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STATISTICS:


•	In Iran, Generation X are called the Burnt Generation.

•	According to an in-depth analysis of results from the Pew Global Attitudes surveys, generational differences fuel much of current social and political tension in Western Europe and the United States over globalization, nationalism and immigration.

Empire
Shampa Sinha

Australia

GALLERY

CONVERSATION

There was a house once with high ceilings, long shadows, even in the middle of the day, and cool marble floors. There was a house once where women ran an empire. From the engine-room of their kitchen they produced a steady coordinated symphony - the greedy sizzle of hot oil sucking on fresh fish, the gurgle of water cascading off dirty dishes interrupted by the cymbal clash of brass on brass as someone squatted down, steel wool in hand to tackle the stack. In the early part of the day, the women were mostly silent, focused on ensuring the gravy had just the right amount of salt, the palm-slapped chapattis were soft and uniformly round and that the curd had set so that its surface was firm and conch-shell smooth. But once the men had lunched and left for the world outside and the children were all in mid-siesta, their soft breathing floating through the house like angel-sighs, the women would sit and eat together, cross-legged on the living-room floor. They would murmur compliments to Swapna about the tanginess of her mango pickle, to Kakoli about how her pakoras were the crispiest ever, while my grandmother passed around the fish curry, making sure everyone received her favorite piece, then sit back surveying her tribe of daughters-in-law. Only when everyone else had enough food on their plate, would she start eating. I never asked Swapna the secret of her mango pickle, my pakoras never turn out as crispy as Kakoli’s, and my grandmother has taken the recipe of her fabled fish curry to her pyre. Tonight, I make dinner in my apartment, in another world, another time and, as the microwave purrs electronically in the background, wonder at how our empire has crumbled, how we are scattered all over the globe. Like so many grains of spilt rice.

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Linda (United States)
I have a strong that things will come full circle to where the cultural norms that seem to be dying will be revived. There's a growing trend of highly educated stay-at-home mothers, trendy quiltmakers and chefs. Think Denyse Schmidt and Rachael Ray. The only difference is that we have a choice of doing these things instead of them being forced on us or expected of us.

Donna Montgomery (United States)
Does it sadden you to see how each generation loses a piece of this family history and culture? My grandmother's talent as a "quilt maker" has been mostly lost and not passed down through the generations to my daughters.

Imagining Ourselves Team (United States)
Do you feel that it is inevitable that we should lose traditions when moving towards the future?

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