Are you from Nepal or Bihar or Pakistan?

By: R.B. Thohe Pou *

Do you have the etiquette to ask the question? If not, keep reading this small article. Do you think that asking, "Are you from Nepal, Bihar, Pakistan, Rajasthan, northeast etc" is a civilized question?" If yes then good. If not then what would be the most civilize or right question? What would you feel if some body ask you, "Are you from Pakistan" or Bihar"? What does this question epitomize or symbolize? Are you living in city at present? If yes, then you might have been quite familiar with this question, "Are you from Nepal?'.

Most the people from Northeast India look like they are from Korea, China, South east Asia etc. But since there are many Nepalis working as home guard, sweepers, Chinese fast food etc, we the people from Northeast are consider as one of those Nepali working some where in one hotel or some where.

There are many responses that people give according to different perceptions of each individual when this question, "Are you from Nepal?" is given to the northeasterners of India. Some guys and gals says, "I don't bother whatever they call me" Some other says, we need to treat them according to their treatment and question". The other says, ''just call them Bihari" another group says, "just call them Pakistani" (Because they look alike). Different person have different view and they response according to their view and mood. Once I was going with my friends in Delhi going to meat shop to purchase meat. One of the butcher called us, "Bahadur come here to and buy chicken" We just got wild but we cannot help it. We bought the chicken but lost the good mood. I was with one of my friends in Pune and one person sitting next to us asked me, "Are you from Nepal" I told him, yes we are from Nepal.

Then I asked him, "Are you from Bihar or Bangledesh or Pakistan?" He was shocked to my question. Why do you ask this? He asked me. Well, you look like Bihari and also look like from Pakistan ie. why I just want to know and I asked you. Then he replied, "I am from India only" Ok that is good. Well, we are also from Nagaland. Actually you only asked us, "Are you from Nepal" ie. why we also intentionally asked you, "Are you from Bihar or Pakistan?". We know that you are from India.

We may look like Nepali, Korean or Chinese but why do you ask in that way? You may look like Pakistan or Bihari but is it necessary to ask in that way? What is the different between the Bihari and Pakistani and other Indians in their looks? I don't find any different but I never ask anybody like, "Are you from Bihar or Pakistan or mentioning any particular state or region. We may be able to differentiate between the south Indian and North Indian, but why do you want to use this particular word, "Are you from south India or north India"

Do you have any other civilize question to ask more politely? Next time if you meet any people from northeast, make sure that you ask them question politely, if not you will annoy some one unintentionally. Are you surprise with this tip? If yes, you need to learn the culture and etiquette of other people. If not, you are a knowledgeable person who has good knowledge on other culture of different nations or people. "Education is nothing without having the good etiquette; there are many uneducated people having very good etiqutte" - thohe