Bank honcho’s PIO plea foxes govt

adiyar · Sep 16th, 2007, 08:17

lot of IM'ers might be eligible if this is granted.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=8be846d2-25b4-452a-8839-2c15ae519e02&&Headline=Bank+ho ncho%e2%80%99s+PIO+plea+foxes+ govt

The application of Peter Sands, global chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank, for Person of Indian Origin (PIO) status, has put the Indian High Commission in a fix. The mandarins cannot decide whether or not he qualifies.

Neither Sands nor his parents or forefathers have Indian blood. But he stakes his claim by pointing out that his mother was born in India and lived there for years, attending Cathedral School in Mumbai. “He is very proud of his Indian heritage,” said a Standard Chartered spokesperson. “He is a regular visitor to India. His family is involved in charity work in the country.”

batistuta · Sep 16th, 2007, 14:36

It would be great if he gets that. He wants to attend the Opening of their Firm in Calcutta as an Indian citizen.

Nick-H · Sep 16th, 2007, 15:20

The requirements are not 'racial'.

If his mother qualifies under the definition given then it does not matter what colour her skin was, or where her parents were born.

Either she does not qualify, or, some bureaucrats have made a mistake.

Batistuta... don't confuse with PIO or OCI with citizenship: a very different thing!

adiyar · Sep 16th, 2007, 19:45

This case is an attempt to extend the definition of who qualifies. It will be interesting to see how the govt. deals with this.

If this is granted lots of IM'ers who stay for long periods will qualify.

Nick-H · Sep 16th, 2007, 20:02

Quote:

This case is an attempt to extend the definition of who qualifies.

without knowing the exact details, we can't tell if that is the case or not.

The Indian Government will not, for the foreseeable future, ease up on immigration or visa requirements. I say this because every indication is that any movement is to tighten up, not relax, in that area.

If you have any doubts about this, I suggest you read the Goa property threads!

capt_mahajan · Sep 16th, 2007, 20:38

From adiyar's link

Quote:

“It is almost Hitler-like to be concerned about stock and ethnicity,” added Lord Desai. “There are many English folk whose forefathers lived and worked in India. They were as Indian as Indian can be. Like Sands, they all deserve PIO cards.”

Interesting. Maybe Lord Desai should read his history. Churchill was making repeated racist remarks against Indians at the same time as he was fighting Hitler.

Also, by this warped reasoning, the descendants of ALL East India Company looters in India, and their descendants, would be PIO's.

Can I demote the Lord, please?

Nick-H · Sep 16th, 2007, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Also, by this warped reasoning, the descendants of ALL East India Company looters in India, and their descendants, would be PIO's.

But many of them are already Indian Citizens!

As in the Anglo-Indian community?

capt_mahajan · Sep 16th, 2007, 22:24

Yep. But, interestingly, many of them have emigrated

Maybe some of them are back buying property in Goa?

capt_mahajan · Sep 16th, 2007, 22:27

italics mine

Quote:

The Anglo-Indian community in its proper sense is a distinct (and statistically very small) minority community (0.018%-0.036% of the total population in India) originating in India, consisting of people of mixed British and Indian ancestry whose native language is English. An Anglo-Indian's British ancestry was usually bequeathed paternally.

and

Quote:

Anglo-Indians formed a significantly small portion of the minority community in India before independence, but today more live outside India than within it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Indian

Nick-H · Sep 16th, 2007, 22:28

Likewise many non-anglo Indians

Including this Lord Desai!

Thanks for the links. Yes, I guess it is a small community.

dzibead · Sep 16th, 2007, 22:39

As Nick said, the qualifications for PIO status are not racial. I know a completely Caucasian British person who applied for and was granted PIO status (without fanfare or quandry) on the basis of his forebears' India connections (I don't know the details but they - not he - were born there, lived there, etc., for several generations). I suspect my friend is not unique and the only reason Peter Sands' application is newsworthy is that he's more high profile. And possibly the only reason there's a question about whether Sands qualifies is that his claim seems to be based solely on this mother's having been born in India and lived there in her childhood. If she or her parents didn't also hold an Indian passport that might not be sufficient for him to qualify, so that may be why there's uncertainty about it.

Nick-H · Sep 16th, 2007, 22:47

Quote:

As Nick said, the qualifications for PIO status are not racial. I know a completely Caucasian British person who applied for and was granted PIO status

Me too!

But it could well be the same person

There is a provision for the Indian Government to grant a PIO card to someone who does not fulfil any of the citizenship or descent requirements, but who they judge to have done great service to India, or concerning the relationship of India with another country. I don't know if they have or ever do this.

This guy Sands has been turned down. I wouldn't even begin to argue the case, either way, on the basis of the information given in any newspaper report.

dzibead · Sep 17th, 2007, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Me too!
But it could well be the same person

No, I wasn't talking about you or somebody else who got PIO status by marrying an Indian citizen! We know there are lots of those!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

There is a provision for the Indian Government to grant a PIO card to someone who does not fulfil any of the citizenship or descent requirements, but who they judge to have done great service to India, or concerning the relationship of India with another country. I don't know if they have or ever do this.

It would be interesting to know if there is, in fact, anyone who's ever been given this - or what service would be considered great enough to qualify one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

This guy Sands has been turned down. I wouldn't even begin to argue the case, either way, on the basis of the information given in any newspaper report.

A good general rule, IMHO, since I have yet to read a newspaper article about an event or issue about which I have actual first-hand knowledge and information that didn't contain at leastone error or misconception or some other kind of stupid statement.

Nick-H · Sep 17th, 2007, 00:37

Not me, but a fellow member of this site, though I don't think he's been here for a while. On the basis of his grandmother, IIRC!

As for those newspapers... even if the reporter got it right, after the subeditor has cut a word here and a line there to make it all fit, one could be left with anything.

I have no idea about the honorary PIOs... If there have been any, I wonder of their listed anywhere...

Nick-H · Sep 17th, 2007, 00:44

I might have got wrong... Maybe the thing is that such a person has to be of "Indian Origin" but gets the card free of charge.

Sep 16th, 2007, 08:17	#1
adiyar Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: desi in USA Posts: 33	Bank honcho’s PIO plea foxes govt lot of IM'ers might be eligible if this is granted. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=8be846d2-25b4-452a-8839-2c15ae519e02&&Headline=Bank+ho ncho%e2%80%99s+PIO+plea+foxes+ govt The application of Peter Sands, global chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank, for Person of Indian Origin (PIO) status, has put the Indian High Commission in a fix. The mandarins cannot decide whether or not he qualifies. Neither Sands nor his parents or forefathers have Indian blood. But he stakes his claim by pointing out that his mother was born in India and lived there for years, attending Cathedral School in Mumbai. “He is very proud of his Indian heritage,” said a Standard Chartered spokesperson. “He is a regular visitor to India. His family is involved in charity work in the country.”

Sep 16th, 2007, 15:20	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	The requirements are not 'racial'. If his mother qualifies under the definition given then it does not matter what colour her skin was, or where her parents were born. Either she does not qualify, or, some bureaucrats have made a mistake. Batistuta... don't confuse with PIO or OCI with citizenship: a very different thing! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Sep 16th, 2007, 14:36	#2
batistuta Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,729	It would be great if he gets that. He wants to attend the Opening of their Firm in Calcutta as an Indian citizen.

Sep 16th, 2007, 19:45	#4
adiyar Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: desi in USA Posts: 33	This case is an attempt to extend the definition of who qualifies. It will be interesting to see how the govt. deals with this. If this is granted lots of IM'ers who stay for long periods will qualify.

Sep 16th, 2007, 22:24	#8
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	Yep. But, interestingly, many of them have emigrated Maybe some of them are back buying property in Goa?

Sep 16th, 2007, 22:28	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	Likewise many non-anglo Indians Including this Lord Desai! Thanks for the links. Yes, I guess it is a small community.

Sep 16th, 2007, 22:39	#11
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,081	As Nick said, the qualifications for PIO status are not racial. I know a completely Caucasian British person who applied for and was granted PIO status (without fanfare or quandry) on the basis of his forebears' India connections (I don't know the details but they - not he - were born there, lived there, etc., for several generations). I suspect my friend is not unique and the only reason Peter Sands' application is newsworthy is that he's more high profile. And possibly the only reason there's a question about whether Sands qualifies is that his claim seems to be based solely on this mother's having been born in India and lived there in her childhood. If she or her parents didn't also hold an Indian passport that might not be sufficient for him to qualify, so that may be why there's uncertainty about it.

Sep 17th, 2007, 00:37	#14
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	Not me, but a fellow member of this site, though I don't think he's been here for a while. On the basis of his grandmother, IIRC! As for those newspapers... even if the reporter got it right, after the subeditor has cut a word here and a line there to make it all fit, one could be left with anything. I have no idea about the honorary PIOs... If there have been any, I wonder of their listed anywhere...

Sep 17th, 2007, 00:44	#15
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	I might have got wrong... Maybe the thing is that such a person has to be of "Indian Origin" but gets the card free of charge.

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