I am originally a surd who was born in Delhi in 1982, just two

Hearken, O children of the future, and listen to the words of Karan Singh Grover, whose tale reveals the resilience of the human spirit: “I am originally a surd who was born in Delhi in 1982, just two years before the Sikh riots, so all my childhood pictures are in baby frocks with ponytails, as my parents wanted to hide the fact that I was a Sikh boy, given the riots. My dad worked for a travel agency, and we soon moved to Saudi Arabia.” In this simple recounting, there is the echo of history, the weight of fear, and the courage of parents who sought to shield their child from the storms of the world, even as they navigated the treacherous currents of communal strife.

From the annals of time, we have known that childhood is often shaped not only by love, but by circumstance. In Karan’s early years, the shadow of the Sikh riots loomed large, and the innocent visage of a child was made into a mask of safety. To disguise, to hide, to protect—these acts were not born of shame but of survival and foresight, echoing the ancient wisdom of those who foresaw danger and acted with prudence. The child’s identity, delicate and vulnerable, was safeguarded not with weapons, but with ingenuity and care, a quiet testament to parental love.

Consider the stories of those who have lived through conflict: during the Holocaust, countless children were hidden by families, placed in disguises, or raised under false identities, all to preserve their lives. So too, in the heart of Delhi in 1982, Karan’s parents navigated a world where identity could invite peril, choosing to shield him from the hatred that roared through their streets. In these acts, there is courage, foresight, and a recognition that protection often requires ingenuity and sacrifice, even if it demands temporary concealment of one’s true self.

Yet the narrative does not end with fear; it is intertwined with movement, adaptation, and resilience. The family’s relocation to Saudi Arabia, guided by the father’s work in a travel agency, was a journey not only across lands but across circumstance, culture, and language. It is a testament to human endurance: that even when the world conspires to limit safety or opportunity, families can forge new paths, embracing change as a shield and as a chance for growth. The displacement became both a challenge and a crucible, shaping the young mind with awareness, flexibility, and courage.

In these words, one discerns a deeper truth about identity and survival: the preservation of life, the cultivation of opportunity, and the courage to adapt are sometimes more urgent than the display of immediate pride or tradition. Karan’s story is a reminder that identity is not lost when concealed for protection; it is tempered, refined, and later reclaimed with strength. Across history, those who endured persecution—be it the Japanese Americans during internment, the Armenians fleeing conflict, or the countless exiles of time immemorial—learned that safety, adaptability, and resilience are intertwined, and that survival often precedes expression.

The teaching for all generations is profound: life demands both courage and prudence, both the wisdom to know when to reveal oneself and when to protect oneself and one’s loved ones. Honor the strategies of your forebears, learn from their resilience, and recognize that the trials of youth often forge the character of adulthood. Karan’s childhood, marked by concealment and migration, illuminates the power of foresight, parental devotion, and the human capacity to endure without surrendering essence.

Practical guidance emerges from this reflection: protect those who are vulnerable, cultivate adaptability in times of uncertainty, and treasure the lessons of hardship as tools for future strength. When faced with danger or upheaval, remember that strategic concealment, courage, and resilience can safeguard life and identity, and that the trials endured early can shape a life of purpose, empathy, and wisdom. Let this tale guide your actions, so that you may meet adversity not with fear alone, but with mindful courage and foresight.

Thus, O children of tomorrow, remember the story of Karan Singh Grover: that even in a world marked by fear, unrest, and displacement, the human spirit can endure, guided by love, prudence, and adaptability. Let the trials of the young teach you the importance of protection, resilience, and the careful cultivation of self, so that in every storm, your essence remains unbroken, and your journey toward greatness continues, unwavering and bright.