British Indians: by Vinay Chhana from Hornchurch, East London
THE GOOD IMMIGRANT
Book Review
British Indians: by Vinay Chhana from Hornchurch, East London
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THE GOOD IMMIGRANT
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NAMASTE
We Prajapatis live in interesting times. Mass concern around“ immigration” has resurfaced here in Britain in the last three years. In fact, a number of us Brits voted to“ take control” of it in summer.“ Immigrants” are often blamed for the unnecessary strain on the NHS and for claiming excessive housing and job seekers’ allowances. Do you recognise it from past experience?
Many of us Prajapatis hold British passports. Some of us were at some time“ immigrants.” People complained about us, threw stones at us, told us to go“ back home” during the 1970’ s and 1980’ s. For second- and thirdgeneration Indians here, the lines are blurred. It’ s neither clear if we still are“ immigrants,” nor who we see as“ immigrants.”
Our identity does change based on the audience, and it seems that we’ re used to it. We often define ourselves as British, sometimes Indian, sometimes Asian. Sometimes our background doesn’ t matter. But today, it matters again.
Nikesh Shukla is a British Indian author, who fits into this group. He recently published a book, which brought together the views of a number of British people who are also Asian.
It’ s called“ The Good Immigrant.” You may recognise faces such as Riz Ahmed and Himesh Patel; the smart one from the film Four Lions and Tamwar in Eastenders. They’ ve given their take on their experience as Asians in Britain.
Expect Yoga, Muslims and Bollywood
They find that the way others see our culture restricts us. The writer Nikesh Shukla is often frustrated by yoga enthusiasts who patronise him with a“ Namaste”, comedian Nish Kumar couldn’ t believe people on the internet thought he was a“ confused Muslim” or the schoolmates of actor Himesh Patel laughing at him for suggesting they watch a Bollywood film( It’ s“ Rang de Basanti” if you’ re interested).
44 vol. 41 | Prajapati Sandesh 2016
Those around us, who don’ t know our experiences and identities, do restrict their knowledge of us to lifestyle options, religion and overly expressive film. Plain and simple, it’ s the big broad differences that people see.
Expectations are great, but are we framing them?
Journalist Kieran Yates( yes she is Indian!) tells us of her frustration that her cousins in India call her“ a proper coconut” i. e. she’ s not Indian enough. Instead of taking offence, Yates wears it like a badge and acknowledges what unites her with her cousins. That includes singer Zayn Malik and today’ s Bollywood films. They don’ t like them for the same reasons, but it’ s those subtle differences that matter.
Yates also recounts how funny she finds the skin whitening cream“ Fair’ N’ Lovely.” Commonplace in India, but a horrifying idea to Brits,
“ I LEARNED QUICKLY THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN JOKES THE WHITE COMMUNITY CAN’ T EVER REALLY FIND FUNNY BECAUSE
THE PUNCHLINE MEANS WADING THROUGH GASPS OF HORROR OR
SYMPATHY, OR WORSE, LENGTHY
EXPLANATIONS WHENEVER YOU MAKE A QUIP ABOUT SKIN LIGHTENING, ARRANGED
MARRIAGE OR HATE CRIMES.”
Again, British Asian identity changes with the audience. Yates says,“ I know when to keep quiet … keeping your head down is part of the immigrant experience.” Up until now, we worried that our British neighbours’ views restricted us, we also worried that we were losing our Indian identity. These issues appear greater in our minds than in reality.
We’ re shown, above all, that we, as individuals, a community, and our perception in the media, have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
The book teaches us that we have everything to gain from the influences around us. We can pick and choose. Yates sums up her own identity as“ Bhangra and grime playing out of your cousin’ s BMW, sending pictures of you in Air Max 90’ s and a sari to a Whatsapp group.” Nish Kumar embraces his own identity“ an articulate British-Indian geek” with inspiration from Jewish-American comedy. The challenge then is managing others’ expectations of us.
Well, you could say“ it’ s about being in on the joke” when you reclaim parts of identity you’ re supposed to feel ashamed about.
So British Asians, wear your identity like a badge, however it looks. Nish Kumar for instance has an“ ethnically ambiguous face.”
And tell your British and Indian neighbours what to expect of you, and your particular mix of British and Indian( or African).
“ dõs ¡ or wait is that AphÅ ¡ in a horrendously anglicised accent!
The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla www. Amazon. co. uk £ 8.99
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