It’s now official, the Embassy of India, Paris announced that the Government of India has accepted the long pending demand of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) in French overseas territory of Guadeloupe and Martinique, for registration as OCI Cardholders for descendants of up to the sixth generation of the original Indian immigrant who arrived in Guadeloupe and Martinique from Indian territories.

What wonderful news for us, children of those workers!

We are not anymore lost between a Caribbean culture where it’s difficult to integrate our ancestors’ legacy, a French citizenship which is often questioned, and a faraway India where we are foreigners.

Our belonging to India is now recognized, we are officially Overseas Citizens of India.

Thanks to the local Diaspora associations which put the subject on the table at each meeting with an Indian official, in our islands, in Paris or in India.

Thanks to all the individuals who make this history known.

Thanks to India Empire and Sayantan Chakravarty for their continuous support.

I started to raise my concerns regarding the PIO card, about how to prove our Indian origins, since our archives did not have information about the emigration passes that were issued to our ancestors. I took up this issue in 2007 during an interview with H.E. Ranjan Mathai, the then Ambassador of India to France. I ran a petition in 2011 to push the subject and gave it to Shri Vayalar Ravi, at the time Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs in the Indian Government. I can also remember going with Sayantan to the Home Affairs Ministry offices to talk about our case.

We even submitted a few PIO cards applications but our documents were not considered as sufficient.

Now that the history of the Indentured Labor is well known, and that India has also worked on a secured application process, we can apply for this precious document. If not to benefit from the advantages it gives, at least to get back our ancestors’ identities, and to pass it along to the next generations.