One was about partition - my grandfathers on both sides were refugees from Pakistan to India.
The second was about the pluralism of India. My mom would talk about the mosque, temple and Gurdwara being next to each other.
Of course, all these stories are incomplete and through just the lens of my families experiences.
My parents always spoke with pride about the unlikely democracy that is India. So many cultures, language, food etc. but still one country.
There is a belief in democracy and self determination that is part of my legacy.
It’s been confusing watching democracy erode in India over the last few years and escalate recently.
It’s personally painful to watch the two countries I feel most at home slide towards authoritarianism.
And it is powerful watching people rise up and fight back.
I saw an Indian journalist I follow on here doing the same thing recently to help support protestors in India.
I am now watching organizers and activists in India to see what lessons we can learn from them.
We would be foolish not to watch/learn lessons from other countries.
Our struggles are connected.
Who we choose to be right now, what we choose to do, will determine the world we and our children grow up in.