Tamil Nadu's Last Jewish Family, The Final Remnant Of A Once Thriving Community, Gives Up Indian Citizenship

The last Jewish family in Tamil Nadu has renounced the Indian citizenships and has opted for nationalities of various countries including the United States, reports DTNEXT.

According to the report, the family of Davvid Levi, a merchant navy engineer, has already left the country after taking up the citizenship of different countries.

Levi, 42, also holds a German passport and is now busy in completing legal formalities and could migrate from India in a month.

“Nine of us renounced our Indian passports and took citizenship of other countries. I hope to leave in a month’s time,” Levi was quoted by DTNEXT as saying.

According to the report, the decision by the family to renounce the Indian citizenship came after an 'undesirable incident' in June.

The Chennai-based family had rented a property in Besant Nagar to the son of a senior IPS official and son of a politician to run a catering unit. However, after hearing of the 'unsavoury' activities taking place there, Levi asked the tenants to vacate the premises, which led to threats and attack.

He added that his wife and two children were sheltered by the US consulate at Chennai after the attack.

Davvid’s great grandparents were victims of the holocaust. His family has been involved in trading of high-value gems and has a shared history with Fort St George and Rippon building.

Davivd's grandmother, Racheal Halevi Cohen, had taught physics at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. After the Synagogue at the Isaac street was demolished, she took initiatives to set up a synagogue in Besant Nagar.

David said that his family was close to both the main political parties, DMK and AIADMK, in Tamil Nadu and that former state CM Jayalalitha had named his daughters.

“My mother Sarah still hopes to return here so she can be laid to rest alongside her ancestors," he said.