Subject: Request for Dual Nationality

At a speech to the GOPIO (* - see below) on January 6th 2001, you gave credit to Non Resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) saying, "The cooperation and valuable support extended by people of Indian origin and non-resident Indians during the last decade of economic liberalisation and structural reforms have greatly encouraged us and contributed to the birth of resurgent India."

And further, you said that India wanted a broader relationship with PIOs: "We do not merely seek investment and asset transfer. What we seek is a broader relationship - in fact, a partnership among all children of Mother India so that our country can emerge as a major global player".

In sum, you have acknowledged the contribution of PIOs, and also the need that India has for them and vice-versa. People of Indian origin the world over have strong emotional, cultural and spiritual bonds that bind us to our homeland, as you yourself have recognised in your speech.

In the light of all this, it is astonishing that the Indian government continues to refuse to grant dual nationality to the very people whose contributions it so greatly praises - and needs. Time and again, the issue has arisen and we have always been offered mindless substitutes for the real thing - the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card being a good example. And while we recognise that your government does want to address our concerns – for example through the Committee on the Indian Diaspora, we feel that the measures do not go far enough.

Most Indians are deeply attached to their Indian passports. However, the realities of living in their host countries mean that they usually give up Indian nationality, an agonising decision to make. A passport may be a paper document but nonetheless, it represents a very real and tangible link to our home country. When someone asks for our nationality on an official level, we are forced to suppress an inner voice that says, "Indian." We have no choice but to deny such a crucial part of our identity - a deeply sickening feeling.

Why is the Indian government continuing to deny us our right to an Indian passport? Security is an oft repeated reason, but one that doesn’t ring true. PIOs have strong ties with India - so why on earth would they want to hurt the country of their origin? No doubt nationals of hostile countries such as Pakistan may try to gain Indian nationality for criminal reasons, but surely there is a way around it.

There may be other legal, political and constitutional ramifications that come from granting dual nationality. But they cannot, and should not, supersede something as sacred as the bonds of blood.

And last but not least, not all PIOs are Silicon Valley multi-millionaires. Should your government grant dual nationality, please ensure that the price of an Indian passport is reasonable. Amongst us are labourers, factory workers, taxi drivers, waiters, porters, and yes, those famed but yet-to-be-rich IT professionals. A US $1,000 price tag per passport would equate to US$4,000 for a family of four. That is one of the reasons the PIO card wasn’t successful. And on a more ethical level, why should a PIO pay more for an Indian passport, than his India-living counterpart?

Keeping in mind the above, we, the undersigned, request your government to grant dual nationality without any delay. Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to an early response from your government.

Jai Hind.

* Global Organisation of the People of Indian Origin, text of speech on Ministry of External Affairs website.

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