Module One DIASPORIC IDENTITIES General Introduction Diaspora is a Greek word meaning ‘scattering’. The word was originally used to refer to the dispersion of the Jews after the Babylonian Exile in the 6" century BC. At present it is used to mean any scattering of people with common origin, background and beliefs. A common feature of the dispersed people is their sense of physical and cultural displacement, longing for home and an identity crisis. It is mirrored in all diasporic literature written by authors living outside their home countries. The texts in this module bring together works from different places. They deal with the reality of immigrant life and their conflicts. ‘Postcard from Kashmir” byAgha Shahid Ali is a nostalgic poem which depicts the beauty of Kashmir and also the chaotic social milieu there. “Indian Movie, New Jersey” authored by Chitra Banerjee Divakaran celebrates the collective identity of immigrants ina host country. Amy Tan's “Mother Tongue” highlights the problem of language in diasporic communities. In the poem “At the Lahore Karhai” by Imtiaz Dharker, an attempt is made to trace one's roots. All these works dwell onissues like cultural mixing and the sense of identity that mark the lives of the scattered people in our time. cDMOJo MIAMAIO}BS ao RMMDYGSM}o ‘aNlMows? araenj M6908 MD 20H Ha06NS O2GGWV1ANYAMO). ANODOGAS aBO M2aGMleRa}o On19M,MoIe001 DIET MGIB 10001G14.BOM}Jo TI0VAIG1BIOJo Grom}, UGBANMAOAASIMANYAM} aHM BMIAMM. MIAH Mos) GAIANJO AISIGAIAHJo DIGlaj Galo&JANOM}SS OUD FBLMaOAYo MIMD MIGHOOO & JO aYBB MeGBaneng), DICH GAIQHS BHYOO} (MICH HO. (AOMIABIOS ag BIO CalMGleo so ANGLEMnUMAHOBLJV0 (nIONaOeilsayemyens. AYOSME® (ACSW slaaaym ADITOAIOOS © alMagoons acmoanam Module gutmajsomaialea, MB. (AIAIMIABoOs RiANMDIiNId Mos 6BBJo GAIe}OS M0218 oHSIBBBIEN HNAIoos (Mas MOM. (Wand MODIANO AIA MD BSANo GRANSEO BJ VED} BNE APMMOIDo (WeaDaralo 8Q) Hail ail DMs Gyn o49a015 aDeaos “Postcard from Kashmir”. agmcinw comyan’ &}51609.0008.20)88 DaDOAID MIGMESMIWADION allo enomBed) Glo o@ mocg “Indian Movie, New Jersey”-cie8 (aienma9 PAIMG2O}AMBS. (UAOMITo2} 200 GM@s\m BOnBsasUBO Ben} apa gomlo “Mother Tongue”oes (uwiaoas alkxmo “At the Lahore Karhai-cles gpdickoord wooded POR 2110} 28 CMS) OMS Oa. allmoog|g BP PPB MADHS HICIMCIGOOIG GOMSAMNLO}TM TKO AION — DP LOMBBAI ago (canna lMolen}, 6 A CHORUS GUIDE ‘aloe’ aQaM GMNABS 8} (W185 alBaoey ‘Diaspora.’ (@lad@yaNas ami 6-00 Q6NEIGS srioen CHIIGMMIDIG (UIT A GHLNOAYS DWa}BOO aloo DEWAHOMIENY DMD alBo GHB\HOOI QDalGWo ayas. DANOD}JAND PEiIGOIAo, AMOGOEIAYO ailvo1oqvmMoan ee teUnit 1 Postcard from Kashmir Agha Shahid Ali A Introduction to the Author Agha Shahid Ali (1949-2001) was a celebrated . Kashmiri American poet. Born in Delhi, he was brought up in an aristocratic Muslim family in Srinagar. He did his B.A. & M.A. in English Literature at the University of Kashmir and the University of Delhi respectively. He pursued his doctoral studies at Pennsylvania State University in the United States. He has to his credit a number of poetic anthologies such as “Bone Sculpture”, “In Memory of Begum Akhtar and Other Poems”, “The Half-Inch Himalayas”, “A Walk Through the Yellow Pages”, “The Beloved Witness: Selected Poems”, “The Country without a Post Office” and “The Veiled Suite”. He was also famous for his literary criticism and translations. He was conferred many awards. Shahid Ali was in the academic circles of famous Universities in the U.S. The University of Utah instituted aA CHORUS GUIDE 8 _A CHORUS GUIDE poetry prize to honour his memory. @QD}O10~2G) JOM} D908 amsu9 oM00018 GBEMN (1949-2001) (AMaLMom BO} Ania Iel-Gneaclencd AANMION. Watloiled AMlay GEGanc UBEMEes woIatia loa! 80) TMM . QYTYIo Moaglasosns. Ii MGqyel10Woa1ole3 TAM Dog eal aoa Gold eniloJBaxo wwesac MOQYSAHMDAIMBMN GEOAIMUMGONG enoyao MAMONMO}GAXo Gagan AOTLNAIGH. GEA) 92! DaIBMIGEUMED QMEUFMIAGIOIG eAwoe(cy Mad caseneo},98 NGarnMeMayo 490018 @pel MSOM}AO}6nsI01. MEZA GDHIOGY (nIWIM HAOABAIaNG6sBS06N5, “Bone Sculpture”, “In Memory of Begum Akhtar and Other Poems”, “The Half-Inch Himalayas”, “A Walk Through the Yellow Pages”, “The Beloved Witness: Selected Poems”, “The Country without a Post Office”, “The Veiled Suite” agama. MIAN O$ Me} A208, ANudOMé apm’ MealaBMeaYo GVegado (asmvlav MOEN. DAH ayordadlaj GRE aQOmd<é06e38 GEGANGONG aIla/syens. GegGavamlowg Macsmeno BI Qing MaMeasmiig) ae; salmoanoaerooayo AQBaajS}OmIagyens, : Introduction to the Poem The friction between India and Pakistan, over Kashmir, has been the cause of chaos and conflicts in theLITERATURE AND/AS IDENTITY 9 fegion. This has induced many Kashmiris to exile themselves to many foreign countries. In the poem, the speaker is an immigrant in,a Western country. He receives a postcard from Kashmir. The image on the card brings to his mind memories of his homeland. The poem unveils the beauty of the region and also the reality of violence and chaos all around. The poem was first published in 1987. @HD)X0-HANM HMDS (IGM AIOCHMOMIG GRANOS ng)Gq49Yo TGBANYO GLOOMACOMIAYO MSBIS}HWI6r). GD] 90 MOOI GEMHo GHB}JHG PAIMUa IMM ase aileswoaseaysmsleeienzo aALAIIMMo HOalQ UI gs DODIGIENS. DD HAIMOIG MoM va@lanyM HL090410[O0 AO} alUDIIMGORJGO aHOOID GO, &YSIE@Qe90 MOEN}. HOA IGoIiMIM Goma 80) Postcard crmowes AIsl.993.7), PMOL allo OO KWEBWLOGO 01 4a 8D AGMA GLOIBJOS AMM G0} Da floa}m). AIAMUDIG OG MWOBOsAXo Goailsaom (HaTvawWoM GIO GeoaayYJo AG® MADD MOM QV &Ailm JANOS GLMIAGSMo HaslQeanJSy™M}. mmary of the Poem The postcard, measuring a neat four by six inches, is livered to the narrator in the poem. It has been sent to im from his homeland far away. The photograph of the shmiri landscape on it, is the state in miniature. The agnificence of the massive Himalayan peaks is shrunkA CHORUS cur 10 DE : stcard is his home now, It is ny ante for ek to return to Kashmir. But the ‘ comets his homeland, which is both beautiful ang tom apart by violence. The speaker ‘smemory of Kashmiris like an undeveloped negative film in black and white. His homeland is also a confused blend of | black and white. * Mo Wao 20185 MISIMIM® J 803 postcard @1gym. ge EB al laMafelaaym AUDIO OR allo momn MOMONG 82} OaINO ase] MamMwosns. aclaceiad 929532151 BOS DANOMaNSqTRAIW AGMoanelo Calms aodwleaiad ANMYSMNOICaa coed. @eried IMAM CAdAS Cased MIWNANa>DIE). agemoad SCOMADe MWIBEAHo adloroonaannow Mack mos MEqyow Man DOAOUBB ONG BOY 6IHNOG140}M}. PIANO} Nase @AUQOS aoganaes alan gfessam anyayo SAIBaYo HAM 20} acleflocad Se1@I6n5. Word Meanings Identity crisis ee , Highligh Aspae woesm meocsa Chi ‘ : MHAUTPPO (riaSDIGOYA> e * a)gjoo SEO ACNGOO Graimo Magnifi 2390MM/agMoanlOLITERATURE AND/AS IDENTITY in Alien land 1 aileawoorso Exile 2 (alMOM)/Laaodvo Miniature @alOjatOaj Subtle : mvagéavaow Overwhelming 1 GMPMsWeanow Tangled together 1 O&§ aflemenm Unravel Unveil \ BOMIAMEMo HalQ Ye Replete with > fullof Immense 2 @PBalgoom Alienation 1 GRMSA@LO@EM Dwellon 1 ANWAEIMS HaAIQe Traumatised : greatly shocked Be visited upon > GMIOUNBAYa> 4 Backdrop : background Depict 2 alll Wila@lene Fascinate 1 OYArGasilaaye Turmoil 1 (AbBSQAIOM / MASA Haunt 1 AMMIaM sNIDUTAHYm Cease 1 GRAITVIMNBNS>/ GRAMVIM|aflHN a> Offand on 1 @Msdaslas Shrink 1 alOYONYS> Gigantic “+ glaoecen0® Sparkling “: @gesaym Eloquent 1 QidajeIaomA CHORUS GUIDE, QUESTIONS 1. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two. a. Explain how Kashmiris shrinks into the speaker's mailbox. The poet receives a postcard with a photograph of . the beautiful Kashmiri landscape on it. The magnificence of the gigantic Himalayan peaks is now shrunk into the mailbox/postcard measuring four by six inches. b. What are the thoughts of the speaker on receiy- ing the postcard? The postcard brings to his mind mixed thoughts and feelings. He feels troubled that his magnificent homeland is torn by violence. ¢. ‘This is home. And this the closest I'll ever be to home.’ What does the speaker mean sie Where is the speaker now? Itis not possible for the speaker, who is now ina foreign land to return to Kashmir, his homeland. Towever, the postcard serves as a substitute for an actual visit home. ad. What may happen to Kashmir by the time the speaker returns? The speaker fears that when he returns, Kashmir will have lost all its beauty because of conflicts and violence.LITERATURE AND/AS IDENTITY 13 e. ‘And my memory will be a little out of focus.’ Explain. The speaker's recollections of Kashmir are like an undeveloped film of black and white colours. It is di fficult to soparate the confused memories. 2. Answer the following questions in about 100 words. a. Describe the poct's use ofa postcard as the cen- tral image of the poem. ‘The poet is now an exile in an alien land, Itis the violence in Kashmir that has forced him out of his native soil. While being there, he receives a postcard from his former home. It has a magnificent picture of the scenic Kashmiri landscape and mountainscape on it. [t brings to his mind nostalgic memories of his homeland where he had spent his boyhood and youthful days. The postcard is the central image of the poem. To the poet, itis Kashmir in miniature. Kashmir is at the same time like a negative film in black and white where beauty and tragedy combine. The poet's use of the Postcard in the poem is highly imagi- Native and thought-provoking, b. Does the postcard represent Kashmir fully? What do you think? The ‘Postcard from Kashmir’ isa very short poem. In the poem, Kashmir, the Poet's native land, shrinks into his small mailbox. Itis now his substitute for home. It is his home in miniature. The Picture on the box mirrors the mag-One can assert that the poet succeeds in this wondey The picture on the postcard seems to conceal more than it reveals, ¢. Explain the concluding lines 'a giant negative, black and white, still undeveloped.’ ‘Postcard from Kashmir isa very short Poem authored by Agha Shahid Ali. In the concluding part of the poem, Ali says that the photograph on the postcard is overex- Posed and that it will be consequently a little out of focus. An overexposed photograph is one with too much light, Here ‘overexposed’ suggests the poet's overwhelming love for Kashmir, his native land. The expression'a giant nega- tive, black and white, inderdeveloped' suggests un- clear memories of good and bad things tangled together. vague memories. Here is a poem replete with overtones, undertones and subtle suggestions. NTITY ature ANDIAS IDEN ~———___ is ‘answer the following questions in about 300 words. as rf mpt a critical SUMMATY Of the Poem ‘Poss. . a from Kashmir’ considering the political con. Sextof Kashmir. : ceaseless friction and tension between India and Theor he Kashmir issue has resulted in immense Paki onflicts and chaos in the region. Asaresult many pot irishave chosen to be exiles in many far off lands, Kashi y the West. a situation that Agha Shahid Ali, the ute 3 in suc evr the poem. "Postcard from Kashmir chose to mi. author of the jen land. He penned the poem while he was anexile in the inited States of America. Thousands of people from many countries have sought and found asylum in the US because ofits liberal attitude to people suffering from the alienation they expe- r foreign shores in search of fresh worlds and pastures new. In this context, it is relevant to dwell on the politi- cal context of the poet's decision to be part of the diaspora in America. He was born in Delhi and spent his childhood and adolescent years in his home in Kash- mir. He must have been traumatized by the violence, conflicts and tensions that visited Kashmir during such limes. Asa sensitive youngster, the poet was beset with “sense of futility, aloneness and alienation and left his ae geeA CHORUS Gy ———— SUID for the Americas. 4 vam Postcard from Kashmir’ has tg sor karop. While inthe US. the young aa sent from home. It has a picture on it de, ment scenic hillsand valleys of Kashmj, imalayan peaks. It poi his A ck wuthful days. In fact, the pos}. rt oy nomeland in miniature. Althoughhen fascinated by the beauty of Kashmir, he is troubled by the thought that ifhe ever happens to be back there, the beay. tifa colours will not be there, because the place is tom apart by violence, bloodshed and anarchy. The poet feels that the picture on the postcard con. ceals more than itreveals. He has the feeling that itis likea negative black and white film. Itis difficult to unravel the ‘vague memories it arouses in his mind. Here is a very short poem in which Ali unveils the beauty of Kashmir on the one hand and its violence- rid- denreality on the other. Itis indeed a nostalgic poem. Here isa poem full of passionate intensity. b. 'Posteard from Kashmir' brings before us the natural beauty of Kashmir on the one hand and its grim social reality on the other. Discuss. The poet Agha Shahid Ali was a famous Kashmiri American poet, who had migrated to the Americas to es- an the political turmoil in Kashmir. While being in e United States, remembrances of things past haunt him Without cease, and this small but eloquent poem is the fruit a ae heer. Gage LITERATURE AND/AS IDENTITY i thereof. ‘Wherever one may find oneself, one cannot escape from the ever recurring memories of one's infancy, boyhood and adolescence. These thoughts ac- company a person to the grave. The poet is now happily and safely settled in America. Buthis sensitive soul offand on broods over the days and nights he had lived through in Kashmir. This is the inspiration behind this small but very powerful poem, ‘Postcard from Kashmir’. He receives the postcard from what used to be his home. The image onit takes him back to his good old days in Kashmir. The very spirit of Kashmir is powerfully evoked in the poem. The poem unravels before us the beauty of the hills and valleys and the majestic peaks of the Himalayas. Atthe same time, italso brings before us the grim social reality of the place. ‘The poet is worried about the political turmoil in Kashmir and imagines what it will be when he returns. The clean and sparkling Jhelum may be coloured with blood and loses its deep blue colour. Confused memories of black and white, good and bad, are blended together in his mind now. This small but beautiful poem mirrors it all as the serene water ofa well mirrors the moon. Hereisa poem the underlying theme of whichis the confusion the poet feels about his identity. Although he has made it big in the US; his Indian part, his Kashmiri part, is deeply embedded in his psyche. As a matter of fact, itis his diasporic identity that is the source of his inspiration to write this wonderful poem.Chub oa UOS | moaa@looo1o3 om e206 Unit 2 au 198.0830 Mo yean000 ~ ther Tongue wepaije THEDTIH MOTH emians_ 84! ponsoenyeHoo8 eral aflogegy Amy Tan ones 2ajOa] TAT Ga1Ovr84O9 as ven}, 193A AVEYMS}AUI OS rnd aneaTian® WEG’ GRA auagrvom5 re 4010939 MS moaITIae CIIOaY NAO DOG TnssJo laqaomosn GHA @Ie,a00 oa) and. aanasnunansaujo a ys the Game Ons MRA}OS GHB} Ho. 7 God's Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, and The Boneseller s Daughter agemMasnens R(nSN0 omsto af aamand. Opportunity to pursue Medicine came her way, she chose to study English and Linguistics at college. ‘Rules of the Game’ was her first story. Her most famous book is the novel ‘The Joy Luck Club.” Other popular books besides The Joy Luck Club are The Kitchen God's Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses and \7he Boneseller s Daughter. Introduction to the Essay int essay by Amy Tan. Here she deals sues faced by the first and second Generation Chinese settlers in America, In the essay, she narrates her own experiences of cultural and linguistic —_ oo2 writer, she persisted. In ishes she was familiar . the English of her AQ NTL GT MeIaIG aHaMoaln no LDOMIAM AMIaGlafanyxm}. © on} cman TvoTVoalBH}7 ‘aloolea”’ Mogae @ apy aise lOD}MD. OAUsOlad ME MeIA@2} ap erumam Grad Pae@ovaoxTM}. ‘GeADedas’ al excqppsjo INOTIOM Galanarvjaoar GOMSUTBEG GD anlDigyTE. BIANMEMIOL) al) TLIALISMA&BJo ‘GRAD soem MBlaflayoBeOOg}on aM BO} CHM ay arpa ME NOLEMHMES GAQOS mogial ecowacgeaee ess concurs mack cd QBIA}O GAG DanGMI@MIaIa;™M) OM coades aRiasowal 82 G9A10}95 caIaN0 aA Si. DPCM aoc aA} adaloyroiey. agemoad JPnlerd Go a(niownvdas Mooamas GIecias GalD}aDje Deheodkeon ewe Oe Bog heqeg}0 moe wasn, POAT aQjoamrao Saison, EIT (lODouTayeajo 30} gonsDOS (CD! Summary Being a writer, Amy Tan \s fascinated b} daily life. Athome she s; i he often felt mother’s ties in life. It affected her f+ was not judged poor but Thov her teachers didnot results in many tests. He: it was never her strong po!Conflict Manifold Knowledgeable Yell : Awkward Profuscly *) quandary Dizmera 5 aaiey ea MDM MeyeMeD,~, UWeDgIAI5)0, oée270850 (dilemma) 22°01 66 2004 done/worked UMAM Ad BPS qmey2xd8 (securities) 210208 gerz2¢5)m Scholastic Aptitude Test Dayo GSO10140}& / am 9am108 allalesje, MoeIGrst0 woeogo G@nolayss @ne10}& as@lanomsaoo * worogada! rename ASD pwellon rascinate peers Envision Intersect Transoribe Belig Gangster ‘Wince Impeccable Budge Benign (here) Loand behold ‘Analogy Semantic Tohone Nascent Verdict yas IDE ENT! zB exiTy (asOAaJIHOOS amerdahenje, Wesaolah BO) maian@eood nailed &26M}> AINYYO ser} Saglegppal ogy oma} OBIBBM%WILNI0 BO 21H alsa} “angag anmemnyes 200AOQ9Om sre0eno (an exclamation) MWID$M/DHIODHIO4S}OOVET emAO0HO Tosimuslay 22 2890009) QoRalay sad anal= — 7 a QUEST] ONS HoRus Cup, ‘¢ her mother, Whatis. Special about Amy Tan's mother tongue? Amy Tan's mother tongue is the kind of En mother speaks. Itis very much influenced by Chinese, but direct and full of observation and c @.- How was Amy Tan’s performance in the English tests in her class? In grade school, Amy Tan did moderately well, get- ting B'sand sometimes B-pluses in English and scoring in the sixtieth or seventieth percentile on achievement tests. But hertrue abilities lay in Maths and Science, achieving oe et cetjeth percentile or even higher. in y do most Chinese stu- nce? ‘Tan, wh ington dy Maths and S dents choose to study Maths and hey have teachers who steer ce. This, rat was my mental quandary in its nascent ‘Thal ry Comment. tion, she at first used sen- ly crafted, proving her mastery sentence was the one siveninthe question. This kind of horrible bombast is a ‘weakness with every beginner. However, in course of time, ‘one would abandon the habit and be sensible. 2, Answer the following questions in about 100 words. a. What were the features of Amy Tan’s mother’s English? 2 Amy ‘Tan’smother was a first ‘generation Chinese set- “srinthe United States, Naturally, her English was influ- a, by her mother tongue Chinese. She used to speak fe ae rd broken English or fractured English. ied ‘4S not loaded with carefully wrought al Phrases, burdened with Past perfect tenses,Conditional pj, A CHo) family vate ses and so on. [twas the eS Sune different se 9 !MeUage of int enn nt sort of | English. Foy a ss fas, ‘ lacy. It w Don oo ‘a8, for. example, inst b. Describe! the cony, mother had With the ‘Stockbroker, ices ony. (el s mother was Conscious of the limita. ter was oniy nf Enelsh she was using When the daugh. scat ly fifteen years, ‘old, the mother Used to ask her People on the ‘Phone Pretending the daughter wz the mother. She was thus forced to ask for: information f York. She had cashed out her small Portfolio. Amy had to get on the phone and say in an adolescent voice: "This is Mrs Tan." Standing in the back, mother whispered loudly, "Why he don't send me check already two weeks late. So mad he lie to me, losing me ‘money.’ And then Amy said in perfect English, "Yes, I'm getting rather concemed. You had agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn't arrived.’ All through it, Amy translated the sentences mother had whispered in her in broken English to sande En- glish. It was really an embarrassing experience tothe teen- SB ersation that Amy Tan and her he Yy_- n Lh +s English limit her ration Chi- y influenced She used to rete ane " ' or ‘fractured’ En- os dave a ete of conventional vas clear, vivid and direct and the ke ‘the mother tongue’ at home. How- had an effect on limiting her possi th the views expressed by soci- wists, she feels that a person's developing ‘ills are more influenced by the language ‘spo- especially immigrant families. She be- that it affected her results on achievement tests, 1Q deve he SAT. While her English was never judged a conipared to Math, it was never her strong point. The eason must have been the influence of the ‘mother tongue’ on the daughter tongue.’ d What are the different ‘Englishes? Tan uses in her works? Amy Tan isa second generation Chinese settler in the United States. Being a writer, she has always been ped be eee and mystic power of language, lemaies rays broods over it. While at home she speaks Sbroken English. But her English is idiomatic ologists an language sk kenin the famashamed of and embana assed by « vine wou reyes SHE Uses al the Englishesede has; » iNey are, her mother, which she wt Plc "Mother f wi ich she also describes ‘ "Ey The: language fher stories ig al feo lation of the Chinese into tered down” 300 words, 1, Explain the problems of language that im. migrants face in “Mother Tongue’ is a brilliant essay by Amy 1 iy by Aimy Tan, {ie daughter of fist generation Chinese seen in meer Here she discusses the issues fa : faced by second generation settlers like her and first generati ion settlers like her par- ents. She narrates her own experiences of cultural and lin- Buistic clashes. She uses ‘broken English’ at home tocom- municate with her mother and changes to standard English in public. She dwells on the conflicts she has with her mul- tiple identities in the essay. Diaspora is a term that attracted much critical atten- tion in our time. The problems faced by diasporic ‘commu- nities are manifold. They are social, cultural, psychologi- » the factors that is. perhaps. the most 28h he medium of an- ‘5 through the meal! Soe 2s one’s identity and perso! ad rents immigrated to maar 1 ri versed with the English = dito pick up the language an¢ red or broken sentences. In this yy cites her mother’s Enelish her's Englis! i : describes her mother Cer et lish” because it violated all Saver the daughter feels that it was ‘observation and imagery. Amy also r tongue’ at home, but switches to for- However, as she was grow- amed of her mother’s English. ENTITY __- c. Among all fractu with her mother. One time when she was only fifieen, the mother asked her to speak to a stockbro- Ker over the phone pretending she was the mother. Stand- ing behind her she told the daughter to yell at the man lure to send her a cheque book in ‘diently. But a week later when Tat his office, the mother herself This put the young girl ina very ward another occassion the officials *ospital ignored the mother beca ble Ee use of her horrible En- Oe ee time, which she did obe they both met the broker began shouting at him, awkward position, OnNglish had an effect on fe too. She thi ks | iim inl that the language arebel and being Pecially of fictio, 2. Attempt a critical summary of the essay ‘Mother Tongue.’ Comment on the signifi- cance of the title. “Mother Tongue’ is a brilliant essay by Amy Tan, the daughter of first generation Chinese settlers in America. Here she discusses the issues faced by secon: i settlers like her and first generation settlers like her pas- ents. She narrates her own experiences of cultural and lin- hangs erand el cellson the SUUBE! noth jer tre E ly wrought grammati tional phrases and so members, she uses her speaks. But it is rally her mother g with famil ish her mot tongue: However as Amy was growing up, her mother's lim- Joy ; her perceptions of her. The daughter itl Ena ey proud of her mother’s English. It expressed aoe mperfectly because her thoughts were also imperfect. In this context, the essayist recalls two anec- dotes from her life. Being conscious of the limitations of her English, her mother once asked the fifteen year old daughter to call the stockbroker pretending to be the mother. She wanted Amy to yell at him. She stood behind au sy rather loudly whatever she must say. ihe ie : to standard English while complaining, er about the delay in sending the cheque book toher. Butaftera week se ingethim inher ‘eek the real Mrs, Tan was shout- Perfect broken English at his office, to the ment of young, Amy. Onan other occassion,Amy has a feel r had an effect on limi life. Sociologists and that her mother’ ler’s E, ng her possi inguis language of the chi her results i , affected Compare a ~ ne tests, IQ tests and the SAT. strong point . English could not be considered her ae peso being discouraged by her teachers, eventually ly chose to become a writer of fiction and envisioned her mother as the ideal reader of her stories, because they were about mothers. She used in her writings all the Englishes she grew up with. They are her mother’s broken English; the English of the translations of her mother’s Chinese, her internal language, and of course standard English too when the context demanded it. The title of the essay, Mother Tongue, is quite apt here as the author is here dealing with the kind of Englishes her mother uses in the private as well as the public sphere. act eS RRO Unit 3 7 he Lahore Karhai Imtiaz Dharker Att e Author 954-) is famous as a poet, film m ‘tan, she grew up in Scotland. ‘Anil Dharker, an Indian writer. Later on Powell, the founder of a Introduction (0 th Imtiaz Dharker maker andattst. BO to. ‘She was mv ; she became the ol 0 0 popular series of poetry readings in the UK. Hermixed cultural heritage plays a substantial rolein ith freedom, geographical and is and the problems faced by the diaspora everywhere. Religious conflicts and ismare also often the themes of her poems. BHD} AUo~2H}9}01}9003 Sal, sera dw, &O1%G00) ager? cer < eee Dowloon wodand. aowsiruns Mad, Weaogefleims ugdéma. BO, @m; r 508 MRCMAI0MIW GANG 088900 GHENS Dox re ee A CHor Wlaons an, ot emety a momo AP? Sl ay95, semanen amsiy aad 1S ments MM aLEM2D Socvaerd oy fogunea ~OACNOM ap Introduction & Summary ‘The poem At the Lahore Karl in Lond depicts the Nostalgia of an homeland. Itis conveyed through : acute sense of longing for one's rootsis suffused al through the poem. Itisa sunny Sunday. The poet and her companions drop into a restuarant in North-West London. Indians, Pakistanis and also English people are the visitors at the restaurant. Lunch service begi of beer. But the poet and h arg satisfied with enjoying the warmth of the moming sun and listening to the Hindi song wafting away froma radio. At the nearby table are seated a Sindhi refug is wife a feast day. ENTITY — y 2a : osha a usually prepared urs them avidly. nd are bonde: le d anagape, a love feast. afro novo apn AIEIDIENS HANDDYOS 4 joes 80} BOHM MeEITV} epsr 010 MMOSIAMONA YOO anamee. 204 Opals aoa] @osymes ams ana s}0S. Aus caojorslees (uonaniot asD9 era anso@JOMBB QUSTUOWBMPYIOS i : apr ADO GHB MVICBDBWAATN}. ° ayes agIn0S}SOO aA MeeIS}T 80} gonna) MAIN AUDLOIDJo AIS]JHIWwJo USA. aslo eleraMloe 80, ceoRMMIEI ToCBdWl ej}, QAWLOH2}0, aJASTTUDIBLHIO}o &JHO Gog? raarqjaom MMBdVAd. eAUsMo Algmiod MySem1 Delany, WalosAoGa1o}0 Geo Qoms enad Qanlefleox) Mos SAKOTMD MJANsOM}HBJo AYA MYOOIMIa TAO OaIOa)sjo ala abSjo OB0EE Grad ®yaiooaysymn). MAIWICM},89 e265) a ANQI0 BO} MIU CRISIBJo GOUQHS Sasend ago aNeHORAaoyeM, @9M00) Mey dam MMtuTVaNET}. aLraeranomlnes (aio caomy% A CHORUS GUIDE BBO DGNMBAMA}O, alla] HONWo, aNCBMIIDYo Ojo CODES Mocmialagirny, DUHWgI aso Oa} OnleTHAQAD}Nayss GodMH8 aMmmied MEqjous AQMAENE. AHANDABoajos ag Q]oaeo andomemons GeABME}0 aNyjsaM). Mess AAMANM SAMEMO ROMMAMMMALIGSBACMS aggjoacowjo BO Ala flanjeoo EMEA aHM BHO W0GA00J9S ANMIG Oalagans msyM, Word Meanings ‘ Dislocation 1 quiamo Mos alg Baga) MS] GHOIelsores. Feminism 2 OalendaendaMmainas Acute > OLaaow Drop into 2 MUBdWMlen}é Sip gt QROMNAASIAMe Avidly 1 G@eéemlemons Agape ¢ 2 WeManaiems Flavour 2 QaNeon§/oai Cosmopolitan 1 AIAIGBOGBNG aanjas Evoke 1 AcHETVcexws alles aKOyOHO}e Reminiscent > @0@aMafleayem) : Aura 1 GRADOBMo Ambience 1 GReAMeeM0 Heady AOMaie fleoyn Recompense 1 ald@o Renowned : famousLITERATURE ANDV/AS IDENTITY 31 Suffice + 2 yandlaslalanyan, Aroma 5 YRARSO ag Metaphor L 1 Qyaleoemoee Gastronomic 2 akmalad MAAIe MadeJer~m Wallow 1 Memanyslane Swoop : aloslanyya Blissful 1 MDGIN\BIOA>DO Devour 1: allyeanye@ Content with : satisfied with Articulate : express QUESTIONS 1. Answer the following questions in a sen- tence or two. a. Where is the poem set? The poem is set ina restaurant in London. ; ¢ b. Why does the speaker use the word ‘pilgrim- age’ to refer to their visit to the restaurant? The speaker uses the word ‘pilgrimage’ to refer to their visit to the restaurant as eating together with the mem- bers of the diasporic community is almost a spiritual or religious experience. c. What does the speaker mean by stating that the Englishmanis 'too young to be flavoured by Raj’?What does the metaphi s Wha ‘ap OF OF SUMIMTE Clothes ay Inthe poe! for one's honi ¢. Who is referred to as 'you' in the line naan is you"? Thewany __ The line The warm n the poemisam biguous. So one cannot pinpoint its exact meaning, 2. Answer the following question in about 100 words, a. Describe the prevailing mood of the poem. The poem ‘At the Lahore Karhai' by Imtiaz Dharker renowned poet, artist and.documentary film maker of P- kistani origin, is set in a restaurant in London. Itisa Sun- day, a great Sunday indeed. Dharker and her friends or relations drop into Lahore Kharhai restaurant at Wembley, in North-West London known for the ethnic diversity of its population. The lunch has already begun. Being Mis lims, they do not drink even beer, but are happy to soakin the moming sun. A classic Indian film song fills the airevoking a all come from. ny have the aroma.of th the aura and the ambience of the restaurant re- s the what doe: eaker of? b nind the SP! j' is set ina restau- ‘unday. and the poet with her wv. Itis lunch time and ne $ nth is enough recompense for reroree te They “we all Indian or Pakistani pore ungering and thirsting for the taste of oe mnaher' hand in the cooking. All the tables are magnifi- cently set. Karhai ghosht and gajjar halva are feasts to the vve, feasts to the nose. They remind the visitors of the ‘women who used to prepare them back home. They are all bonded together by the wonderful food served here. It isaweekly home-coming for them, And they are all wal- lowinginnostalgia. The poem is notable for the acute sense of longing for one's roots that it evokes. & are here no Who are the members in the speaker's group? What binds the group together? —$—$____ é —s \aa... o At CHORUS CUDp _ , Zane Lahore Katha’ issetin 2 London ‘tthe “nmigrants from the Indian sy rented by ning Dharker and he, é bley i tives isl wert rae anes erved there. The diners : ive crosssection of society, but: ‘Mostly from ti beautiful wife and their wonderfy) daughters with silky hair are there. A. post-colonial Young nplshmanisalsothere. THeownerssonis there sporting ee. Thenthere isthe cook. Dozen of others all from the former British Indian Empire, are seated at various fables, Kartar, Rohini, Robert, Ayesha, Sangam and Dharker are all bound together at the restaurant by the thread of the bread they break. Allare wallowing in heady nostalgia, Setata restaurant in London, the poem 'At the Lahore Karhai' depicts an immigrant's nostalgia for home, sug- gested through the metaphor of food. It acute sense of longing for one's roots thé only natural for an immigrant to long for reliving his past experiences. This is most relevant in the case of the food ‘hate had been having during the good old days before A james a ala As the poet, her associates, and ‘sitors at the restaurant enjoy their beer or the warmth of the morning sun, Portion delights areset | mech morning sun, gastronomic. i has z subcontinent. Sindhi refuges | LITERATURE AND/AS IDENTITY 41 on their table. They enjoy the spicy and writing aroma of items like tarka dal, Karhai ghosht and gajjar halva redo- lent of women like Hameeda, Ameena and Rasheeda. This is the time for Dharker to go down memory lane and wal- low in nostalgia. e. ‘These are ways of remembering,’ Explain. Dharker, her friends or relatives and many others are nowat the Lahore Karhai restaurant on a sunny Sunday morning. They are all members of the South Asian diaspora. Sipping beer or warmed by the morning sun, they enjoy the sight and spicy aroma of the gastromic delights at their table. They swoop ona whole family of dishes such tarka, karhai ghosht and gajjar halva. They are redolent of the wonderful cooking skills of aunts and elder sisters back home. The people at the restaurant like the poet and the cook as well as Kartar, Rohini, Robert, Ayesha and Sangam, all professing different faiths, are bonded together by the food they share. These are ways of recollecting the past. All are wallowing in blissful nostalgia. 3. Answer the following questions in about 300 words. The poet explores the sense of regional immi- grant identity in the poem ‘At the Lahore Karhai.' Elucidate. The poem ‘At the Lahore Karhai’ written by Imtiaz Dharker is set in a restaurant in London. It depicts an immigrant's nostalgia for home, suggested through the2 Phor of fy —~ 1 food. Th Of regional identity ian also ex, They have seated themsely indi see with his beautiful wifeand more bemain fi are also seated nearby. They all wear their pas this wines, like summer clothes. That isto say, they cannot forget their homeland and its culture. Itisa ‘great day, a festive day for them. They devour a whole family of dishes -tarka dal, karhai ghosht and gajjar halwa. They remind her of the aunts and elder sisters who used to prepare them while she had been in Pakistan. : A cross-section of India and Pakistan is in the res- taurant. The poet, the cook, Kartar, Rohini, Robert, Ayesha and Sangam, Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs are all bound together by the bread they break. They are bonded together by the memories oftheir shared subcon- “a 5 theirna- » been uprooted from vine and, their original iden deep psyche. iation of the poem ‘At of geographical their deeP- asbom in Pakistanand brought up sae ried to Anil Dharker, an In- nat metime. Her sec- in Mumbai for sot a ee simon Powell, the founder of a Se ings for children. Dharker’s et lies at the heart of her writings. wate dom, the complexity of geo- location, the quest for identity .s of the diaspora. setinarestaurant in London, ‘At the Lahore Karhai’ éeictsaninmigrant’s nostalgia for home and her original identity, suggested through the metaphor of food. The poem reflects the acute sense of longing for one's roots an immi- grant experiences. Itisa Sunday, a sunny Sunday. Sunday is the day on which the immigrants from India and Pakistan gather at the Lahore Karhai restaurant in North-West London. Dharkar with! her friends or relations are now there. Lunch service begins, and many sip a beer. But being Muslims, the Poets and her companions are content with the wamth of the: ‘moming sun or the music ofa classic Indian ———7 A CHORUS | a, film song wafting away from a —— thei Play, Allare eager to taste the items redolent A MOthey, hand in cooking. a At a nearby table is seated a Sindhi Teh ot Mumbai, with his beautiful wife and more beautiful dau, ters with silky hair anda confident air. The STOUD is oo, mopolitan, consisting of people from Pakistan, India the UK. An Englishman there does not relate to them as, coloniser as he was bom after the decline and fal] Of the British empire. : It isa great, day, a feast day. The South-Asian diaspora at the hotel devour a family of dishes like tarka dal, Karhai ghosht and gajjar halwa. They are redolent of the wonderful cuisine of the aunts and elder sisters of ‘the visitors who were confined to their homes always. The narrator and others are enjoying the scent and taste of all the gastronomic delights at the hotel. Thena sudden thought flashes across Dharker's mind. All the people here, the cook, the poet, Kartar, Rohini, Rober, Ayesha and Sangam, despite being followers of different faiths and citizens of India and Pakistan are bonded to- gether by the bread they break. It is indeed a love feast. They are brothers and sisters, now, being part of the diaspora in England. All of them are geographically, cul” | turally and even psychologically dislocated, On dayslike this they wallow in nostalgia which gives them a temporaly escape from their present situation, [SSS‘Unit 4 Indian Movie, New Jersey Ghitra Banerjee Divakaruni Introduction to the Author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (1956-) is a famous _ Indian-American writer. She was born in Kolkata. She did her Master's at Wright State University, Ohio and Ph.D. __ at California University. She is now a professor at Foothill _ College, Califomia. She has been conferred many awards for her writings. She has several novels to her credit including Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart and Palace of Illusions as well as poetry collections like Dark Like the River. ‘ GBHADYNo-aGjP} OO} A901 all mniomdeedl Slaioaoerm (MMo 1956) (acu) AWD BO} MBWIB-GEATILAG aH 7}GM}a0@lwoend. OAMIBVAOSGOIAVOGN GAG NTMajo). @anewowloe Wright State University 0103 alm enilosomane enile; BAY &0AlleanddoMa. QyemMeasavighaleiin’s Ph.Dmay be lacking here in India. The poem is set in acinema in New ersey Where a group of Indian Settlers are watching amovie which brings out the typical Indian sensibility, @BQA}N0-HaNn ORS CBABOINS comssmPceieajo eyaicmven BGA @,somveBsieeisn3o Grmoadla}o08 DMycasy, UBYo aYOl coafedm0ecsM~s cms) &)Sleoolwl SIME. CAO} AB MayHjS &ASICMQAH06 Gndlaja/adl BOJM (AABMEBBZI OBS NOHO GR af ee a eee a WY ——<———— jas IDENTITY __— a _arune ANE FOND (AHOATUETU ETT 3, 0 05 I sparen g}OS GHATIOD}O Sa 7 os DSO To QAI} GIDODD ye aie aoe mamlengep moresBraio TYTN ATgfIH}M]. GEM ooNB {EPH BO} OYSOHDO amaid camsailanyemnyers. ry of the Poem ; jan settlers are watching a film at a Lec peroine off and on speaks heavily accented English. Fora while, the viewers are transported to India. Whenat the end the hero dies for his friend who will marry the heroine, all are moved to tears. The spectators are not inahury to leave the scene. They remain there exchanging greetings and good news about buying a new gold chain oratrip to India. They do not speak about any negative developments. There the Indian settlers can arrange their children's marriages. They also discuss the Prospects of retuming to India or settling down in an American suburb. one’, et in movie truths rather than the grim == poeta ete aotcod ee aakelR O@2aunNBemn2ne aineamooost aubeaman SOMA Meienyeaoen, Muidepa0e1 NID: POPS; DAMS DIAL Cas} 6900 2} ENMAIDIENS MVoMo2OAIasWo. CDI &9056038 sITMJo GRUB asJOOAMIg}. 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What does the re to? an, seems Presentation of the heroine point ‘The representation of the heroine i | leroine in the Indian movie Points to the fact that the Indian film stars are ‘plump unlike their American counterparts and to the Indian film watch ers they are the real sex-goddesses. ¢. What does the line ‘roses on every bush and the Dal Lake clean again’ mean? The film gives and idealised image of Kashmirand te Dal Lake, which may not be always very clean. but vey clean on the screen. Also every bush is aflame with colourful flowers diffusing their heady aroma all aroun e sex-goddess is obviously f the English speaking, the outward mani- vou think that th tative © per-class who ape western lifestyle? m is obviously a repre- ‘sh educated Indians who itate a western lifestyle. mbarrassed by mispronounced like hot lead into foreign ears.’ rrassment?- _sweneed not be ¢} phrases dropping ‘What causes the embai £ itisthe heavily accented English of non-native speak- crsthat embarrasses them in front of “foreigners’, that is, tative English speakers. 2. Answer the following questions in about 100 words. a. Describe the Indian sex-goddess as described inthe poem, 7 Miees of beauty and sexiness change from people ihe: ac from culture to culture. They are certainly viiinas yy the way women are portrayed in poetry; 5 ngs and Stories in each society. In this context, one'M *Sakun, Ws. deep depr ¢lephant me OWed With enormar $0 stir and fire the fe b How does the film Portray Indian Sensibiltiy? __ The Indians in New Jersey are watching a dian film Catering to their viewer's: sensil ra cea - ¢m heroines, who are mere bone and skin, the Indian hero- ine is ambly endowed with an excess o i clothed. Her thighs show. TI hey are solid asa tree trunk, She swings her hips. The men whistle. Roses are on every bush and the Dal Lake is crystal i iage ed here. Film songs greetings. Even marriages are arrange g still echo in the corridors and restrooms. All inall, hereis ry yas IDENTITY. (UR Ae ves the collective pronouns TURE. AN ee jeaker uses ¢ ise c_ The speake’ ns repeatedly. Discuss. eee te across countries and igral ee ods and new pastures. But teint social and e0- conce they are Pr they are deprived of their sense of gephical ile ed by’a feeling of alienation. Therese Hiya ove eof South Asians settled in America and lage no vries oo. Each group shares a c fty and sense o togetherness in the alien dispen Divakaruni’s poem ‘Indian Movie, New Jersey’ brings out i this sense of togetherness ly, especially by the re- collective pronouns ‘we’, ‘our’ and ‘us’. oa fides and clap when we hear the sex-goddess's heavily accented English. But the poet says ‘We’ need: not be embarrassed by it. After all, as we watch the film it wipes from our faces "years of America’. We also weep when the hero dies. The fil of having aswanky house and buying an ambassador car, or finding ahome inarich suburb of an American city, The! repeated use of ‘we’, “us” and ‘our’ emphasizes the sense of togetherness the Indian diaspora feels while at the theatre. Why do the viewers ‘mill around? after the movie? What do they discuss? The American-Indians are. avidly watching an Indian ask ee