Woman Becomes Citizen of India, 95 Years After Birth Here

“I finally have a home,” exclaims Amartya, who, at 95, has finally become a citizen of the country she was born in.

Indian villagers carry their belongings with them, as they are made refugees in Mankachar, on the Indo-Bangladesh border, April, 2001. (Photo: Reuters)

Amartya Burman was born in India, then overnight, her home became (East) Pakistan and then later, Bangladesh. Now 95, she has lost her vision and can’t see her citizenship documents. She is now a citizen of India.

Amartya is one of thousands of people who have chosen to come to West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district from Rangpur in Bangladesh. She could do so because of the historic Land Boundary Agreement signed between India and Bangladesh.

Amartya’s story isn’t uncommon. Neither is it surprising for those who had lived in the Indo-Bangladesh enclaves or chhitmahals, marooned from political boundaries. All this ended on June 6, 2015 when the Land Boundary Agreement was ratified and the enclaves exchanged at midnight on July 31.

Read the full report in The Indian Express.