Bahison Ravindran always believed he was Indian. Born to Sri Lankan refugee parents in Tamil Nadu, he studied and worked in India, possessing various government-issued identity documents, including an Indian passport. However, his sense of belonging was shattered when police arrested him, claiming his passport was invalid.
Authorities informed him he was not a citizen by birth, as both his parents are Sri Lankans who fled during the civil war in 1990. While Indian law previously allowed citizenship by birth, a 1987 amendment changed this to require at least one Indian parent for children born after July 1, 1987. Mr. Ravindran, born in 1991 just after his family arrived in India, had been unaware of this critical rule.
Following his arrest, he immediately applied for naturalization to rectify his status but currently finds himself labeled as stateless. His experience highlights the struggles of over 22,000 individuals born after 1987 to Sri Lankan Tamil parents who continue to live without citizenship rights in India.
The citizenship status of Sri Lankan Tamils is a contentious issue, with varied political support but limited concrete solutions. India does not recognize them as refugees, adhering to its own immigration laws. The recent Citizenship Amendment Act, which prioritizes citizenship for certain minorities from neighboring countries, notably excludes Tamils.
Legal advocates and families like Mr. Ravindran's continue to push for recognition and rights that have been historically denied. While he remains hopeful that his case will be resolved in court, Mr. Ravindran longs for acknowledgment of his allegiance to India, a country he has always regarded as his home.
