London: Pakistani Grandparents Passing Down Traditions to the Next Generation
London, September 2025 — In a quiet living room, the smell of freshly cooked parathas filled the air as A., a grandmother in her seventies, called her grandchildren to the table. “Eat while it’s hot,” she urged. Between bites, she told them stories about growing up in a village many miles away, where food was cooked on open fires and children ran freely through fields. “They must know,” she said later, “otherwise, these memories will die with us.”
Across London, Pakistani grandparents like A. are playing an important role in passing on traditions to younger generations. From cooking to storytelling, from teaching Urdu phrases to sharing moral lessons, their efforts are keeping cultural identity alive in an environment that can often feel far removed from “back home.”
Stories that travel across time
R., a grandfather who moved to the UK more than forty years ago, gathers his grandchildren once a week. “They love hearing stories about my school days,” he laughed. “I tell them how we studied by lantern light, how we walked long distances. They are shocked because they cannot imagine a world without buses and screens.”
For R., these sessions are not about nostalgia. “It teaches them gratitude. They see how much easier their life is, but also how strong we were.”
Teaching through food
Cooking is another way grandparents connect across generations. S., a widowed grandmother, spends weekends teaching her granddaughter how to make traditional sweets. “I say, don’t just watch, use your hands. Smell the spices. Taste the sugar.” She paused and smiled. “These recipes are not written anywhere. If I don’t teach her, they will vanish.”
The granddaughter admitted she sometimes finds the process “slow,” but appreciates the effort. “When my friends come over, they love the food. I like saying, my nani taught me this.”
Language and values
Language lessons also remain central. F., a retired worker, insists his grandchildren speak to him in Urdu. “They complain, but I don’t mind. If they don’t practise, they will forget. One day they will thank me.”
He explained that along with language comes values. “When I teach them to say ‘jazakAllah’ or ‘shukriya,’ it’s not only about words. It’s about respect.”
Challenges
Yet the role of grandparents is not without its challenges. Younger generations often juggle busy school schedules, extracurricular activities, and digital distractions. A. admitted: “Sometimes they are glued to their phones. I cannot compete with that. But if I tell them an old folk tale, they slowly put the phone down.”
S. agreed: “It takes patience. You cannot force them. You must wait until they are ready to listen.”
Bridging the gap
Despite these difficulties, the bond between generations remains strong. For many families, the presence of grandparents provides stability. R. reflected: “Parents are busy, always working. We fill the gap. We tell stories, teach prayers, remind them of who they are.”
F. added: “It is not about controlling them. It is about guiding. They will live their lives in this country, but our culture is like roots. Without roots, a tree falls.”
Looking ahead
As London’s Pakistani community grows older, the voices of grandparents are becoming more valuable than ever. Their experiences, resilience, and traditions offer younger generations a sense of identity in a fast-changing world.
For A., the motivation is simple: “I don’t know how long I will live. But if they remember one recipe, one story, one prayer, then I am still alive in them.”
تفصیلی اردو خلاصہ
لندن میں پاکستانی بزرگ نسل اپنے پوتوں اور نواسوں کو کہانیاں، زبان، کھانے پکانے کے طریقے اور روایتی اقدار سکھا رہی ہے تاکہ ثقافت اور پہچان زندہ رہے۔
ا اپنی نواسیوں کو پراٹھے کھلاتے ہوئے دیہات کی کہانیاں سناتی ہیں۔
ر دادا جی اپنے بچپن کی سختیوں کے قصے سناتے ہیں تاکہ نئی نسل شکر گزار ہو۔
س مٹھائیاں بنانا سکھاتی ہیں اور کہتی ہیں کہ یہ ترکیبیں کتابوں میں نہیں ملتیں۔
ف اردو بولنے پر زور دیتے ہیں اور بتاتے ہیں کہ زبان کے ساتھ احترام اور اقدار بھی منتقل ہوتے ہیں۔
چیلنجز ضرور ہیں، جیسے بچوں کی مصروفیات اور موبائل فون کی دنیا، لیکن صبر اور محبت سے بزرگ اپنی بات سنا دیتے ہیں۔
ان کا ماننا ہے کہ اگر نئی نسل روایات اور کہانیاں یاد رکھے تو یہی سب سے بڑی کامیابی ہے۔
