Roots

This trip to India has been a grounding experience for me. Visiting after 4 years, I am enjoying my ancestral home and it’s many memories. The vacuum created by Mom and Dad’s passing is more vivid in these surroundings. Without them, there is an emptiness to this home and all the celebration and laughter can’t fill that void.

Childhood stories lurk in every room, and every corner of this home. It’s been an emotional trip, to say the least. Reminiscing about the years gone by and finding comfort in my family has been particularly precious.

I like the slow pace of life in this small town — sipping hot tea, sitting in the warm winter sun, and letting my mind drift to my years as a child. I think we must all slow down a tad, to smell the roses and to find comfort in our roots.

While America has been home for over 30 years, this place reminds me that at heart, I am still the kid brother and the family jokester. Behind the tough professorial and professional persona, at my core, I am still an Indian boy. I will treasure this quiet time of reliving my childhood and basking in the love of family.