It is Family History Month at Yarra Plenty Regional Library. The culture of India has been shaped not only by its long history, unique geography and diverse demography but also by its ancient heritages. Regarded by some historians as the oldest living civilization on Earth, the Indian tradition dates back to 8,000 BC and has a continuous recorded history of over 2,500 years. However, due to the influence of Western culture and the migration of Indian people to foreign shores, the rich culture, values, and family history of India are disappearing.

Most Indian family history has been traditionally maintained only within families and has been often passed down from generation to generation, with children hearing their stories from their “elders” from early childhood.

In this session, Family Historian Smita Biswas will share other basic steps and tips to get more clues about your Indian family roots, including understanding the history of India, surnames and official resources.

Thomastown Library, 52 Main Street, Thomastown, Vic.