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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdadi_Jews Baghdadi Jews] Wikipedia
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdadi_Jews Baghdadi Jews] Wikipedia
*[http://www.jcpa.org/jl/jl101.htm  "The Last Jews In India And Burma"] by Nathan Katz and Ellen S. Goldberg. ''Jerusalem Letter No. 101  15 April 1988''. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Includes  an overview of the historical details.
*[http://www.jcpa.org/jl/jl101.htm  "The Last Jews In India And Burma"] by Nathan Katz and Ellen S. Goldberg. ''Jerusalem Letter No. 101  15 April 1988''. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Includes  an overview of the historical details.
*[https://breakingmatzo.com/philosophy/calcutta-jewsish-community/ "Traders From The Middle East : The Jewish Community In Calcutta"] by Jo Cohen. January 3, 2015 breakingmatzo.com
*[http://www.jacobsassoon.com Sassoon Synagogues of Mumbai & Pune]. Three synagogues, two in Bombay  and one at Poona, are still ongoing, and contact details for the group are provided on the website.
*[http://www.jacobsassoon.com Sassoon Synagogues of Mumbai & Pune]. Three synagogues, two in Bombay  and one at Poona, are still ongoing, and contact details for the group are provided on the website.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110219144254/http://sephardiclibrary.org/genealogy.html Online records from Rangoon and Calcutta Grave records]  from the National Sephardic Library (Genealogy) of the  American Sephardi Federation, now archived. Five datasets of birth records from Rangoon, see [[Burma]], and [[Cemeteries in Calcutta]] for individual links.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110219144254/http://sephardiclibrary.org/genealogy.html Online records from Rangoon and Calcutta Grave records]  from the National Sephardic Library (Genealogy) of the  American Sephardi Federation, now archived. Five datasets of birth records from Rangoon, see [[Burma]], and [[Cemeteries in Calcutta]] for individual links.
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**Birth Register Book: Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue Rangoon. Published 1979 In English, available from  1896. In Hebrew, available from 1888. The English records may be  the same as the online Rangoon records in the previous link.
**Birth Register Book: Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue Rangoon. Published 1979 In English, available from  1896. In Hebrew, available from 1888. The English records may be  the same as the online Rangoon records in the previous link.
**Death Register Book: Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue Rangoon. Published 1979. Available from  1888. In Hebrew with Sephardi Script.
**Death Register Book: Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue Rangoon. Published 1979. Available from  1888. In Hebrew with Sephardi Script.
*[http://www.sephardicgen.com/databases/CalcuttaCemeterySrchFrm.html Calcutta Cemetery database from SephardicGen]
*[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/164753 ''The Jewish world of Calcutta 1798 to 1948''] by  Kaustav Chakrabarti, 2010 thesis University of Calcutta. shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
*[http://www.jewishcalcutta.in  Recalling Jewish Calcutta: Memories Of The Jewish Community In Calcutta] Retrieved 25 August 2014. Developed by Jael Silliman
*[http://www.jewishcalcutta.in  Recalling Jewish Calcutta: Memories Of The Jewish Community In Calcutta] Retrieved 25 August 2014. Developed by Jael Silliman
**Includes Exhibit 09 Jewish Cemetery In Calcutta, Narkeldanga, which in turn includes a list of the graves.
**Includes Exhibit 09 Jewish Cemetery In Calcutta, Narkeldanga, which in turn includes a list of the graves.
***[https://web.archive.org/web/20160404120142/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131017/jsp/calcutta/story_17389837.jsp "Digital lifeline for legacy and lore of the Jews - Online museum to preserve community’s city connection"]  by Showli Chakraborty October 17 , 2013 ''The Telegraph Calcutta'', now an archived webpage.
***[https://web.archive.org/web/20160404120142/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131017/jsp/calcutta/story_17389837.jsp "Digital lifeline for legacy and lore of the Jews - Online museum to preserve community’s city connection"]  by Showli Chakraborty October 17 , 2013 ''The Telegraph Calcutta'', now an archived webpage.
*[http://www.sephardicgen.com/databases/CalcuttaCemeterySrchFrm.html Calcutta Cemetery database from SephardicGen]
*[https://breakingmatzo.com/philosophy/calcutta-jewsish-community/ "Traders From The Middle East : The Jewish Community In Calcutta"] by Jo Cohen. January 3, 2015 breakingmatzo.com
*[http://haruth.com/AsianIndia.html Jewish India] is a comprehensive website with a wealth of links to sites related to the Jewish communities of India.
*[http://haruth.com/AsianIndia.html Jewish India] is a comprehensive website with a wealth of links to sites related to the Jewish communities of India.
*[http://picasaweb.google.com/shapurkar Isaac Solomon's Gallery Albums- Photographs of Jewish Cemeteries in India]  Picasaweb
*[https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1zzMQb_blgHeaKaYP9pderjhov0E&hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=24.600241000000008%2C72.699666&z=8 Locations of Jewish cemeteries in India], with photographs and descriptions by Isaac Solomon. Google  Maps. Click on the cemeteries on the left hand side of the webpage for the descriptions and photos.
**[https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100727372378910613073.00044c407994de0ae1ce7&ll=18.985153777969955,72.83227443695068&dg=feature Locations of Jewish cemeteries in India], as mentioned by Isaac Solomon, Google  maps c 2008
*[https://jewishphotolibrary.smugmug.com/ASIA/ASIAcentral/INDIA  HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library: India]. Includes photographs of Jewish Cemeteries. Click on the initial photographs  for further images. As an example, Mumbai (Bombay). Chinchpokli Jewish Cemetery.  
*[https://jewishphotolibrary.smugmug.com/ASIA/ASIAcentral/INDIA  HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library: India]. Includes photographs of Jewish Cemeteries. Click on the initial photographs  for further images. As an example, Mumbai (Bombay). Chinchpokli Jewish Cemetery.  
*[http://www.iajgsjewishcemeteryproject.org/india/index.html International Jewish Cemetery Project: India]
*[http://www.iajgsjewishcemeteryproject.org/india/index.html International Jewish Cemetery Project: India]
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*Food
*Food
**[http://www.jewishcalcutta.in/exhibits/show/food  "Calcutta Jewish Cuisine"] Exhibit 15 from  “Recalling Jewish Calcutta: Memories Of The Jewish Community In Calcutta”. jewishcalcutta.in
**[http://www.jewishcalcutta.in/exhibits/show/food  "Calcutta Jewish Cuisine"] Exhibit 15 from  “Recalling Jewish Calcutta: Memories Of The Jewish Community In Calcutta”. jewishcalcutta.in
**Articles about Copeland Marks, and his cookbook  ''The Varied Kitchens of India'', which includes a section  on Calcutta Jewish food. [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-12-18/features/8603170487_1_calcutta-cuisine-jewish Calcutta`s Jewish Cuisine A Unique Repertoire] by Lorna Sass December 18, 1986 sun-sentinel.com. With four recipes. [http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/11/garden/nothing-says-kosher-like-chicken-livers-in-the-tandoor.html Nothing Says Kosher Like Chicken Livers in the Tandoor] by Florence Fabricant September 11, 1996  nytimes.com. With two recipes
**Articles about Copeland Marks, and his cookbook  ''The Varied Kitchens of India'', which includes a section  on Calcutta Jewish food. [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-12-18/features/8603170487_1_calcutta-cuisine-jewish Calcutta`s Jewish Cuisine A Unique Repertoire] by Lorna Sass December 18, 1986 sun-sentinel.com. With four recipes. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150526163218/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/11/garden/nothing-says-kosher-like-chicken-livers-in-the-tandoor.html Nothing Says Kosher Like Chicken Livers in the Tandoor] by Florence Fabricant September 11, 1996  nytimes.com, now archived. With two recipes
**This [http://theshiksa.com/2011/12/08/potato-bhajee  link] from "The Shiksa in the Kitchen" describes Jewish life in Calcutta c 1945 and includes a potato recipe from a vintage Jewish cookbook published in 1922 in Calcutta
**This [http://theshiksa.com/2011/12/08/potato-bhajee  link] from "The Shiksa in the Kitchen" describes Jewish life in Calcutta c 1945 and includes a potato recipe from a vintage Jewish cookbook published in 1922 in Calcutta
**Rahel Musleah’s [http://www.rahelsjewishindia.com/index.html  A Passage to Jewish India and Beyond] "From Baghdad to Calcutta". Includes some [http://www.rahelsjewishindia.com/page13/page12/page12.html recipes]
**Rahel Musleah’s [http://www.rahelsjewishindia.com/index.html  A Passage to Jewish India and Beyond] "From Baghdad to Calcutta". Includes some [http://www.rahelsjewishindia.com/page13/page12/page12.html recipes]
**[http://www.momentmag.com/talk-of-the-table-jan-feb-2013 "The Spicy Tale of India’s Jewish Cuisine"] by Sala Levin January 15, 2013 www.momentmag.com. Includes a potato recipe.
**[http://www.momentmag.com/talk-of-the-table-jan-feb-2013 "The Spicy Tale of India’s Jewish Cuisine"] by Sala Levin January 15, 2013 www.momentmag.com. Includes a potato recipe.
**[http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/dining/a-seder-spiced-with-flavors-from-india.html?_r=0 "A Seder Spiced with Indian Flavors"] by Joan Nathan  March 12, 2013. ''The New York Times''/Dining. The Jewish food of Cochin. Includes a short video and a recipe
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20130317075942/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/dining/a-seder-spiced-with-flavors-from-india.html?_r=0 "A Seder Spiced with Indian Flavors"] by Joan Nathan  March 12, 2013. ''The New York Times''/Dining, now archived. The Jewish food of Cochin. [https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014605-cochin-coriander-cumin-chicken-for-passover A  chicken recipe].
***[http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/the-cuisine-connection/article5451867.ece  The cuisine connection] by Esther Elias December 12, 2013 ''The Hindu'' Kochi. The food of Cochini Jews.  
***[http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/the-cuisine-connection/article5451867.ece  The cuisine connection] by Esther Elias December 12, 2013 ''The Hindu'' Kochi. The food of Cochini Jews.  
*[http://www.thejewishnews.com/jews-in-burma-we-are-still-here Jews In Burma: “We Are Still Here!”]  13 January  2012 thejewishnews.com
*[http://www.thejewishnews.com/jews-in-burma-we-are-still-here Jews In Burma: “We Are Still Here!”]  13 January  2012 thejewishnews.com

Revision as of 07:08, 11 September 2020

Non-British Ancestors:
Armenian
Danish
Dutch
French
German
Greek
Indian
Jewish
Portuguese

There were three main communities of Jews in India : the Bene Israel (near Bombay), the "Black Jews" of Cochin and the "White Jews" from Iraq. The Virtual Jewish History Tour has a summary of the History of Jews in India online.

General information about Jewish genealogy can be found at JewishGen InfoFiles, which has a host of links providing guidance on researching Jewish family history throughout the world.

Religious Records

If your ancestors were baptised, married or buried in a European church in British India, then the church records should have been transcribed and you can access these records at the British Library in London, or at LDS Family History Centres. The FIBIS database contains many transcribed BMD records.

If your ancestors were married in a Registry Office, then these records will be included with the church record indexes. FIBIS volunteers have transcribed the Registry Office index and this is on the FIBIS database. Further details with images of regsitry pages ca be found on the subscription website findmypast. Details of Registry Office marriages are not available on microfilm through the LDS.

Some records of the births of Jewish people were included in the church records for the Bombay Presidency. It would seem that Jewish parents submitted a letter from their Rabbi or other figure of authority certifying that the individual was born on a certain day at a certain place. These letters were then included with the regular church records. Later, this 'registration' could then be used as proof of British citizenship. This does not seem to have been a very widespread practice. However, if you are at a loss to find a record of your ancestor, it may be worth examining the indexes to the church records of the Presidency in which they resided.

Also see External Links below for some record references

National Archives of India

Search National Archives of India website abhilekh-patal.in. Particularly for the Second World War period there are known to be some records from the Aliens Advisory Committee which have either already been digitised, (Digitized Collection : Digitized Public Records, Home Political) or can be requested to be digitised for a fee. A 1946 Naturalisation request was seen: Application from ... For A German Jew, For Nationalization Under the British Nationality Status of Aliens Act 1914. [Should be Naturalization].

Names

Common Jewish surnames in India include Sassoon and Joseph. Since many Indian Jews were of Baghdadi origin, other surnames tend to be of the Shephardic style. It is rare to hear of Ashkenazi surnames in India. Other surnames include biblical names.

Directories

Many European, Anglo-Indian and other businessmen were named in the Directories of their day. The most prominent Directory was Thacker's, which originally only covered Bengal, but eventually encompassed all of British India. If your Jewish ancestors were merchants or businessmen, there is a good chance that they would have been listed in Thacker's Directories. A complete set is now housed at the Asian & African Studies Reading Room at the British Library, but most major libraries will hold a few copies for given years. For a comprehensive description, and lists of where they can be located, visit the informative Thacker's Directories webpage. Some Thacker's Directories are available online, refer Directories online-Thackers's Indian Directory.

Books

Also see

  • Sardhana for a brief mention of Jewish mercenaries.

External links

"Perspectives from the Periphery: The East India Company's Jewish Sepoys, Anglo-Jewry, and the Image of "the Jew"" by Mitch Numark from Chapter 12, page 247 On the Word of a Jew: Religion, Reliability, and the Dynamics of Trust 2019. academia.edu
Status of The Bene Israel in the British India Armies C 1877, for the purpose of Batta, Bene Israel Jews were classified as Europeans. jewsofindia, archived webpage.
These doctors were mainly Jewish. Between the years 1933 and 1938, there were three waves of forced emigration to British India. The first started in the year 1933 with German doctors. A second wave started with Jewish refugees coming from Italy. The Austrian exodus after the German occupation in March 1938 formed the third wave of medical refugees coming to British India, at which point Czech and Hungarian Jewish medical refugees started joining the population of refugees.
Margit Franz is the author of Gateway India. German-speaking Exile to India between British colonial rule, Maharajas and Gandhi. There is an interview with Dr. Margit Franz in the following article "From the Reich to the Raj".
For Dr Selzer’s account of the years of internment, see POW Camps in India- Second World War- German prisoners of war.

Historical books online