SUCCESS STORY Girmitiya Foundation
My name is Swasti Bolay Bheekha. I am settled in Switzerland. Born in Riv des Anguilles / Savannes in Mauritius. I have a big family . My father had 5 brothers, so you can imagine the children of 6 brothers and we can consider ourself been in a big family. My Grand Uncle ( Chacha ) but we always called him Barka Pitaji was Pandit. Pandit Bheekha was well known in the south and in the country. He always tought us about our culture ,I remember every day in the evening doing Sandhya at home and tought us a lot about our Sanskar. All his Hawans ceremony / Wedding ceremony or any other ceremonies do not end without some Bhajans and some recommendations about how to keep and respect our Culture. I have leant a lot with him. My Mataji is a devotee in her Mahila Samaj since a long time. I remember even we moved from the south to Port-Louis especially in Ste Croix ( where majority of the community is Christian ) My Mataji together with some ladies there has raised a Mahila Samaj , where every Sunday there was Hawan / bhajans. In week days there was Bhaitka ( after school ) for children from 5 yrs to 12 yrs. My Mataji still read her books about Indian Sanskar , everywhere she goes there is always a Hawan book and a Bhajan book with her. She always says her books have protect her in everything . We were very poor but one thing she transmited to us is Love and Forgiveness.
I am settle in Switzerland since 1984 … here the culture is very different from Mauritius. Even that whenever I go to Mauritius I manage to do a Hawan . I feel really very connected with my culture there. I was satisfied with that and years passes away without feeling the needs to find out my Ancestors. When people wants to know where I am from so I say . I am Mauritian , Indian thats all. But last year someone arises this feeling inside me . Make me think about where I come from… where is my Ancestors motherland. India was very far in my mind. But since I got that feelings where I am from and who is my Grand Parents…. When people see I am from India , so ask me where I am from India , when I respond I DONT KNOW… and this answer does not suit me any more … I decided to find out. I have got some informations from a far relative settle in Italy . He make me realise that we are family and he had done some researches about our Ancestor.
I came in India for the 1st time in Nov 2018 for 12 days , Not in the search of my Ancestor but to spread my business. I had no idea and know anyone physically in India . But I met someone the very first days , knowing that I came from Mauritius , related to me almost the history of my Ancestors immigration to Mauritius. I was very curious to know more about this fabulous and painful history about my Ancestors.
So in March I decided to go back to India and this time for the search of my Ancestors homeland with my documents. Together with my Indian friend we started to do the investigations . Have been in several offices in many villages . I must tell that many villages which was attached to the district had change . From the time districts has become too big so many things had changed. But we had great help from everyone in different offices. Even we had to travel in several places , to find out 1 information. People were very curious and very helpful. They were very grateful , by thinking that even so many years after WE THE GIRMITYAS still think and are attached with our motherland. Some did not realise that other part in the world there are decendants of India who still speak Hindi and maintaining the Hindu culture. Very happy and keen to know how we celebrate every hindu festivals How in every part of the World where there are GIRMITIYAS there is a little INDIA with Mandirs.
I am very lucky , I had the priviledge to go to the Calcutta Port ( now the port is no longer visitable without a special authorisation and escorts to the sites as now its under high security ) and to see and feel where all our Ancestors has been embarked to their trumendous voyage in the world. We can feel the emotions , leaving behind them their families and going in thus adventure for their wellbeing and for their families , knowing barely nothing about their future.
I am also very surprise to realise the force of the communications among villages , offices / Head offices / DMC everywhere we have been , people was waiting for us , knowing exactly the purposes why we are here . Been welcome with the Chai everywhere . When finally we arrived in My village DEHOWA in the district of BALIA.
We were welcome by the head teacher Mr. Raksh Singh, he introduces us to his father with whom he has been discussing about our visits. We learn a lot about the village , the evolution of the districts. We have been introduced with many elders of the village. I am very impressed to see how their memory are well maintained . Very humble persons , much alert about the history , had the knowledge of everything, and how they maintain the art of communications.
It is a very good feeling , the feeling of apartenence , of my Motherland. Great emotions to feel and to be present on the same BHOOMI of my ANCESTOR. I never feel as stranger in INDIA , all says I belongs to INDIA . Yes I can feel thus . I AM FROM HERE . And it is with this feeling I come back to Switzerland and promise to come will all my family to introduce them to my village and to these wonderful people there waiting to welcome us . A BIG THANKS TO ALL PEOPLE WHO HELPED ME TO FIND OUT MY ANCESTORS BHOOMI. VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU WHO MADE MY JOURNEY A SUCESSFUL JOURNEY IN THE SEARCH OF MY ROOTS. LONG LIVE INDIA / LONG LIVE THE SPIRIT OF INDIANS.