I am an avid reader of Hanif Kurieshi, Ayub Khan-Din and others. I wanted to ask some of our friends in Britain if the British-Asian writers accurately portray Pakistani/Indian society accurately? Also a great many of them are “half” Pakistani, does that place them on the outside of British-Asian society?
In most of the works coming out of Britain that I have read, desis are portrayed as Britishers while being in Indian/Pakistani in name only. The characters tend to consume large amounts of alcohol, engage in numerous sexual activities quite openly-- something
that is not the norm in more conservative South Asian culture. So my main point is: Are these writers telling it ‘like it is’ or if they take literary licenses?
Any suggestions, feedback would be appreciated.
The man for whom law exists - the man of forms, the conservative -is a tame man.
- Thoreau
Well there's quite a bit of literary license obviously. Hanif Qureshi is a gay marxist type, so i don't think he's representative at all. I haven't read his books but I imagine there is plenty of gay characters in them reflecting his own life.
Some Indian/Pakistanis do indulge in the sex and alcohol culture, plenty don't. Characters in any book tend to indulge in lots of exciting things, that's what makes themm sell. You wouldn't sell many books if you wrote about Abdul going to his friend's house and watching the telly.
"Well there's quite a bit of literary license obviously. Hanif Qureshi is a gay marxist type, so i don't think he's representative at all. I haven't read his books but I imagine there is plenty of gay characters in them reflecting his own life."
Your right. Actually his earlier work was more of the gay-marxist type. If you ever get the chance, do see "My Beautiful Laundrette" featured on BBC during the mid-80s (1986?). I actually read the screenplay before viewing and I would recommend both. His later works have dealt more with Social issues in the Brit-Asian community.
Did you get a chance to see "My Son the Fanatic"? If so, please do comment on it.
"Some Indian/Pakistanis do indulge in the sex and alcohol culture, plenty don't. Characters in any book tend to indulge in lots of exciting things, that's what makes themm sell. You wouldn't sell many books if you wrote about Abdul going to his friend's house and watching the telly."
Haha well said!
I mean my perspective is rather limited as I have lived in the US all my life. Also what I found interesting was that compared to the desi community in the US (which basically began in the 60s), the community in the UK is much older, greater in numbers etc. After reading through just about all of Kurieshi's works available to me, I do realize that he has sensationalized the true portrayal of the community. I appreciate your response.
The man for whom law exists - the man of forms, the conservative -is a tame man.
- Thoreau
I saw both My Beutifull Laundrette & My Son Fanatic
I think both movies were mockery of Islamic PPL.
More i think b/c islamic PPl. dont patronoze movies therefore no harm in hurting them in fact it may bring more anti islamic PPL.to see.
Hanif Quereishi name dont hold much fancy for me .If he was Dilip Hiro or Naipaul it would be the same .I dont identify with him as he is more non islamic -muslim than gay marxist as you say which is for me even further down the list of ppl.i need to jnow about
[quote]
Originally posted by Simran:
**I saw both My Beutifull Laundrette & My Son Fanatic
I think both movies were mockery of Islamic PPL.
More i think b/c islamic PPl. dont patronoze movies therefore no harm in hurting them in fact it may bring more anti islamic PPL.to see.
Hanif Quereishi name dont hold much fancy for me .If he was Dilip Hiro or Naipaul it would be the same .I dont identify with him as he is more non islamic -muslim than gay marxist as you say which is for me even further down the list of ppl.i need to jnow about
**
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I agree, I mean Kureishi and other British-Asian writer are unfortunately portrayed as Asian-Muslim representatives in Britain. I knew that it is obviously fiction with exaggerations but I was curious to see how close it was to reality, I gather that it was way off.
The man for whom law exists - the man of forms, the conservative -is a tame man.
- Thoreau