Friends!
I am not addressing you, the readers, but remembering the
iconic sitcom from where many of us got our images of life in the USA. This and
other TV shows and books, of course, have been our window to the American way
of life. “From An-Other Land” by Tanushree Ghosh brings to us a view from
another window---- through the eyes of Indian immigrants to the Land of
Oppportunity.
Laced with understated humour, this book of short stories throws
up the complex dynamics of relationships, between people and between people and
the country they have chosen as their own.
The story of Tarun and Michelle slowly and poignantly unravels,
as the complicated emotions of Michelle lead us to wonder about Tarun, “Will
he, won’t he?” Then there is the unusual tale of a woman who marries her
brother-in-law for a green card, not only for herself but for her husband as
well!
The author puts a lot of thought into the naming of her
characters. For example, the sisters Asti and Tiyash are named like inverses of
each other, and their personalities are opposite too. The characters are
introspective. Tanushree showcases the dichotomy that immigrants must deal
with---- their Indian heritage and their American sensibilities. A perfectly
harmless question in India may be construed as an intrusion in America.
A couple of stories also bring up the other point of view---
that of American citizens who feel insecure about Indians taking away their
jobs. Yet, through this insecurity, an empathy prevails, with both sides
realising that the other is human too.
The development of each story and the delineation of the
characters bring to mind an iceberg: there is a lot more beneath the surface,
than what is seen at first glance. The author hints at many layers of emotions.
She also employs quirky turns of phrase. In the tale about the Biswas family,
she says of the forgetful mother, “--- some names had fallen into oblivion
through the cracks in her sixty-five year old memory.”
In many of the stories, the underlying theme is loneliness,
yet the human spirit also shines through.
Instead of plunging straightaway into the stories, the
author has cleverly introduced her characters in the first story, as people in
line for Immigration. As we go through the book, we are compelled to turn back
to the first story, just to see where each character comes from, in terms of
their mental state, and their aspirations.
The author is an observer and she gently brings to life the
myriad characters that people this book.
