In order to assist foreigners of Indian descent living abroad to trace their ancestors in India, an “ANCESTRAL SEARCH CENTRE” has been created by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in January 2007. This is part of the Cultural Network and Resource Centre of the IGNCA, which has the mission to reinforce the cultural links between India and Indians belonging to the “Diaspora”, communities of Indians who have been living in other countries, in some cases already for centuries. The Netherlands for example, has a large community of people of Indian descent, whose ancestors have emigrated in the 19th century mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to Surinam (formerly part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands). Over the years, a number of these “People of Indian Origin” (PIO’s) have left Surinam and established themselves in The Netherlands.

At the Centre, an “Ancestral Research Form“ is available, which - after completion - can be returned by fax or e-mail to:

Shri P. Jha

Director, Cultural Informatics Laboratory

Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts

No 5, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110 00.

Phone: 0 00 91 11 23383495 (office), 9868217389 (mobile).

Fax: 0 00 91 11 23388280

E-mail:  pjha@ignca.org.