As I reassess my life journey after my retirement from work, I remain confused because my mind carries the memory of my heritage, culture, family and past. My wife and my mother came from India, my father and I were born in Kenya, my son was born in England and daughter in Canada. My family originated from the Khukhrain clan, having roots in the Jhelum area now in Pakistan, roots that are being forgotten as time moves on, with my family moving from India, Kenya, and England, and settled now in Canada. I see myself as "A Khukhrain: Lost in Four Continents."
Perhaps my journey is similar to all who lost their homes, land, family and friends due to circumstances beyond their control (wars, racial conflicts, religious conflicts, colonial authoritarian policies, racism, etc.) and who then, through their desire to live to serve humanity and society, have put their lives together in a different country and environment and succeeded in making this world a better place. These people's lives, like those of my family and mine, were made better and secured by the warm welcome and assistance of wonderful citizens of the countries where these dislocated people located to.
To reach in time where I am now, my family and I have gone though major family, social and economic changes. The socio-geopolitical changes-largely caused by the British colonial policies and the weakness of my community and our leaders-has profoundly unrooted, re-established and settled my families with security and hope. This has dearly cost my family, retaining personal identify and culture as I moved and settled in four different countries and continents.
At the end of the reassessment of my life, I ask, "Does it really not matter where one's family originated from, or what the future holds for you, or what race you belong to, or what colour your skin is, or what language you speak, or whether you are a vegetarian or a meat eater? At the end of life, everyone's body will decompose into five elements and the soul will seek for God or nature for sanctuary.
Would one be reborn again in a different location? Thus I wonder, if we look at our evolution of cumulative birth and death, do we all belong to this shared universe with no countries and boundaries created artificially by human beings?
