Paper short abstract:

In a context of immigrant flows, it aims to address the question of citizenship in the context of Bengali migrants in Assam and Odisha and Chakma refugees in Arunachal Pradesh in a comparative perspective.

Paper long abstract:

The opening of the twenty-first century has witnessed continuing controversies over how nation-state should respond to potential immigrant flows. The phenomenon of migration has significantly affected one of the main foundations of nation-state: citizenship. As a consequence of the increasing pressure of international migration, citizenship laws have moved to the centre stage on policy agenda. The debates over migration and citizenship are complex because of the entry of different types of migrants into the Indian territory and all of them have not conferred with citizenship rights. While some of the migrants can be integrated into existing political institutions and legal frameworks, others can not.

In a democratic set-up, the idea of citizenship has to be seen in the respective context. Since migration is an ensemble of communal, economic, historical and environmental elements, the specific situation of the country becomes prominent. Within this backdrop, this paper explores some of the ways that the Indian practice of democratic citizenship has been affected by the movement of people across political boundaries. It interrogates issues involving migration, state and citizenship. Focusing on the migrants/refugees question in India, it attempts to understand the complex relationship between refugees and the Indian state. It delves into the complex process in which these non-citizens acquire citizenship rights and the crucial role of the state. To put it differently, it aims to address the question of citizenship in the context of Bengali migrants in Assam and Odisha, and Chakma refugees in Arunachal Pradesh in a comparative perspective.