Joint Families, Partition & the Search for Home: Karan Mahajan on The Complex

Every family has its own history, contradictions, and power dynamics.This week on The Reading List, we're joined by Karan Mahajan to discuss his new novel, The Complex, set against the backdrop of a changing India. Together, we explore the beautiful and messy reality of large Indian families, the lasting legacy of Partition, and the expectations placed on daughters and daughters-in-law. We also discuss the gap between the promise of the American Dream and the reality many migrants experience, and why the idea of home continues to shape us across generations.Whether you've grown up in a joint family or not, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at memory, belonging, and the enduring ties that bind. How much of who we become is shaped by the family we inherit?