'We are Indians, don’t call us Chinese'; young Arunachal girl speaks out against racial slur

Itanagar (PTI): An emotional video clip of a young girl from Arunachal Pradesh urging people of mainland India not to call her and others from the Northeast “Chinese” has drawn widespread attention on social media, putting the spotlight once again on racial stereotyping faced by people from the region.

In the 56-second video clip which has gone viral, the girl said she was asked by someone whether she is Chinese, which left her anguished.

“I feel very sad and angry when people call us Chinese. We are Indians, don’t call us Chinese,” she said, expressing the hurt caused when a person's identity is questioned merely because of their physical appearance.

"We live in India, we live in Itanagar. Do not say such things, please," the girl said, folding her hands.

The young girl's message has resonated with many people online, with social media users sharing the video and expressing support for her appeal.

Many said her words reflected the experiences of people from the Northeast who have, on several occasions, faced insensitive remarks and racial slurs in different parts of the country.

One person on X commented, "Heartfelt respect to this little girl. Her simple, powerful words 'Hum bhi India hai… humko Chinese mat bolo' cut straight to the heart and remind us what true Indian identity means. No child should ever have to plead for recognition in her own country."

Those who casually call Northeastern Indians 'Chinese' or treat them as outsiders based on appearance are the ones creating this hurtful situation and they need to stop, the user said, adding that India’s strength is its diversity.

Another X user said, "We spend so much energy trying to persuade people in PoK... to embrace an Indian identity, while routinely alienating our own citizens from the Northeast, who love and take pride in this nation, by calling them Chinese."

Arunachal Pradesh, which shares a sensitive international border with China, has often found itself at the centre of geopolitical and boundary-related discussions.

In February this year, three women from Arunachal Pradesh were allegedly subjected to racial slurs, humiliation and intimidation by their neighbours following a dispute over some repair work at their rented flat in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar.

A Tripura boy who faced the same racial slur in Uttarakhand in December 2025 was attacked when he protested, leading to his death.

The Centre informed Parliament in March this year that no centralised data is maintained on incidents of “hate speech, racial slurs, harassment and discrimination” against people from the Northeast.