232. Home is where the heart is 

Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. In the early 2000s, she released two successful albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper. She won a Grammy alongside Santana for the song "The Game of Love." Her Grammy-nominated single, "Leave the Piece," is more widely recognized. She has composed many soulful songs. However, what stands out most to me is her deep affection for her home. 

She says, “I'm lucky because I have a job I love. I really miss being away from home, being in my own bed, seeing my animals and siblings, and having my mom's cookies. I have a couple of cats. I got a kitten about a year ago, and now I'm going on the road, so I won't see him for a while. I feel bad.” Isn’t that melancholy? But we all follow the same path.

Home is where you live. Like other essentials such as Roti and Kapda, it has also become a highly valuable and increasingly unaffordable commodity. As the saying goes, the heart lies in homes. It is the place where childhood is spent and where a long, varied life journey is witnessed. Home is where memories are alive and where inner freedom exists.

However, life is unpredictable, with its twists and turns, often diminishing the sense of belonging to a specific home or room, even when distance seems irrelevant. Many, driven by lofty dreams and ambitions, end up living in several cities and in rented accommodations. Many middle-class families lack a permanent residence and instead live in temporary rooms.

A home where one spends childhood bears witness to a long and checkered journey of life. It is a place where memories breathe, and inner freedom prevails. 

With working parents, many children live in government- or company-provided housing. The fear of relocating persists, and a sense of emptiness intensifies their discomfort. Hostel rooms then become significant, often the first space where individuals can freely display posters and feel carefree. Once employed, the search for a new room resumes. 

One can understand our mental attitude toward life by examining our rooms. The layout and arrangement of objects reveal a great deal about our thoughts. The most troubled philosopher of his time, Berkeley, rightly said that he is happiest whether he is the king or the peasant, finding peace in his home. 

Stuart Hall was a truly unique figure. Although he moved to London from Jamaica at age 19 and spent the rest of his life there, he never quite felt at home in Britain. This contrast was central to his strength and originality. Because of his skin color and background, he viewed the country differently - not as a native, but as an outsider. So, home is where the heart is.