. There are states in India which have left these migrants stranded on state borders; certain governments politicizing the issue; Indian state which also issued a caveat that such people will only be allowed to travel across borders if they are tested corona negative. This differential treatment has its link in the concept of Indian Xenophobia.