As the sun is about to set on Tuesday, Azad Maidan stands divided. The division is not equal, not by any standard — at least a thousand women and men from the aanganwadis flock toward the gathering to the right. On the left, a group of students and young professionals (still dressed in formals), mainly from Arunachal Pradesh and seven other North-Eastern states take their places under a makeshift canopy. Some solemnly light candles in front of late Nido Tania’s photograph, while others unfold placards amid booming cries of the aanganwadi protestors a few feet away.

The candlelight gathering to protest the murder of Arunachal Pradesh-born Nido Tania at Azad Maidan. The march mainly comprised students and working professionals from the eight North-Eastern states. Pic/Atul Kamble

‘So big are your eyes, but so small are your views.’ ‘What should an Indian look like?’ ‘Indian, not Chinki.’ ‘Demand inclusion of North-East in national curriculum.’ In many ways, the sight at Azad Maidan is telling of the situation faced by the North-East community spread over the country — a community that constantly feels the need to make its voice heard over the din, protesting rampant harassment and petty name-calling. Why do citizens from the eight North-Eastern states feel compelled to demand their basic right of egalitarianism even in the most cosmopolitan metros?