On a December evening in 2025, what should have been an ordinary shopping trip turned into a nightmare that tore apart not just one family but also revealed something ugly that lurks just beneath Indian society. A young man, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, was assaulted not for what he did, but for who he was. Tarun Chakma had sent his son, Anjel, to Dehradun with a simple hope that he could study and make something of a life. Tarun never thought that the journey would become a struggle for survival and end with his son’s final breath. For Tarun, all statistics, all protests, every official statement remind him that his son lost his life when he tried to tell the simple truth: he was Indian.
The Incident That Shattered a Family
Anjel Chakma and his younger brother, Michael, were out in the Selaqui market in Dehradun on Dec. 9, 2025. One group of men allegedly called them “Chinese” and “Momo.” As Anjel came to defend his identity, the conversation turned into a violent attack. He was stabbed and struck over and over with knives and blunt objects, suffering major wounds to his head, neck, and spine. He had been in the hospital for 17 days and died on Dec. 26, 2025. The episode had the entire of India and its Northeastern neighbors shaken in terror. It was not a personal tragedy for Tarun, but an encounter with the reality that he had long feared: knowing who he was would never assure his son's safety.
Racism as a Lethal Threat
Anjel’s story is not a case alone; it is a grim case for those from the Northeast living or studying elsewhere in India. Casual stereotyping, jokes, or offhand slurs can seem minor to outsiders, but in the case of the targeted, these can quickly escalate into life-threatening situations. Tarun mourns not only the death of his son but also the fact that there are thousands more who are subject to discrimination every day and that discrimination can escalate into violence at any moment.
Nationwide Protests and Public Outcry
The tragedy did not go unnoticed. In Tripura, Assam, and New Delhi, students and civil society protested for justice. Slogans like “We are Indians” and “Stop Racism” dominated cities. The outrage is a collective injustice to all, but not to Tarun. The father’s voice reminds us that these protests are not symbolic, but necessary because the nation is failing its most vulnerable citizens.
Legal Responses and the Quest for Change
An SIT was formed to investigate the attack, and a Public Interest Litigation has been brought to the Supreme Court calling for racial slurs to be a separate hate crime. While these measures seek to minimise tragedies, Tarun’s grief reminds us that laws do not fix dead bodies. His plea is simple: children should not fight for the basic right to live without fear.
Psychological Trauma and Family Grief
Anjel’s death is the most visible tragedy, yet the impact on his family is profound. The witness, Michael, suffered physical harm because of the violence he could not stop. Tarun himself is guilty, angry, and despairing when his son dies due to systemic indifference. The day is a reminder of the loss: a life full of potential, ambition, and dreams lost in prejudice.
Media, Awareness, and the Role of Society
The media coverage of Anjel’s death, as well as on social media, has helped amplify the media discussion of racism and hate crimes in India. The family was defended nationwide as well as nationwide in protests of racial violence and systemic reform. It is bittersweet for Tarun. It offers hope that other children will be safer, but it cannot fill the void left by Anjel’s absence. He also calls attention to the personal costs of statistics and headlines: there is a life lost in every protest and every post that has been lost.
Reflections on Belonging and Safety
The death of Anjel forces us to ask uncomfortable questions about safety, identity, and belonging. Protests, media coverage, and trials are important, but they are not life. But Tarun’s plea teaches me that vulnerable children such as Anjel do not survive until society comes to terms with prejudice and protects them. To a father, the tragedy is intimate yet universal, an example of how identity can help ensure safety in a country that should protect all citizens.
A Father’s Lasting Message
The grief of Tarun Chakma is a warning and an invitation to action. It reminds us that even slight prejudice and disrespect for others can destroy our souls. His son’s story suggests a country that should not be allowed to forget the tragedies, but that it also needs to fight racism for safer communities, and how identity can never be a liability. His plea is simple, urgent, and universal: Stop the violence, protect your children, remember that belonging and safety are not privileges but rights.
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