Why our stories matter: preserving Panjabi legacies for the next generation.

Every family carries a universe of stories – moments of courage, sacrifice, laughter, and love that shape who we are. For Panjabi families, these stories often begin in the villages of Panjab and stretch across oceans to new lives built in unfamiliar lands. Yet too often, those memories fade with time, tucked away in conversations that never get recorded.

At Virsa, we believe these stories deserve to live on.

They are more than personal histories – they are the threads that weave together our identity as a community. When we capture them, we give future generations the chance to understand where they come from, the values that guided their elders, and the strength that runs through their family line.

Our parents and grandparents lived through eras of immense change.

Many left behind everything they knew, building new lives in countries where the language, weather, and customs were foreign. Behind their resilience lies a legacy that deserves to be remembered – not only for the milestones they achieved but for the lessons, humour, and heart they carried with them.

Preserving these memories isn’t about nostalgia.

It’s about belonging. For younger generations growing up in the West, hearing these stories connects them to something bigger than themselves. It bridges the gap between worlds – the one their grandparents left behind and the one they call home today.

That’s why we created My Panjabi Story – a guided legacy book designed to help families capture their heritage before it’s lost. Through thoughtful prompts written in English, Romanised Panjabi, and Gurmukhi, it invites elders to share their life journeys in their own words. Each story becomes a gift – a piece of history passed down through paper, ready to be opened by generations to come.

Because our stories matter.

They tell the world who we are, where we came from, and what we’ll never forget.