Although India does not allow dual citizenship, I am eligible for special recognition by the government of India because my parents were born in the nation state of India (after independence). With this recognition comes several benefits, like bypassing visa processes for each visit to India.
I’m having this debate now in my life because these are new identities created by the government of India. OCI did not exist as of three years ago, for example.
However, I am having trouble figuring out whether I am eligible to become an “Overseas Citizen of India” or if I’m just a “Person of Indian Origin.” The amount of paperwork and money for each make me depressed. And, as an academic who thinks critically about category-making and the fungible, contemporary nature of nation-state and ethnic boundaries, I can’t help but wonder about some of the requirements. If you were ever a citizen of Pakistan of Bangladesh, for example, you are ineligible to become an OCI (I wonder how people caught in the middle of partition confusion deal with this).
From the movie Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonu (“One wife and three kids”). I believe Yesudas, one of the most famous classical musicians in Kerala, contributed to creating the music. (I recommend checking out his site if you like Malayalam music.)
And I was reminded of my summer. This was one of the most popular songs on the radio in Kerala (from the movie Bhramaram, released this summer. The English title of the move, for the curious, is the unfortunate “Brutally Innocent”):
The first malayalam radio show in the bay area will be starting on 09/19/09(Saturday). The show will be from 10am to 11am on Saturdays on 1170AM(KLOK). The show has been named “Namaste Kerala” and the hosts are “Bobban and Molly”. Please support your malayalam radio. If you are interested in sponsoring the show, please call 510-585-5884 immediately.
Just got back to America after a short stop in Wayanad. Had some great and inspiring conversations with organic farmers. Hope to post more reflections soon.
I’ve seen quite a few Malayalam films in the theaters these past few weeks, and all of them (except for one), have featured the death of an important character –including one in a supposed comedy (which actually induced tears). Why are Malayalam films so melodramatic?
