The Sacred Role of Remembering

In Hindu culture, a lot is passed down by word of mouth like scriptures, rituals, and even recipes.  I imagine that in ancient times people sat around fires and told these stories, and that is how they shared.

I come from Southern India, from Karnataka, from a family of farmers. I was always closer to my mother’s side of the family and ancestors. My grandmother taught me scriptures through stories, and she showed her love in the food she cooked for us. My mother still shares stories from her farming days, the rhythms of village life, and also about her own grandparents.

Now we live in the city and no longer farm, but I am grateful to my ancestors who worked so hard so that we could study and find better jobs. Their efforts made this life possible.

When I moved to America, I learned to cook by calling my mother and asking for recipes. These were the same recipes my grandmother and her sisters had passed down to her. I also feel blessed that I have seen a photo of my great-grandmother and that I know her name. It reminds me that these connections are real and alive.

They were the ones who walked before us. And now, as I have just become an aunt, I think about what it means to step into the role of ancestor. I feel it is my sacred role to pass on that same love to my nephews.

When I came to the West, I was surprised to see how little connection there was to ancestry, and it made me even more grateful for the threads I carry. Over time, I realized this love isn’t only about lineage, it’s about humanness itself.