Nouveau ! Découvrez Nomad'IA : le savoir de nos 400 profs + la magie de l'IA
Intergenerational relationships in the Indian diaspora
Family ties in a global world
In a lot of cultures, the family is at the centre of identity and support. Older generations pass on traditions, values, and life lessons to the younger ones. In return, younger people bring change, movement, and new ideas. But what happens when families are spread across the globe ?
For families living in diaspora, far from their homeland, maintaining intergenerational ties can be challenging. Physical distance, cultural gaps, and language barriers can weaken relationships. Yet, many Indian families manage to keep strong bonds between grandparents, parents, and children, even when oceans separate them from their families.
One reason is the importance of shared memory and storytelling. Grandparents often tell stories from India, about their youth, customs, or family history. These stories connect younger generations to their roots. Religion, food, and language also play a big part. A simple family meal or a celebration like Diwali helps preserve identity and reinforce the family link.
New technological tools have helped too since the turn of the century. Video calls, group chats, and digital photo sharing let families stay close, even when living in different countries. Intergenerational bonds become a way to balance tradition and modern life, creating a rich, shared experience.
The God of Small Things : memory, silence, and inheritance
In her novel The God of Small Things, Indian author Arundhati Roy explores family relationships in the Indian state of Kerala. The story moves between past and present, showing how the actions of one generation affect the lives of the next.
The central characters, Rahel and Estha, twin siblings grow up in a family full of silence, rules, and secrets. Their grandmother, Baby Kochamma, represents the older generation, deeply attached to tradition and family reputation. She often controls or judges the younger characters, showing how the past can shape or limit the present.
Even though the novel is not directly about immigration, it shows how time itself creates distance between generations, like physical distance in a diaspora. Rahel eventually leaves India and lives abroad, but she carries her family’s story within her. When she returns years later, she reconnects to her past and her brother, showing that emotional bonds are stronger than geography.
Roy’s novel also suggests that what is not said, the silences between generations, can be just as powerful as what is shared. The story reminds us that family memory, pain, and love are passed on in many ways : through words, emotions, traditions, and even through the “small things” that stay with us. The God of Small Things offers a moving portrait of how families, even when divided by time, space, or trauma, remain deeply connected.
