Abstract
The current crisis in Myanmar, that has forced a large influx to its South and Southeastern Asian countries, has created a dilemma between humanitarian assistance and regional security concerns in India. This chapter discusses how with each passing year, the Indian government and nongovernmental organizations seem to apply changing plans to deal with the Rohingya refugee crisis. This descriptive study provides an understanding of various aspects and factors behind the current policies and realpolitik of Indian government toward Rohingya and Myanmar. This chapter also unfolds the role of I/NGOs in supporting Rohingya refugees in India. Further, the study explores the challenges and problems faced by Rohingya refugees in India. The study found that in the absence of any national framework for managing refugees and the growing anti-Muslim hate, Rohingya refugees are uncertain about their future protection and rehabilitation in India.
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Notes
- 1.
“In 1989, ruling military government changed Burma to Myanmar. The city of Rangoon also became Yangon.” https://theculturetrip.com/asia/myanmar/articles/burma- v-myanmar-why-the-country-is-known-by-two-names/
- 2.
‘The Great Divide’ taken from William Dalrymple’s article in The New Yorker titled ‘The Great Divide: The violent legacy of Indian Partition’, published on 25 June 2015. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/06/29/the- great-divide-books-dalrymple
- 3.
Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says India, which has opened its doors for refugees and asylum seekers has set an example for other countries to emulate. January 4, 2013: Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org.in/index.php?option=com_news&view=detail&id=35&Itemid=117
- 4.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2003, Retrieved from http://164.100.47.4/billstexts/rsbilltexts/AsIntroduced/XXXIX_2003.pdf
- 5.
See “Ministry of External Affairs: Annual Report 2012–2013, Government of India, p. 8, http://www.mea.gov.in
/Uploads /Publication Docs/21385_Annual_Report_2012- 2013_English.pdf”
- 6.
The RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2615. Retrieved From
https://mha.gov.in/MHA1/Par2017/pdfs/par2017-pdfs/rs-09082017-English/2615.pdf
- 7.
Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rohingya-deportation-centre-to-file-affidavit-in-sc-on-sept-18-says- rajnath-singh/
- 8.
According to Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee, they are India’s so-called “cow protection gangs” displaying antithetical qualities to the ones they attribute to their sacred animal. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/cow-vigilantism-undermining-rule-law-india- 190102143126368.html
- 9.
“Love Jihad” or Romeo Jihad is a term used to describe alleged campaigns under which Muslim men target women of non-Muslim communities for conversion to Islam by feigning love https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2014/09/politics-love-jihad-damaging-secular-fabric-country/
- 10.
Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-the-not-in-my-name-protest-lynching- junaid-khan-4725668/
- 11.
“Operation Insaniyet – Humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh on account of influx of refugees: MEA, India” September 14, 2017
- 12.
“The Hindutva” is an ideology seeking to establish the hegemony of Hindus and the Hindu way of life. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, originally Hindutva is the state or quality of being Hindu; ‘Hinduness’. In later use, it defines Hindutva as an ideology seeking to establish the hegemony of Hindus and the Hindu way of life.
- 13.
“BJP Election manifesto 2014 Page no. 40”, Retrieved from https://www.bjp.org/images/pdf_2014/full_manifesto_english_07.04.2014.pdf
- 14.
“On July 31, 2018, the Union Government stated that the Rohingya Muslims residing in India are considered as illegal migrants and not refugees”. https://www.newsclick.in/india- counting-Rohingya-terms-them-illegal-migrants-not-refugees”
- 15.
“UNHCR issues identity cards to the registered refugees and documents to asylum-seekers, which helps them
prevent arbitrary arrests, detention, and deportation. Currently 18,000 people are given those cards.” http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/oct/07/unhcr-says-18000-rohingyas-currently-living-in-india- 1882349.html
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Işikhan, V., Khan, M.S. (2022). Rohingya Beyond the Refugees: India’s Policy and Realpolitik for the World’s ‘Most Persecuted Refugees’. In: Bülbül, K., Islam, M.N., Khan, M.S. (eds) Rohingya Refugee Crisis in Myanmar. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6464-9_8
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