ThinkingLoud@NinglunHanghal

 When I began working as a correspondent ( back in late 2000s) for a print publication, I did not have a camera. Since my reporting did not really require many pictures, I managed without one. Somehow, after years of saving, I managed to buy a Canon camera. To be honest, I had very little idea about the technology. I took the help of a few friends in choosing one, and we went all the way to Connaught Place in New Delhi to buy it. It was such a wonderful feeling—a sense of pride. After the purchase, as I began carrying the camera around, I remember a friend—not really a friend anymore—saying, “Why don’t you buy a good mobile phone? You can use the camera on it as well.” Indeed, the camera had cost me around ₹35,000. That was a lot of money for me at the time. But that particular friend did not realise, nor could she understand, what it meant to own a camera as a struggling journalist. I don’t blame her. In fact, eventually, I too began using my mobile phone to take pictures. Slowly,...

  #ThinkingLoud #NortheastFestival Recently, the repeated mention of the "Northeast Festival" in the news reminded me of events from a decade ago. The years when Northeast youths in Delhi were frequently out in the streets, calling out against racism, discrimination, assault, abuse, and even murder and rape by mainland Indians. Northeast people were attacked on the streets, in the workplace, and even inside their rented accommodations. It was during the 2000s. There were frequent reports of attacks on Northeast people in Delhi and a few other cities. Delhi is the worst. Most of the victims and survivors were young women and men. They were working in private sectors and were living to support themselves and their siblings. Several discussions, meetings, and interactions were held with Northeast representatives and key officials in the government, media, and NGOs. On what to do about this frequent crime against the northeast population in the city of Delhi (to be specific). T...