Bahison Ravindran always believed he was Indian. Born in Tamil Nadu, India, to Sri Lankan parents who had sought refuge from civil war, the 34-year-old web developer had lived his entire life there, working, studying, and even holding an Indian passport. However, his world was turned upside down when police arrested him in April, declaring his passport invalid.
Authorities revealed that under India’s citizenship law, having parents who are not Indian citizens means a child born after July 1987 is not automatically granted citizenship by birth. Mr. Ravindran, born in 1991, was unaware of this crucial detail and had never concealed his ancestry. He immediately applied for citizenship through naturalization, but for now, he is officially “stateless.” His predicament sheds light on the uncertain future of over 22,000 individuals like him, born in India to Sri Lankan Tamil parents who arrived during the 1980s conflict. Despite strong community ties and cultural similarities, their citizenship status remains unresolved.
India’s stance on refugees, particularly Sri Lankan Tamils, is complex. The nation is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and often views Sri Lankan refugees as illegal migrants. Furthermore, the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act, which offers expedited citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries, notably excludes Tamils from Sri Lanka. While various political parties in Tamil Nadu advocate for the refugees’ rights, achieving actual citizenship has been a slow and arduous process. India has only granted citizenship to a handful of Sri Lankan Tamils since 2022, leaving many, like Mr. Ravindran, in a state of prolonged uncertainty. Mr. Ravindran remains hopeful that the court will recognize his deep-rooted connection to India and grant him the citizenship he has always believed was his birthright.
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