In Search of Family
There has been a surge in the number of people searching for
their family ancestry, enabled by access to digitized records, DNA testing and genome
mapping. While ancestry platforms are currently focused on Western societies, where
migration data, birth and death registers have been maintained for centuries,
other societies have long established written or oral traditions to honour
family ancestry.
Why does family history matter to so many? A Canadian university asked the question ‘Why
do we derive satisfaction from knowing who our ancestors were?’ The responses mostly focused on a search for
identity and being part of larger histories. ‘We can find things down to the
nano level, but we can't find ourselves today’. Some just want to make
connections with someone famous, others want to recognise the sacrifices and
struggles of ancestors. Heritage tourism
is a new phenomenon with visits to towns and villages of ancestors.
The present 79th descendant of Confucius, Kung
Tsui-chang, holds the post of Sacrificial Official, tasked with keeping his
ancestor’s teachings alive. Esin Çelebi Bayru is Vice
President of the International Mevlana Foundation. She is the 22nd
generation of Mevlana Rumi.
The movies Roots and Black Panther
had record breaking viewership, one focusing on the legacy of racial
oppression, the other presenting a narrative of an immensely wealthy, technologically
advanced Africa.
When cinema explores the past, facts may be sacrificed for
impact, or may serve propaganda politics. Films about WWII, Holocaust, the
Cowboy and Indian standoffs of Hollywood and the current spate of nationalist
Bollywood film, face criticism from more discerning and well informed audiences
today.
Tracing old roots takes on political dimensions, as Iran and
China speak with pride of their 5000 year old histories, or Zionists lay claim
to ancient lands.
Some try to distance themselves from ancestors. Adolf
Hitler’s nephew changed his surname when he moved to the United States. The
British Royal family changed their name to Windsor from the German name Hanover,
during WWI when Britain was at war with Germany. It is not only how people see
themselves in relation to their family heritage, but also how they are seen by
others.
When African slaves were processed in America, they were
given English names, erasing their ancestral lineage in the process. In Arab
society, names would be changed to acknowledge parenthood – Abu or father of
and Umm, mother of, followed by the name of the child. Arab society gives great
prominence to motherhood. Ummah, a word used for the global community of
Muslims, comes from the same root as mother – one who cares for the welfare and
future of the community, as does the word Imam, leader of prayers, or spiritual
guide. In Pakistani society, the mother occupies an elevated space of deep
respect – ‘maa tujh ko salaam’ and ‘Maa ki dua jannat ki hawa’ ( a mother’s
prayers are a breeze from Heaven) are constant refrains.
Individualism grew
out of the 17th C Age of Enlightenment in France, proposing that the
pathway to modernity and economic prosperity lay in personal success and
independence. However, it never
completely replaced the need for family, especially in societies where
community takes precedence. Weddings and funerals in Pakistan are occasions for
cross-generational bonding. Family gatherings keep up with news, gossip, and
even create a space for budding romance. The shajra nasab or family tree is a
cherished document. Younger members are fascinated to see old family albums,
especially seeing elders in their youthful days.
Despite being well cared for in an orphanage, orphans long
to be adopted by a family. Families need
not be blood relatives. Work colleagues, classmates, platoon members, sports
teams, even prison inmates and criminal gangs become families. Temporary
families are created during shared journeys or disasters. Many find father
figures or mother figures outside their own families. Those with special
interests, such as animation, medical research, or even stand-up comedy, create
close bonds across countries. At some point a newly married couple creates the
foundations of a new family, with its own shared values.
Belonging is a fundamental human drive, and social exclusion
can be painful. Studies show when individuals feel they belong, they can focus
better, think more creatively, and become more resilient in difficult times.
Durriya Kazi
July 26,
2026
Karachi
Comments
Post a Comment