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The Americans will return,
but not to Rameshwaram

Ramanathapuram Superintendent of Police S N Seshasayee, who had tipped off the Union home ministry about 10 Americans overstaying in a remote island in Rameshwaram late last year, asserted that the issue is closed.

The home ministry had promptly asked the couple and eight children to leave.

Seshasayee said, "If an Indian overstays in the US, even for a day, he is arrested, taken to the airport and forced to buy a ticket, and then escorted to an aircraft. We didn't do anything like that. I gave them 10 days to leave, and they went to Sri Lanka. The matter is closed."

He denied that they were involved in conversions and had thus antagonised the home ministry.

The Americans were working at a private Christian school in Maylocil village. Situated on an island, it is linked by the Pamban bridge. You pay Rs 15 to cross the bridge and Rs 20 to enter Rameshwaram.

The King of Kings school is small, with classes only up to standard III. The campus also has an orphanage. Surprisingly, the children at the orphanage attend a Tamil-medium school nearby and not the English-medium school on the campus.

The children probably cannot afford its fees as Tamil-medium schools are free in the state.

The 10 Americans had come to Tamil Nadu on an invitation from Father Poubs, a pastor in the Church of God, also on the campus.

''A huge building is coming up on the campus, which will house a computer institution," said Billy, the pastor's elder son, who has an American accent as he graduated in social development in the United States.

Billy said, "We want to help develop this backward district. That is why we are building a computer centre. There is no good computer centre here. We have lived here all our lives. We love the people on this island. And yet there are people who are jealous of us, because our students speak good English. Children who pass out of other schools do not know English. This jealousy made them hate the Americans.''

''The Americans came on January 25, 2000. After five months, they applied for a residential permit, which the SP granted them till December 2000. However, they were suddenly asked to leave in November. They left very hurt. We are hurt too. Imagine throwing social workers out of the country. They had to leave with the eight children,'' he explained.

He continued, ''We are Christians. We love the people even thought they don't like us. They are jealous of our growth or what I don't know''

When told that even Hindus love people, he replied, "But not like us. Jesus gave his life for love.''

Billy said, "We have been pestered by the media, the police and bureaucrats. We are fed up. We don't know what happened to the Americans. We have had no contact with them. It is an old wound. And now you are opening it.''

Billy believes that the managements of other schools do not like them because the standard of English is very high in his school.

The pastor then entered the room and Billy left. "They are God's people. They work for good. We leave it to God to seek justice. How can you give a residential permit till December and then ask them to leave in November? It is matter of shame for us. The island people love us. People are hurt. But the Americans love India and the Indian people."

"We met them when we went to study schools in Mexico. We invited them. And see what happened. We are all hurt.''

The pastor then told me to leave. "Don't open old wounds. We left it to God. You don't take up old issues.''

The Americans did not stay with the pastor; they were in a rented house in a neighbouring village in Thangachimadam, where parents teach their children at home.

So, why were the Americans penalised for 'overstaying' when they had 10-year visas?

The SP clarified, "Every trip should not exceed 180 days.''

The Americans will return, but not to Rameshwaram.

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