 At the time of India's birth Malik was 17 years old while Aertsens was 20 years Malik's senior.Soon after her birth India’s parents separated and India lived in Brussels with her mother who, whilst continuing her studies, worked as a translator to support her daughter and herself.In 1975 India’s mother married Andrew Knight, the editor of "The Economist"; at age 9 India moved to London to live with her mother and stepfather.