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== Muslim Records ==
The Muslims records may basically be divided into two groups, (a) those found in latter-day India and (b) those found in present Pakistan. In both instances, some public records of marriages and deaths are available only in major, bigger cities and towns, where during British times municipal records of this sort were maintained. In the case of India, the [[LDS]] have microfilmed some Islamic marriage records, including those of [[Meerut ]] (1881-1982) and [[Bulandshahr ]] (1921-1955). Microfilm nuymbers numbers start at '''1307221'''. In the case of Pakistan, as yet no such documentation is available prior to 1990-1991, on microfilm or in digital/computerised form. However, from 1990 onwards, the NADRA (Pakistan's National Database for Public Registration) has extensive records for most of Pakistan.Accessing any of these records is not easy however. It must further be remembered that in most cases, in the vast rural hinterlands of old/British India where most Muslims dwelt, almost no records exist for marriages and/or deaths. Amongst Muslims, birth records were kept (if at all) exclusively by families and indeed, almost none were ever kept for womenfolk. The only two places that one might try to find out any possible records of marriages and deaths are: (a) at the local town or village mosque, where an official called the ''Nikah Registrar'' (marriage contract registry) was sometimes available and kept some records of stipulations and such formalities of Muslim marriages; and (b) the local village or town ''Patwari'' or land revenue accountant, who certainly kept long and often complicated ''Shajrahs'' (Muslim pedigrees of landowners) and ''Daftars'' (succession/devolution records of lands from generation to generation). These, too, however, were mostly only available for landowners and landowning classes, big and small. Unfortunately, chances are that if your Muslim ancestors in India prior to the late 19th century did not keep any records of their own, written or oral, then digging out any 'official' records might be a rather uphill task.
== Emigration ==
''Register of deaths of Indian immigration (by plantation), 1899-1922''. Microfilm nos. '''833149-833150'''. These are also available only in Salt Lake City.
== Genealogy with LDS==
Many records have been microfilmed by the LDS and are available at LDS Family History Centres. The following are related to genealogy of Indians :
''Karn Kayast genealogical records''. There are 51 microfilms of Microfilm of original records Pandit Shivanand Mallik, Shivi Patti Village, Madhubani District, Bihar, India. Microfilm nos. start at '''1997293'''.
''Genealogical records of medieval India'' by S. A. I. Tirmizi. Of Muslim Shiahs only and very limited area and scope. Microfiche no. '''6085867'''. ==Other possible resources== Both the '''National Archives of India''' (Delhi) and the '''National Archives of Pakistan''' (Islamabad) contain some old records, including old vernacular newspapers and press publications (such as pamphlets, cards and other such material) and these are worth looking into for mention and notice/s of marriages and deaths. The '''Punjab Archives''' at [[Lahore]] (now in Pakistan) also hold pedigrees of many Punjabi and Pashtun/Pathan Indian princes, ''Jagirdars'', ''Zamindars'' and other 'notables' from circa 1840s to 1940s, of all creeds. In some instances, dossiers and secret files may also be available on some individuals and notable families, and on many of the princely states attached to the Punjab. (Website should be available soon) The '''Pakistan Heritage Foundation''' (PHF) is a private, non-profit organization in [[Karachi]], which has done a lot of work to help rescue and preserve old archival records in Karachi city and is now also attempting to do the same for some other, selected cities and towns, gradually. Their website offers more information and contact details [http://heritagefoundationpak.org Pakistan Heritage Foundation] (Official Website of the PHF) There are several '''books from British times''' enlisting pedigrees of chiefs and families of note, from the 19th century onwards (Please see list below). Again, it is to be noted that most of such records are available only for people of some social standing during the British colonial days. ==Further reading==* Griffin, L and Massy, H, ''Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab'' , Lahore 1899 original ed; many subsequent editions thereafter. * Ibbetson, Sir D, ''Punjab Castes'', 1916. * Rose, HA, ''A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province'' nd, 2 vols.
[[Category: Non-British Ancestors]]
