Anek was a good attempt at showcasing the neglect and stereotypes people from northeast India face on the mainland. But trying to show too much too soon made a plot khichuri. The dialogues could have been better. The understanding of the struggles of NE folks seemed somewhat superficial too. It was a movie made for the mainland audience with a diluted message in a consumable form. Yet, a brave endeavor.
Ideological differences between Aido and her father would have been more impactful if she had said something more poignant while bidding each other goodbye. Still, some things resonated well -
Our fights may be different but we have to respect what everyone is fighting for.
It is easier to maintain a war than peace ☮️
Peace and peace accords are different things.
The diversity of Indian culture is not easily accepted by an average Joe. I have seen firsthand the discrimination North East women face in Delhi because of their features. They are usually the ones who are targeted for sexual assault because they are labeled ‘loose’ or because they live away from their families, without a support system.
I have grown up in Agartala, the capital of Tripura. It was very surprising how very few people knew where it was. Someone even asked - ‘is it in Myanmar? ‘
Most kids from my generation chose to do their undergrad on the mainland. Either the IITs, RECs, or private colleges. Some chose to say that they are from West Bengal to avoid further explanation. I always chose to say that I am from Tripura and explained what it was famous for. Where it is geographically located etc. I felt that if I don’t educate people, who will? If I don’t represent my roots, who will?
I was proud to hail from where I hailed. Even more so because the journey has been so variegated. I have lived a small-town life, a city life, and a life in suburbia. All locales, like all countries, have their pros and cons. It is up to you whether you enjoy the positives or waste your time cribbing about the negatives. I am glad to see that the new generation of kids has transformed my hometown so much that it has a lot more services available that we could not even think of in our times. Their entrepreneurial mindset has brought about the changes that I wish we had while growing up. Options for decent hotels, hair salons, stores for designer clothes, and even doctors who pay home visits have increased in the past few years. One thing is for sure- progress can be made only when you believe in something, and risk undertaking something even with the fear of failure. I salute the spirit and minds of the new generation and I rest peacefully thinking that the people I left behind will have a better quality of life because of this.
Thank you!
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