The application was submitted under Section 5(1)(c) of the Citizenship Act, which was amended by the CAA in 2019. After a detailed review and approval through the CAA portal, the citizenship certificate was generated and sent to the applicant electronically via email and SMS notifications.
PATNA: Sumitra Saha Prasad, also known as Rani Saha, a 60-year-old woman, has finally become an Indian citizen after a long wait of 40 years. She is the first person in Bihar to be granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019. Sumitra, who has been living in Ara town of Bihar on a visa since her marriage to an Indian citizen, now feels a sense of relief and happiness.
Sumitra’s youngest daughter, Aishwarya Prasad, played a crucial role in making this happen. She applied for her mother’s Indian citizenship in November 2024, and within just two months, the process was completed.
“It’s a historic day for the whole family as our 40-year-old wait for Indian citizenship came to an end,” Sumitra said after receiving the citizenship certificate.
The certificate was officially granted on Friday during a state-level empowered committee meeting chaired by M Ramachandran, Director of Census and Citizenship Registration. The meeting took place at the office of the Director of Citizen Registration.
The application was submitted under Section 5(1)(c) of the Citizenship Act, which was amended by the CAA in 2019. After a detailed review and approval through the CAA portal, the citizenship certificate was generated and sent to the applicant electronically via email and SMS notifications.
“Our long wait has come to an end now. With Indian citizenship granted, now I don’t need to visit Kolkata for renewal of my visa,” said Sumitra, who was visibly elated.
Recalling her difficult journey, Sumitra shared her experiences.
“At the age of five in 1970, I went to live with my aunt in Rajshahi, Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). A year later, the Indo-Pakistani War led to the creation of Bangladesh, but life for Hindus in the region remained precarious. I studied there until Class 10, but Hindus were treated with disdain. The atmosphere was hostile,” she said.
Sumitra returned to India in 1985 and never went back to Bangladesh. However, her life in India was not easy as she lived on a visa. Her father, Madan Gopal Chaudhary, faced severe financial difficulties and could not support his family of six. To ease the burden, Sumitra was sent to her aunt’s home. After returning to India at the age of 20, she reunited with her father in Katihar before marrying Parmeshwar Prasad of Bhojpur on March 10, 1985.
The couple settled in Ara town, where Parmeshwar ran a home appliance shop. However, Sumitra’s struggles continued even after her husband’s death in 2010 due to cancer.
Living on a visa brought many challenges. “Every year, I worry about the visa. Locals often taunted me and demanded that I go back to Bangladesh. In 2023, I was summoned to the police station and told to return to Bangladesh,” Sumitra recalled.
In 2024, while renewing her visa in Kolkata, her family learned about the Citizenship Amendment Act, which provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries.
Her youngest daughter, Aishwarya, took the lead in navigating the complex application process. “Aishwarya worked tirelessly for months to get Indian citizenship,” Sumitra said.
In January 2025, their efforts finally paid off, and Sumitra was granted Indian citizenship. This marked the end of decades of uncertainty and struggles. For the first time, she will now be eligible for government benefits and documents like an Aadhaar card, ration card, and PAN card.
Sumitra’s journey to Indian citizenship became possible after her family learned about the Citizenship Amendment Act. Her daughter Aishwarya’s determined efforts ensured that Sumitra could apply and successfully complete the process.
“Our long wait has come to an end now. With Indian citizenship granted, now I don’t need to visit Kolkata for renewal of my visa,” said Sumitra, expressing her relief and joy after receiving the citizenship certificate.
