"..In my family, my grandfather’s story often takes the spotlight.

"..In my family, my grandfather’s story often takes the spotlight.

At 19, he left India for Pakistan and later moved to Hong Kong, where he was among the first 100 Pakistanis to join the British police force. He rose through the ranks, provided his children with education abroad, and retired with honor. This was the tale I grew up hearing—a story of a man who changed our family’s future. 

Yet, behind his journey lies another story that resonates deeply with me. It’s the story of my grandmother, my dadi, who is the pillar of our family. While my grandfather’s achievements are celebrated, it’s my dadi’s strength and sacrifice that truly hold everything together.

In 1957, as a young bride, she left Pakistan to join my grandfather in Hong Kong, where she struggled to find her place among the wives of other police officers. Over time, those women became her refuge. One of them became her closest friend. Their bond lasted over 60 years, with regular messages exchanged until her friend’s passing recently.

She raised seven children and made Hong Kong her home for decades, receiving family news only through letters. Though they visited Pakistan, she awaited the day they’d return for good—a dream fulfilled when my grandfather bought a house back home. Yet, after his passing, she adapted once more, moving back to Hong Kong and later to London, where most of her children now reside. 

Her life has been a journey of adapting to the unfamiliar—a true muhajir. But don’t mistake her resilience for quiet endurance. Even in her 80s, she makes her presence felt. We joke more than we talk, and our conversations about her childhood stories remain close to my heart.

As I’ve grown older, I realise how her resilience laid the foundation for my grandfather’s success, shaping our family across generations. While his achievements are celebrated, it is her sacrifices and her ability to create a home in unfamiliar places that truly resonate with me. Through her story, I’m reminded of the stories of countless immigrant women whose strength and love often go unnoticed but form the backbone of their families."