A reflection, on India's 75th Independence Day, of the impact of colonisation on my family

As India celebrates 75 years of independence, I reflect on my family’s journey through various colonies, spanning almost 100 years of history. Today, we are 4 women of different generations living together in Britain, born in 30s, 50s, 70s and 90s, each with a very rich story of her own.

In 1920s when Mr. Gandhi’s non-violent independence movement was gaining popularity, young paternal great grandfather (PGGF) was an active freedom fighter. In 1931, the same year that New Delhi became the capital of India, paternal grandmother (PGM) was born. Her father named her “Jai Bharati”, Victory to India! PGGF’s dream was to raise his family in free India. On the other side, maternal great grandfather (MGGF) left colonial India for colonial Uganda in early 1920s, where maternal grandmother (MGM) was born. MGM grew up in Uganda.

Circumstances changed, and the paternal family migrated from colonial India to colonial Uganda in early 40s. PGGF’s freedom fighting days were cut short. PGM grew up in India with her grandparents. At 11 years of age, she set off on a sailboat and a month later found herself in colonised Tanzania!

Grandfathers (GFs) from both sides, went from India to Uganda, to seek better opportunities. One ended in Tanzania, colonised by Britain and other in Rwanda, colonised first by Germans and later handed to Belgians. They met their respective wives – one in Tanzania, the other in Uganda.

Father (F) and mother (M) were both born in colonial Uganda. In the meantime, India had gained independence and PGF went to the free India to start the business empire, M grew up in colonial Uganda.

Circumstances in India changed. F went to the, now, independent Uganda. Met M.Circumstances changed again! F found himself as a refugee in Britain. M became “stateless” and ended up in the newly independent Rwanda. Only way to be together was to move to independent India. And a new dawn began!

2 siblings and I were born in India. Yet another change of circumstances brought the family to Britain. Youngest sibling took birth in Britain. This was the final migration chapter in F’s life.?PGGF never made it to free India but ended up in Britain instead, where he lived till the end of his life.

I grew up thinking plantain and cassava are regular Indian foods and could not understand why none of my friends knew this. As a child I was a patriot, and never wanted to leave India.?When I came to Britain as a teenager, circumstances kept me there.?The next time I went back to the country of my birth 20 years later, it was the “liberal” India.? In 70s & 80s, India was still finding its independent identity. The population struggled to balance the Nehru-Gandhi ideologies with the harsh realities of everyday life. Liberalisation started in the 90s, just as we left, and changed the socio-economic landscape as well as the culture tapestry. This liberal India was foreign to me.?As life's twists go, over the next 5 years, my work took me back every month, and I had the opportunity to reacquaint with that land, her new identity which was rooted in the old, and my heritage.

As a family, we converse in our own version of English, which draws vocabulary from Hindi, Gujarati, Swahili and Persian, delivered in perfect British accent! Yes, Persian - some great great grandparents (GGGPs) lived in Persia once upon a time…?Youngest sibling, who has the least connection with India, is the most Indian in the family, and perhaps the one who has travelled the country more than the rest of us! M and F are referred to as Ugandan Asians, 2 siblings and I are referred to British Asians of Ugandan descent, final sibling is 2nd generation British Asian. In these labels lie our heritage and identity.

PGM, M and some siblings continue to live in Britain. One sibling has immigrated to the United States in search of new opportunities, just like her GPs and GGPs did in the previous century. And so, a new continent has been added to the family history.?Siblings’ children are growing up in UK & USA, with an equally fascinating journey from their other parent’s family – again impacted by colonisation. Family passport collection grows, and every effort is made to ensure that connection with India and East Africa is maintained and fostered, legally and culturally. It is our responsibility to keep the door open for the new generation, should they wish to or need to build a life on the land their ancestors once lived on.

?Journeys continue and new stories etched for future generations to narrate. Such interesting are lives guided by circumstances, some of our choosing, others beyond our control.

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