Nationality and Citizenship

While talking one of my Indian born American citizen friend he casually mentioned that now he is an American national and citizen also. I decided to ask a number of friends and realized that most of us are confused between nationality and citizenship and think both are synonymous terms. Whereas both are different terms with different unique meaning and different concepts.

Nationality refers to a person's place of birth or in which country he was born. It confers some privileges and responsibilities and the country ensures the safety of its people. Whereas citizenship is when the person meets all the legal requirements of the country and the country then gives him the citizenship. For an individual both may or may not be same. When a person becomes a citizen of a country he or she gets aright to work, vote ,dwell and participate in national events.

Nationality can not be changed and a person can be national of one country only whereas citizenship can be changed and a person can become a citizen of more than one country. A nationality by virtue of its nature can not be reversed whereas a citizenship can be reversed or even changed. Nationality can be obtained by birth or by inheritance whereas citizenship can be obtained by birth, inheritance, naturalization, marriage, etc. Nationality is an ethical and racial concept while citizenship is a legal or judicial concept and a political status. Some countries do permit dual citizenship but India does not and one has to renounce his Indian citizenship when he or she accepts the citizenship of another country.

Earth and Goldilocks

In my childhood I read the story of goldilocks and three bears. Where a small girl enters a cottage   owned by three bears and finds three bowls of porridge. One is too hot and the other is too cold but the third one is just right. She finds three beds where one is too big and the other too small but the third bed is just right.

I was surprised to read an article by an astrobiologist where they described Earth as a Goliddlock planet in the Goldilock zone. In astrobiology, the goldilocks principle applies to a range of distance that a planets orbit can be from the star and maintain the temperature that are just right for liquid water.

The Goldilock zone or habitable zone is the range of distance with the right temperature for water to remain liquid and the planets that fall within this zone are called Goldilock planets. There are 1780 confirmed planets beyond our solar system and as many as 16 are located within their star’s habitable zone. Goldilock zone is determined by astronomers to be between 0.95 AU to 1.67 AU where AU is the astronomical unit which is the average distance between the earth and sun and Earth falls nearly within the range at 1 AU..

Even if the planet is habitable it does not mean that it is inhabited. It depends on a lot of other factors like atmospheric pressure, composition, gravity, etc, to make it a habitable planet. Moon is in habitable zone but too small and gravity low so that there is no atmosphere and hence not inhabited.

A recently detected planet 493 light years away from earth Kepler-186f is close to earth’s size and is located in its solar system’s habitable zone.  This is the first planet which is just right to be inhabited. But this has a basic assumption that liquid water and atmosphere is need for a planet to be inhabited but what if there are species which can tolerate and grow in different atmospheric conditions and different range of temperature and gravity.  Only time will tell.

 

Apostille

 

In India where ever copy of document is required to be submitted to any department then it requires to be authenticated or attested. Now most of the attestation is self attested except in few cases it requires to be attested by certain named official/ persons.

When we are required to submit a document out of the country then such attestation is not accepted but documents are required to be apostilled. Apostille is a french word meaning certification.117 countries are a signatory to the UN Hauge convention of 1961 which mandates that all member countries will accept the document if they are apostilled. India, USA, UK etc are signatory to this convention. Each country does its own certification and in India it is done by MEA or its regional centers with online application. A few private agencies also get it done on commission basis.One needs to log in to E-sanad website of Govt and apply. After that original are checked and apostille done by MEA by internationally accepted serially number stamps. Once done it is accepted as authentic by all member countries. For non member countries normal attestation is done by MEA. An apostilled document is treated as a legalized document for all practical purposes.

Apostille authenticates the seals, signature of official on public documents, the capacity in which the person signing the document acted and the stamp.

Same procedure applies to documents of other countries to be accepted in India to be done by respective country.

Please do get your documents/ certificates/ court orders, etc apostilled before taking them abroad or submitting them for any purpose whatsoever.

Indian Traditions and Science Behind it

Traditions in Hinduism were considered mainly as superstitions, but with the advent of science, it is becoming evident that these traditions are based on some scientific knowledge and moved from generations to generations as traditions. Though the common people did not know science in it, they were following it very faithfully over the years. This blog is an attempt to bring forward the science involved in these traditions and rituals...

1. Throwing Coins into a River: The general reasoning given for this act is that it brings Good Luck. However, scientifically speaking, in the ancient times, most of the currency used was made of copper unlike the stainless steel coins of today. Copper is a vital metal very useful to the human body. Throwing coins in the river was one way our fore-fathers ensured we intake sufficient copper as part of the water as rivers were the only source of drinking water. Making it a custom ensured that all of us follow the practice.

2. Joining Both Palms together to Greet: In Hindu culture, people greet each other by joining their palms - termed as “Namaskar.” The general reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining both the palms means respect. However, scientifically speaking, joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together; which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind. Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person for a long time. And, no germs since we don’t make any physical contact!

3. Why do Indian Women wear Toe Ring: Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart. Wearing toe ring on this finger strengthens the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularized. As Silver is a good conductor, it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body.

4. Applying Tilak on the Forehead: On the forehead, between the two eyebrows, is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in human body since ancient times. The Tilak is believed to prevent the loss of "energy", the red 'kumkum' between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. While applying kumkum the points on the mid-brow region and Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles.

5. Why do Temples have Bells: People who are visiting the temple should and will Ring the bell before entering the inner sanctum (Garbhagudi or Garbha Gruha or womb-chamber) where the main idol is placed. According to Agama Sastra, the bell is used to give sound for keeping evil forces away and the ring of the bell is pleasant to God. However, the scientific reason behind bells is that their ring clears our mind and helps us stay sharp and keep our full concentration on devotional purpose. These bells are made in such a way that when they produce a sound it creates a unity in the Left and Right parts of our brains. The moment we ring the bell, it produces a sharp and enduring sound which lasts for minimum of 7 seconds in echo mode. The duration of echo is good enough to activate all the seven healing centres in our body. This results in emptying our brain from all negative thoughts.

6. Why do we have Navratras: Our living style has drastically changed if we compare it to the society hundreds & thousands of years ago. The traditions which we follow in present are not establishments of today but of the past. Ever thought, why do we have Navratras twice a year unlike other festivals like Deepawali or Holi? Well, both these months are the months of changing seasons and the eating habits of both the seasons are quite different from each other. Navratras give enough time to the body to adjust and prepare itself for to the changing season. These nine days were marked as a period when people would clean their body system by keeping fasts by avoiding excessive salt and sugar, meditate, gain a lot of positive energy, gain a lot of self confidence & increase the self determination power (fasts are a medium to improve our will power and self determination) and finally get ready for the challenges of the changed season.

7. Why do we worship Tulsi Plant: Hindu religion has bestowed ‘Tulsi’, with the status of mother. Also known as ‘Sacred or Holy Basil’, Tulsi, has been recognized as a religious and spiritual devout in many parts of the world. The vedic sages knew the benefits of Tulsi and that is why they personified it as a Goddess and gave a clear message to the entire community that it needs to be taken care of by the people, literate or illiterate. We try to protect it because it is like Sanjeevani for the mankind. Tulsi has great medicinal properties. It is a remarkable antibiotic. Taking Tulsi everyday in tea or otherwise increases immunity and help the drinker prevent diseases, stabilize his or her health condition, balance his or her body system and most important of all, prolong his or her life. Keeping Tulsi plant at home prevents insects and mosquitoes from entering the house. It is said that snakes do not dare to go near a Tulsi plant. Maybe that is why ancient people would grow lots of Tulsi near their houses.

8. Why do we worship Peepal Tree: ‘Peepal’ tree is almost useless for an ordinary person, except for its shadow. ‘Peepal’ does not a have a delicious fruit, its wood is not strong enough for any purpose then why should a common villager or person worship it or even care for it? Our ancestors knew that ‘Peepal’ is one of the very few trees (or probably the only tree) which produces oxygen even at night. So in order to save this tree because of its unique property they related it to God/religion.

9. Start with Spice & End with Sweet: Our ancestors have stressed on the fact that our meals should be started off with something spicy and sweet dishes should be taken towards the end. The significance of this eating practice is that while spicy things activate the digestive juices and acids and ensure that the digestion process goes on smoothly and efficiently, sweets or carbohydrates pulls down the digestive process. Hence, sweets were always recommended to be taken as a last item.

10. Choti on the Male Head: Sushrut rishi, the foremost surgeon of Ayurveda, describes the master sensitive spot on the head as Adhipati Marma, where there is a nexus of all nerves. The shikha protects this spot. Below, in the brain, occurs the Brahmarandhra, where the sushumnã (nerve) arrives from the lower part of the body. In Yog, Brahmarandhra is the highest, seventh chakra, with the thousand-petalled lotus. It is the centre of wisdom. The knotted shikhã helps boost this centre and conserve its subtle energy known as ojas.

11. Applying Mehendi/Henna on the Hand: Besides lending color to the hands, mehndi is a very powerful medicinal herb. Weddings are stressful, and often, the stress causes headaches and fevers. As the wedding day approaches, the excitement mixed with nervous anticipation can take its toll on the bride and groom. Application of mehndi can prevent too much stress because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming tense. This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands and feet, which house nerve endings in the body.

12. Celebration & Cleaning During Diwali: Diwali usually falls in October or November which marks the start of winter season and end of rainy season. Rainy season wasn't a good time for everyone back then; many homes needed repair and renovation after a heavy fall. That is why time before diwali was considered the period during which everyone can indulge in cleaning and beautification of their home. And also take out their winter clothes and pack the summer ones.

13. Sitting on the Floor & Eating: This tradition is not just about sitting on floor and eating, it is regarding sitting in the “Sukhasan” position and then eating. Sukhasan is the position we normally use for Yoga asanas. Sitting in this position while eating helps in improving digestion as the circulatory system can focus solely upon digestion and not on our legs dangling from a chair or supporting us while we are standing.

14. Why not to sleep with Your Head towards North: Myth is that it invites ghost or death but science says that it is because human body has its own magnetic field (Also known as hearts magnetic field, because the flow of blood) and Earth is a giant magnet. When we sleep with head towards north, our body's magnetic field become completely asymmetrical to the Earth's Magnetic field. That cause problems related to blood pressure and our heart needs to work harder in order to overcome this".

Citizenship Dillema

The other day somebody asked me whether I am a citizen of India. My answer was yes but I kept thinking that how am I going to prove that I am citizen on India as I do not have a certificate of citizenship of India but I do have a variety of documents which give my date and place of birth in India and in some my nationality is listed as Indian.

I have a valid passport, Aadhar card, PAN card, voter I -card, retired Air Force I- card, my Ex-servicemen I-card, revenue receipts and land/house documents and a pension account in a PSU bank but these are not proof of my citizen ship. Various Supreme Court judgements and High Court judgement have ruled that passport, voter I card, PAN Card, Aadhar card, revenue receipts and even a bank account including the retired Air Force identity card are not proof of my citizenship. Well I could not think of anything beyond them and here lies my dilemma.

Looking at article 5 of the Constitution of India which says that a person is citizen of India if at the time of commencement of Constitution had his domicile in India and was born in the territory of India or at the time of commencement of Constitution of India had his domicile in the territory of India and either of his parents were born in the territory of India or at the commencement of constitution f India the person had his domicile within the territory of India for not less than 5 years immediately preceding the commencement, , shall be citizen of India. No citizenship certificate is issued to a person born in India.

The Citizenship Act 1955 in section 3 lays down condition for claiming citizen by birth after the commencement of Constitution. It says that every person born in India on or after 26 Jan 1950, that is the commencement of Constitution, but before 1 Jul 1987 shall be citizen of India, if born after 1 Jul1987 but before the commencement of citizenship (amendment )act 2003 and either of whose parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth , if born after the commencement of citizenship(Amendment) act 2003 then either both of his parents are citizen of India or one of the parent is citizen of India and the other is not an illegal immigrant at the time of birth, shall be citizen of India.

It looks simple but the proof of being born in India as accepted is the birth certificate issued by the government under Registration of Birth and death Act 1969 or a birth certificate issued by the municipal authorities. Now most of senior citizen born before 1 Jul 87 may not have such a birth certificate and this will create a problem. Getting birth certificate for parents will be more troublesome as most of births used to take place at home or not registered. Even I cannot produce my birth certificate or of my parents issued by the state or municipal authorities. Most of us have used the date of birth as given in high school certificates or equivalent examination and this is what has been used in all other document including entry to Air Force or passport.

Even now as per official records in 2015-2016 only about 63% of children under the age of 5 had their birth registered. This figure now has improved considerably but a large number of births in rural area which do not take place in a hospital, health center or by Asha workers do not get reported. Of course in later stage some date of birth is entered in some document but still the birth remains unregistered thus complicating the citizenship dilemma.

In USA and most of the countries the valid passport is accepted as a proof of citizenship and in other countries India passport is accepted as a proof of Indian citizenship except in India itself.

Does it mean that I cannot prove to the satisfaction of court or authorities that I am a citizen of India. It would appear so. That is the reason India need to have a certificate or a document issued to Indian citizen that they are citizen of this country. National Register of Citizenship could be a step in this direction but the problem will become acute if other documents where date of birth is mentioned is not accepted and only birth certificate is insisted upon.