Indian by Heart, Stateless by Law: One Man’s Struggle Highlights Tamil Refugee Crisis

For 34-year-old web developer Bahison Ravindran , India was home in every sense: born in Tamil Nadu, educated locally, holding an Indian passport, and working like any other citizen. But in April, everything changed when he was suddenly arrested for allegedly holding a fraudulent passport. Authorities claimed he was not an Indian citizen by birth, as both his parents were Sri Lankan refugees who arrived during the civil war in 1990. Under a 1987 amendment to India’s citizenship law, children born after July 1, 1987, must have at least one Indian parent to qualify. Ravindran, born in 1991, didn't meet that criterion, and no one had told him that before.

From Identity to Invisibility: The Price of a Legal Loophole

Despite holding government documents, including a passport, for years, Ravindran was declared "stateless" once his background was flagged. His troubles began when he applied to update his passport to add his wife’s name after a visit to Sri Lanka in 2024. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office raised concerns about his parentage, which led to his arrest on charges of forgery and cheating. After spending 15 days in custody, he’s now out on bail and waiting for the next court hearing in October. His lawyer argues that Ravindran never hid his refugee background and had even passed police verification before the passport was issued.

Caught in Legal Limbo with Thousands of Others

Ravindran’s case is far from unique. Over 22,000 people like him, born in India to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees after 1987, are in a similar legal grey zone. India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and does not formally recognise refugees, categorising them as illegal immigrants. Even the Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019, which eases the path for certain religious minorities, does not cover Sri Lankan Tamils. Despite political promises, most have received little more than symbolic support. Until 2022, not a single Sri Lankan Tamil had been granted Indian citizenship under the new laws, and since then, only a handful have.

Hope Rests on the Courts, and the Country He Calls Home

Ravindran says he never intended to deceive anyone and considers India his only home. He has visited Sri Lanka just once, for his wedding. Now, he is hoping the Madras High Court will recognise his intent and his deep-rooted ties to India. He has already applied for naturalisation, the legal path to citizenship for non-citizens, and awaits a decision. For now, the court has shielded him from further legal action until the next hearing on October 8. But his case underscores the urgent need for a clear policy on refugees born and raised in India, people who have nowhere else to go, yet are still waiting for legal recognition.