By Himanshu.
I never expected to have Irish DNA in me—it was such a surprise! But thinking back, when I was a child, people used to say that my sister and I looked like "foreigners' kids.” I was very excited to do a My Heritage DNA test this year. And couldn’t wait to get the results. Imagine my surprise when I saw that I did have European DNA in me.
It makes me curious to understand how this ancestry might have blended with my Indian heritage. I wonder if my maternal ancestors might have interacted with the British at some point, which could explain the Irish connection in my DNA.
Both my paternal and maternal grandparents lived in what is now modern-day Pakistan before the partition. As Hindus, their families moved to India after the partition. I recently spoke to my mother about this, and it’s incredible to think about the struggles they endured. Refugees fleeing their homes and facing such uncertainty. So many lives were lost on both sides and the tragic consequences are still felt today with animosity between our two sister countries.
My mother’s parents were granted 30 acres of land by the Indian government as compensation for the property they had left behind in what is now Pakistan. They traveled to India on foot—a difficult journey that took weeks.
Both of my grandmothers were just six years old during the partition. It’s overwhelming to think about how much they had to endure at such a tender age. Yet, here I am—a living testament to their resilience—hoping to make a positive impact in the world. I love learning about my past it makes me feel connected not only to my ancestors but to everyone around me.
I am starting to gather information to start a family tree and see if one day I can find that link in my past.
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