The Fight for Citizenship: The Stateless Journey of Bahison Ravindran

Mon Sep 29 2025 00:15:22 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Bahison Ravindran, born to Sri Lankan refugee parents in India, faces the harsh reality of statelessness as he struggles for citizenship rights. His unique situation highlights the plight of many Tamil refugees in India and the complexities of citizenship laws.

Bahison Ravindran, a web developer born in India to Sri Lankan refugee parents, is now deemed 'stateless' after police invalidated his Indian passport due to changes in citizenship laws. Despite holding various identity documents and believing himself to be Indian, he faces legal battles to secure his citizenship amidst a backdrop of over 90,000 Sri Lankan Tamils in India, many of whom are in similar predicaments. His case underscores ongoing issues regarding the citizenship status of Tamil refugees in India, particularly after a 1987 amendment requiring at least one parent to be an Indian citizen for their children to gain citizenship.

Background Story

Bahison Ravindran, a 34-year-old web developer, grew up believing he was Indian. Born in Tamil Nadu to Sri Lankan refugee parents, he studied and worked there, holding an Indian passport and other identity documents. However, a shocking reality unfolded when he was arrested in April, with police claiming his passport was invalid.

The authorities informed him that he did not qualify as a citizen by birth because both his parents were Sri Lankans who fled the island during its civil war. An amendment to India's citizenship law in 1987 established that at least one parent must be an Indian citizen for children born after July 1, 1987, to acquire citizenship. Ravindran was born in 1991, shortly after his parents arrived in India, and was unaware of this legal change.

After facing arrest for alleged cheating and holding an invalid passport, he applied for naturalization. Yet, he now finds himself 'stateless' as he waits for the Madras High Court to hear his case. His plight sheds light on the predicament of over 22,000 Sri Lankan Tamils born in India who are similarly affected.

The Wider Context

Over 90,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees reside in Tamil Nadu, drawn by cultural and linguistic ties. However, India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and views Sri Lankan refugees as illegal migrants. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 further complicates matters, excluding Tamils from the fast-tracked citizenship for persecuted minorities from neighboring countries.

The subject of Sri Lankan Tamil citizenship remains contentious, with various political parties pledging aid, yet tangible solutions are limited. The only citizenship granted to Tamils in India was in 2022, with over a dozen since then, illustrating the slow bureaucratic response to their status.

Bahison Ravindran's case underscores the emotional and legal struggles of countless individuals like him, who wish to affirm their identity and secure their rights in a country they call home. His hopes now lie with the judicial system, as he strives to regain his sense of belonging.