Arunachal girl's viral 'I am Indian' video: What sparked Karga Tinkle's response
Synopsis
A child from Itanagar buying an ice cream became the unlikely face of a national conversation. When a social media user questioned why a 'Chinese child' was speaking Hindi, Karga Tinkle Gongo's tearful, defiant reply — 'We are Indian, call us Indian' — and her rendition of Jana Gana Mana struck a nerve that Northeast Indians have long wanted the rest of the country to feel.
Key Takeaways
Karga Tinkle Gongo , a young girl from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh , went viral after asserting her Indian identity in response to being called 'Chinese' on social media.
The video was originally recorded by her mother during a routine outing on 22 August while Karga Tinkle was buying an ice cream for ₹10 .
A social media user had commented questioning why a 'Chinese child' was speaking Hindi, prompting Karga Tinkle's emotional response.
In the viral clip, she said: 'Humko Indian bolo.
Hum Itanagar mein rehte hain' and also sang the national anthem Jana Gana Mana .
The incident highlights a long-standing pattern of racial misidentification faced by people from Northeast India based on physical appearance.
A young girl from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, has sparked widespread admiration online after a video of her firmly asserting her Indian identity — in response to being called 'Chinese' — went viral on social media. Karga Tinkle Gongo, the child at the centre of the moment, explained on Saturday, 22 August what prompted her emotional and confident reply.
What Triggered the Video
'One Bhaiya called me Chinese, so I told him, "Don't call me Chinese, call me Indian,"' Karga Tinkle said, recounting the incident that set off the chain of events. The original video was recorded by her mother during a routine outing — while Karga Tinkle was buying an ice cream after asking for ₹10. Her mother posted the clip online without expecting any significant attention.
The situation escalated when a social media user commented on the video: 'Why is this Chinese child speaking Hindi? Does a Chinese child even speak Hindi?' Karga Tinkle's mother recalled telling her daughter about the comment, after which the child became visibly upset and responded with a clear declaration of her identity.
Karga Tinkle's Words in the Viral Clip
In the video that has since circulated widely, Karga Tinkle can be heard saying in Hindi: 'Hum bhi India hain. Hum log Indian hain. Aap humko Chinese bolne se hum bahut gussa hote hain, bahut dukhi hote hain. Humko Indian bolo. Hum India ke hain. Hum Itanagar mein rehte hain.' She also sang the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, in the same video, underscoring her pride in her Indian identity.
'It is not good to call us Chinese only because of our looks. We are Indian,' she added, addressing the broader pattern of racial misidentification that people from Northeast India routinely face.
Family's Reaction
Karga Tinkle's mother said the family was taken aback by the scale of the response. 'We never even imagined that our video would go viral like this. Karga Tinkle was also feeling a bit hurt,' she said. She clarified that she had simply been recording her daughter during the ice cream purchase and had not anticipated any controversy or virality when she posted the clip.
Why This Resonates Beyond One Video
The incident touches on a persistent and widely documented issue — the racial stereotyping and othering of people from Northeast India based on physical appearance. Residents of states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Meghalaya have long reported being called 'Chinese', 'Nepali', or 'foreigner' in other parts of the country, despite being Indian citizens. Notably, this is not an isolated incident — advocacy groups and public figures from the region have repeatedly raised the issue over the years, and it has been the subject of parliamentary discussions and public campaigns. Karga Tinkle's video has reignited that conversation, with many social media users praising her composure and clarity. The clip has drawn appreciation from across the country, with commenters calling her response both brave and necessary.
Public Response
The video has drawn widespread appreciation online, with many users praising Karga Tinkle for her confident and heartfelt assertion of her identity. Several users also used the moment to call attention to the broader issue of discrimination faced by people from Northeast India in public spaces. As the clip continues to circulate, it has become a focal point for conversations around identity, belonging, and the lived experience of Northeast Indians across the country.
Point of View
And the fact that a child's tearful correction is being celebrated as 'brave' rather than treated as an indictment of a systemic problem says something uncomfortable about where the national conversation still stands. The virality is heartwarming; the reason it needed to happen is not. Until the misidentification of Northeast Indians as 'Chinese' or 'foreigners' is treated as what it is — a form of discrimination — moments like this will keep recurring, and children like Karga Tinkle will keep having to prove they belong in their own country.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Karga Tinkle Gongo and why did her video go viral?
Karga Tinkle Gongo is a young girl from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, whose video asserting her Indian identity went viral after a social media user questioned why a 'Chinese child' was speaking Hindi. Her confident reply — 'We are Indian, call us Indian' — and her rendition of Jana Gana Mana drew widespread appreciation online.
What did Karga Tinkle say in the viral video?
In the video, Karga Tinkle said in Hindi: 'Hum bhi India hain. Hum log Indian hain. Aap humko Chinese bolne se hum bahut gussa hote hain, bahut dukhi hote hain. Humko Indian bolo. Hum India ke hain. Hum Itanagar mein rehte hain.' She also sang the national anthem Jana Gana Mana.
What triggered Karga Tinkle's response?
A social media user commented on a video of Karga Tinkle buying ice cream, asking why a 'Chinese child' was speaking Hindi. Her mother told her about the comment, which upset her, leading to her making the now-viral response video.
Why do people from Northeast India face this kind of misidentification?
People from Northeast India are often misidentified as 'Chinese' or 'Nepali' due to their physical features, which differ from those more commonly associated with mainland India. This is a well-documented form of racial stereotyping that residents of states like Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland have reported for years in public spaces across the country.
How did the public react to Karga Tinkle's video?
The video drew widespread appreciation across social media, with many users praising Karga Tinkle for her composure and clarity. Several commenters also used the moment to highlight the broader issue of discrimination faced by people from Northeast India in public spaces.
