Choices and Compulsions:
Today marks the 7th year since I left India. I left on my own volition. I often wonder what it would be like, to raise a family here. I live in a beautiful city, with mountains and rivers. (1/n)
Today marks the 7th year since I left India. I left on my own volition. I often wonder what it would be like, to raise a family here. I live in a beautiful city, with mountains and rivers. (1/n)
I would have loved to grow up here, amidst all this natural beauty. And I probably would have grown up in such a place, had my ancestors not suffered from religious persecution. (2/n)
Fate works in mysterious ways. My family members were forced to leave their place of birth whereas I chose to leave my hometown. I grew up far away from kashmiri culture because I would probably have not even existed had my family not left kashmir on time. (3/n)
My children may grow up far away from kashmiri culture because I chose to move to a different country. Back when I was a kid, I'd meet my relatives and feel some sense of community amongst other kashmiris whenever I'd see my extended family. (4/n)
My children may not even be able to do that if I raise them here.
I don't think I regret moving here. Seeing how things are in India at the moment, I think my children will probably have a better life if they grow up here. (5/n)
I don't think I regret moving here. Seeing how things are in India at the moment, I think my children will probably have a better life if they grow up here. (5/n)
Although I am going to do everything I can to pass down the practices of my people, I fear that within the next 2/3 generations, much of my culture will be diluted or even lost. (6/n)
It would be a shame to think that my ancestors sacrificed so much to hold on to their religion and culture, only to have their descendants relinquish it all upon immigrating to a different country. (7/n)
I think even if I am able to pass down 10% of the practices of my ancestors, it will still mean something. I would want it to be 100%, but I am just being practical. Very few of us, even amongst non KPs, are able to practice 100% of the rituals our forefathers did. (8/n)
Given the kind of cultural dilution I see around me, especially amongst Hindu immigrants, I will be happy if my descendants are able to practice just 10% of our ancestral customs. The light of my ancestral faith and customs must not die down. (9/n)
I owe everything to the generations before me, and I will ensure that my descendants imbibe this. So much has already been lost. We cannot afford to lose anything anymore. (N/n)
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