According to a BBC report, Uttar Pradesh recently launched a new programme for tourists which will be of special interest to NRI's. The programme is aimed at the global Indian diaspora and is actually in response to many queries from visitors of Indian origin who were trying to trace their ancestory and perhaps some lost relatives.
During the British colonial rule in the 18th and 19th centuries, many Indians were shipped to the West Indies, parts of Africa, Mauritius and Fiji. Many of them worked as indentured labour to build railroads and on vast plantations. It is estimated that there are about 10 million people living outside India whose forbears came from UP. Some years ago, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Pandey, was able to trace his ancestral village in eastern UP. Another famous member of this community is the well known writer V.S.Naipaul.
According to government officials the initial response to this programme has been very good and has mainly come from Indians living in the United States, Canada and Mauritius.
- nriol.com report
We appreciate your feedback, please write to us at: feedback@nriol.com
