“There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.”—Harry S. Truman

We are survivors of the Deoli Internment Camp, where in November 1962, approximately 3000 Chinese Indians were interned by the Indian government after the Sino-Indian war. This act was a violation of our human rights and has left deep scars on us survivors and our families. We have lived with this trauma for decades without any acknowledgment or apology from the Indian government.

The internment in Deoli Camp lasted for five years, during which we were subjected to harsh conditions, incarceration and treated as enemies in our own country. Children lost years of schooling; some were never able to go back to school.

Many of us were forcibly uprooted from our homes in many towns in Assam (Tinsukia, Makum, Digboi) and West Bengal (Darjeeling, Kalimpong), leaving behind everything we knew. The internees from Assam were allowed to go to their homes with no resources, their properties lost, and businesses destroyed. The people from West Bengal could go only to Calcutta. Families were released without any money or support having to spend their first night of freedom on the floor of a school or funeral home. With only a few belongings allowed on the train journey to the camp or personal property confiscated at the gate of the camp, they had little to rebuild their lives with. Many left India, the home of their birth to make new lives for themselves.

This petition is not just about seeking an apology; it is about recognition and justice. It's about acknowledging that a wrong was done to innocent people who called India their home. It's about ensuring that such acts are not repeated in the future.

We urge you to stand with us survivors and descendants of those interned at Deoli Camp by signing this petition. Let's begin the healing. Join us as we ask for an apology from the Indian government for its actions during those dark times. Your support can help bring closure to this painful chapter of history.

The Survivors of Deoli Internment Camp

Resources

The 1962 Internment of Chinese Indians – The Diplomat ​

Internment of Chinese-Indians - Wikipedia​ 

When India put Indians in camps - Himal Southasian​

Inside an Indian internment camp | Mint Lounge​

Association of India Deoli Camp Internees 1962