Bahison Ravindran always believed he was Indian.
Born to Sri Lankan refugee parents in Tamil Nadu, India, the 34-year-old web developer has built his life believing in his belonging. He studied and worked there, carrying with him an Indian passport and other government-issued identity papers.
However, his world turned upside down in April when police arrested him, only to reveal that his passport was invalid.
Authorities claimed he did not qualify as a citizen by birth because both his parents were Sri Lankans who sought refuge in India during the civil war in 1990.
Historically, anyone born in India was granted citizenship, but law changes in 1987 mandated that at least one parent must be an Indian citizen for children born after July 1 of that year.
Mr. Ravindran, born in 1991 shortly after his parents' arrival, expressed shock at his situation when he filed his case in the Madras High Court. Until then, he was unaware of the legal stipulations that would render him stateless.
He immediately sought citizenship through naturalization, yet, under current conditions, he remains officially stateless.
His plight highlights the precarious position of over 90,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India, many of whom similarly lack clear legal status due to their parentage. Among them are more than 22,000 individuals born after 1987 to Tamil Sri Lankan parents who grapple with uncertain citizenship.
Unfortunately, the protections for refugees in India are sparse; the country is not a signatory to global refugee conventions and treats many as illegal migrants. The Struggle continues with policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 that exclude Tamil refugees.
Despite these challenges, Bahison hopes his case will bring change for himself and others. He yearns to be recognized as a true citizen of India, declaring his allegiance to the country where he has spent his entire life.
Mr. Ravindran's situation could inspire a larger movement, prompting officials to reconsider the complex narratives that plague the lives of stateless individuals and the policies surrounding citizenship.
