Scientists in Hyderabad have uncovered fascinating details about the genetics of the Sindhi community living along India’s west coast. Their DNA tells a story that’s quite different from that of Sindhis in Pakistan, revealing unique ties to ancient migrations and local blending.
The study, led by experts at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, shows that these Indian Sindhis share genetic links with groups like the Burusho and Hazara from Pakistan—communities known for their Mongoloid features. They also show signs of mixing with nearby populations, such as the Konkani people in the region.
Dr. Kumarasamy Thangaraj, a CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow at CCMB, explained that this group carries a distinct East Asian genetic element not seen as prominently in Pakistani Sindhis. “It likely comes from small admixtures, either through direct Mongolian migrations or contacts with Burusho and Hazara-like groups in modern-day Pakistan,” he said.
His colleague, Dr. Lomous Kumar, a postdoctoral researcher at the DST-Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow, added more insight. “Our genetic analysis revealed a small, unique East Asian component in Indian west coast Sindhis. This could trace back to Iron Age or later migrations, possibly even Mongols, leaving their mark on the genome much earlier in history.”
These findings highlight how India’s west coast—sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats—has been a melting pot for diverse groups. Over centuries, waves of West Eurasian migrants arrived, including Portuguese traders, Middle Easterners, Jews, Parsis, and Christian missionaries. While recent research has explored the genetics of Parsis, Jews, and Catholics, many other communities remained a mystery.
The Indian Sindhis, a small group now settled in Maharashtra, fit into this puzzle. They’ve migrated to western India for generations due to the close ties with Pakistan’s Sindh region. But the biggest wave came during India’s partition in 1947, right after independence. Unlike their Pakistani counterparts, who’ve been studied extensively, the west coast Indian Sindhis have stayed under the radar genetically—until now.
This marks the first major high-throughput genetic study on them. CCMB researchers analyzed DNA from the group using 600,000 markers and cutting-edge stats to trace common ancestry, local mixing, and migration history.
Dr. Vinay K. Nandicoori, director of CSIR-CCMB, summed it up: “The results show clear demographic shifts in western India from multiple migrations. Some date back to the Iron or Middle Ages, while others are as recent as after independence.”
The study appeared in the journal Human Genomics on September 30, 2025, shedding new light on how migrations shaped India’s diverse Sindhi genetics and the broader story of population movements in the region.
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