In our group, many members are 100% Indian but have no knowledge of their birth families or cultural heritage. They long to learn more and to feel a sense of connection. Family history research can help bridge that gap, but being adopted makes the journey even more challenging.
DNA testing can provide answers, solving some of these mysteries. As more people of Indian subcontinent descent participate in DNA testing, we will continue to uncover more connections and piece together our shared histories.
My name is Cody Tarun Stratton. I was born in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), West Bengal, India, at Pratihar Nursing Home. I weighed just 1,125 grams at birth and was left there. Soon after, I was taken in by the International Mission of Hope, an orphanage founded by Cherie Clark in the late 1970s or early 1980s. This organization rescued abandoned babies from nursing homes, jails, and the streets, giving them a chance to survive.
During my time there, I received blood transfusions and the care needed to stay alive. After five months, once I had gained enough weight to travel, I was flown to my adoptive family in the United States. My journey took me from India to Washington State and finally to Las Vegas, Nevada. I was escorted by a nun and a woman named Scooter Mahoney. My family received me in the same basket I had traveled in.
I grew up in Southern Utah, where my parents raised three adopted children. They did their best to help us stay connected to our cultural roots, ordering a few things from India to keep that connection alive. Later, I was priveldged to do some service in the West Indies, covering ten countries: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana in South America, as well as the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Many of these places have strong Indian heritage, and during my time there, I was able to experience some of their cultural traditions and celebrations. It was a special feeling to blend in and not stand out.
I am incredibly grateful for my family—they are my family. However, I have always had questions about my birth family and a curiosity to find them. My love for family history has led me to take four DNA tests. Through one of them, I connected with a fifth cousin. When I asked how we were related, he explained that his family had migrated from India to Trinidad, and he now lives in Canada. I shared that I, too, was born in India and had lived in Trinidad. We stay in touch, though we have yet to meet in person.
It's amazing to discover the small connections that link me to different places, even from my time in the Caribbean. Currently, I am studying to become a professional genealogist, hoping to help people from India and the Indian diaspora trace their roots. Last year, I brought together a group of Indian adoptees—we dressed in traditional Indian attire, shared a meal, and exchanged our stories. It was a meaningful experience to bond over our shared backgrounds.
I look forward to continuing my search for my roots and helping others do the same. I hope to visit India soon. Even if I never find my birth family, I want to return at least once, simply to say that I have been back. A friend I met online was moved by my story and, with the help of his family, found the building where I was born. He even sent me pictures.
My journey is ongoing, and I am excited for what’s ahead.
Commentaires