Why I wanted to learn Shahmukhi, or Urdu, from my Sikh grandfather years after Partition
It was the summer of 2016 when the writer decided to learn Urdu. They had spent years listening to a man recount his experiences of pain, separation, and proficiency in four languages following the Partition. This man, their grandfather, Sardar Jagat Singh Khurana, was a Sikh from Bannu, present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Born on April 4, 1936, he had recently marked his 80th birthday. He recalled his simple life, the struggles he faced as a new immigrant, and his journey to master four languages. He was the only family member who knew Urdu, and the writer sought to learn from him.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
