About SA Indian Archives
South Arican Indian Archives is the brainchild of well-known and respected entrepreneur Anil Maharaj who set off on a journey to India to locate his fore-fathers in 2008. It was his application for the ‘Overseas Citizen of India’ (OCI) status that triggered his search. As part of his application, Maharaj was compelled to furnish proof that a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent had been born on the Indian subcontinent.
With only his great-grandparents names, Maharaj was sent from pillar to post during his journey. Colonial Numbers issued to South African Indentured Indians when they arrived in Durban. These numbers were used as I.D numbers for many generations until 1968. Tracing the numbers, he identified his mother’s mother’s father as indentured number 45093, Gajadhur Ramadhin from Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh, who at 19 years of age had arrived on the Umtata IV in 1891. He discovered that his paternal great grandfather was Shivcharan (recorded as “Sheocharan” and assigned the number 85032), and his great grand mother was Kauleseri Harpal (Assigned the number 85037) from the village of Tartee in Jaunpur, who had come to Natal in 1901 at the age of 24 on board the Umlazi XIII.
Maharaj's passion revolves around helping people. It's his gift on Earth and with that, the South African Indian Archives was born - with the pure intention of helping others trace the footsteps of their fore-fathers.
Anil Maharaj's detailed expedition to India can be found in the publication "Passages of Ink" by Goolam Vahed.
| passages_of_ink.pdf |