I need to trace my family roots in Ajmer - India?

Question:My Grandfather (Dada) left India for South Africa round about 1890. He had given a false Hindustani name to enter onto the ship for South Africa. Around 1925 he made a visit to his birthplace in Ajmer, India. Apparently he also made a sizeable contribution for the construction of a wall at the Dargah of Khwaja Garib Nawaz. My father had accompanied my grandfather on this visit. They only spent a few week in India, then returned to South Africa. Our family surname is Ghisamudien Mia. This is all information I have at present. It is also possible that my great-great grandfather was connected with the Dargah of Ajmer, as I think his grave site is situated in Taragar (a small hill burial site). I do hope I have my spelling correct.
I am seeking anyone that could help me with research on our family background or help me trace my lost family in India. I am trying to gather as much information as possible before I do visit India.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My Grandfather (Dada) left India for South Africa round about 1890. He had given a false Hindustani name to enter onto the ship for South Africa. Around 1925 he made a visit to his birthplace in Ajmer, India. Apparently he also made a sizeable contribution for the construction of a wall at the Dargah of Khwaja Garib Nawaz. My father had accompanied my grandfather on this visit. They only spent a few week in India, then returned to South Africa. Our family surname is Ghisamudien Mia. This is all information I have at present. It is also possible that my great-great grandfather was connected with the Dargah of Ajmer, as I think his grave site is situated in Taragar (a small hill burial site). I do hope I have my spelling correct.
I am seeking anyone that could help me with research on our family background or help me trace my lost family in India. I am trying to gather as much information as possible before I do visit India.

Hey Phantom,

There are a couple of ways for you to get this information. One, you hire a specialist in Indian genealogy. Two, you do the painstaking work to trace each individual's records throught their birth, death and marriage Vital records in the appropriate countries.

If you do it yourself, you get the satisfaction of finding the links, and knowing more about your family than just a lineage.

There is so much information available today, it would be easy for you to get a Genealogy Software package, and start tracking what you know, what you learn, and what you need to learn. The internet is a great tool, use the searches, go for VITAL RECORDS at the municipal locations where you suspect your ancestors were born, etc.

I am not a expert but having watched " Who Do You Think You Are" a couple of the episodes showed India, You need to track down the family priest, there records go back centuries, long before the days of the Raj.

Good luck and good hunting

http://www.movinghere.org.uk/ could be useful.

The series in the above answer showed Meera Syal who had to go back to India to find out about her family. Nothing much is on line as most records are stored in Temples or chaotic record offices. The only good thing is that local tradition is still very strong in India and it always seemed possible to find old people who knew details about the family.