The Chakma refugees in India display a unique combination of humanitarian need, legal ambiguity, strategic statecraft, and regional diplomacy. During the Partition and the construction of the Kaptai Dam, the Chakmas were displaced from their ancestral lands in East Pakistan. They were relocated to Arunachal Pradesh by the Indian state. This act of the Indian government aimed to address both humanitarian concerns and national security purposes. However, they faced discrimination and political exclusion. Despite being eligible for Indian citizenship and repeated declarations by the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission, state resistance—due to endemic stress and politics—has prevented peaceful integration. My article revisits the Chakma issue through academic literature, policy analysis, and judicial decisions. It also studies the historical and legal aspects of the Chakma crisis. While still appreciating India’s approach in comparison to other nations, my article argues that the Chakma case exposes structural weaknesses in India’s refugee policy. It concludes with a call for legal reforms rooted in constitutional values and human dignity.
Stuti Chaturvedi (Wed,) studied this question.