and Bangladesh.Nonetheless the unique spelling of the name has made those of Haji's descendants who carry it immediately recognizable and readily distinguishable from others.[1]

Some of you may also wonder why I have taken the time to put this book together.I began it partly out of personal curiosity and largely out of simple opportunity.I had taken a leave of absence from my Ph.D for several months to look after my father, Shahabudin Mohamed McDoom, who was ill in London.But I conclude it now in his memory.Papa passed away on March 8th 2008.It is not out of posthumous exaggeration that I write he was extremely proud of and loyal to his extended family.My sister and I in fact often teased him about this and sometimes even became frustrated with him for it.I would like to dedicate this tree to him.As the generation that was born in Guyana ages and passes on, so too fades the knowledge of the family's history.  Just as our ancestral ties to India dissolved with the passing of Haji's generation, so too might our links to Guyana and to each other.I hope, and it is a hope that papa would have shared, that this tree may help stem the tide of time and distance on our common heritage.

This project has involved many people.Over the course of it I have appreciated the opportunity to hear all the stories, both tragic and comic, that people have shared with me.Thank you.But a number deserve special mention.These individuals showed an enthusiasm for this project that went beyond a willingness to provide information merely about their own immediate family members.The success of this project depended on their interest in the wider, extended family.Every family has such individuals and I was happy to connect with them in this endeavour.A special thank you then goes out to Alyah Mann, Ansari Ramjohn, Elias Hague, Faizal McDoom Jr., Farhana Ali (née Nasir), Ferial Mohamed (née McDoom), Ijaz Rahaman, Imtiaz McDoom-Gaffoor, Iqbal Gajraj, Jean Ally, Khalilul McDoom, Laila McDoom (née Chan), Leila Rookmin McDoom, Liaquat Ally, Manzoor McDoom, Meezaun Singh (née McDoom), Moenudin McDoom Jr., Mohamed Omer Abdelati, Murtaz Shaffeeullah, Napha Bacchus (née McDoom), Nilofar Singh (née Rahaman), Opheera Nasir, Opheera Meezaun McDoom, Rayaaz Khan, Raza Ally, Rehana McDoom (née Bacchus), Safoora Bacchus, Salima Khan, Shakira Nasir, Shalimar Sankar, Shanaz Sattaur (née Mohamed), Sharisa Mohamed, Shaukat McDoom, Shazeda Beharry (née Sankar), Siyaada Alli, Sophia Tapp (née Hague), Taza McDoom, Zabeida Shaffeeullah (née Khan), and Zelina Mann (née McDoom).And finally, thank you to Rachel for her support throughout papa's passing and the writing of this book.
 
I have tried wherever possible to publish the most reliable information and to verify information.[2]But inevitably there will be errors.Please do not be offended if someone is missing, their relationship to others misdescribed, or their name misspelled.I see this project as a continuous one and I welcome your corrections.The tree has no single owner


[1] In addition to the McDooms from Guyana, there is also a line of McDooms that grew up in the islands in the Caribbean.One hypothesis is that Haji McDoom had a brother who also traveled from India but settled in Jamaica.If the two brothers had indeed passed through the hands of the same emigration agent at the same time in Calcutta, this would explain why their names share the same unusual spelling.The two lines may thus be related.Source Tricia McDoom, descendant of the Jamaican McDooms.

[2] I circulated an electronic draft with all names and dates to nearly 200 individuals.I received many, many corrections - for which I am very grateful - but I cannot be certain that 100% of the information was ultimately verified.