It’s
a story of a young Pakistani named Changez, who is torn between the two – his
American and Pakistani selves. Eventually in his case, the latter won over the
former. Entire book is in monologue but the freshness of phrases and
juxtaposition of various themes keep the readers interested throughout the
story. For example when he is speaking of the “Skin that his premier college showed to the corporate, once a year for
placements” he says “I was a perfect
breast, tan, succulent, seemingly defiant of gravity- and I was confident of
getting any job I wanted.”
It
is during the interview of the most coveted job on the campus that his veneer
of external identity is broken as interviewer sees through him, spotting his
discomfort in revealing his roots. It comes out in form of a pointed question the
interviewer asked, “Do your friend here
know, that your family could not afford to send you to Princeton without a
scholarship?”
This
aspect reveals the class consciousness of Changez; he conducted himself as a
young prince at Princeton, but also took up odd jobs to strengthen his
financial position. Eventually he got a job earning him 80000 dollars a month,
from the by lanes alongside the economic highway he all of a sudden came on the
main lane!! However, his sense of restraint and reservation did not change with
the change in his monthly income. For example on his trip to Greece, he would
feel uncomfortable to see his friends ordering about people twice of their age.
He wondered what on earth made his friends behave with the world as if they
were its ruling class.
Upstart
nature of his American self and powerful immersion that happened due to his Wall
Street job led him also, eventually, to behave in the same way as his American
friends. He soon, learned to say to
people of his father’s age “I need it
NOW.” He also learned to answer, “New York” when asked to say where he
was from. He also confessed, these
changes troubled him, but he gave no outwardly signs of these troubles. Until
the 9/11, of course.
His
revelation that he was at first remarkably pleased to see the twin tower going
down is grotesque but eerily existential in nature. He justified it as a
symbolism showing someone so visibly bringing America to her knees.
While
all this is happening, there is a simultaneous progress of his relationship
with a girl called Erica. Personal and political, micro and macro aspects are
nicely interwoven by the author. Despite occasional and rare moments of
intimacy and romance, this too becomes a source of increasing identity crisis
for Changez; this reaches a pinnacle when he has to impersonate Erica’s dead
ex-boyfriend in order to give her an orgasm. His hopes even after Erica’s mysterious
disappearance show his emotional side, one that’s very normal of any human
being.
Among
all internal struggles, there is an impending tension of war from India on
Pakistan post the attacks on Indian Parliament. Changez visits his parents in Pakistan.
Part when her mother asked him to shave
off his beard citing, “They have long beards” is extremely moving and casts a
strong statement on stereotypes our world subjects on people without a single
thought.
While
returning from Pakistan, Changez found it ironic that being a young son; he was
leaving home in war like situation whereas, in olden times it was elderly and
children who were asked to relocate in times of war like situations. After
returning from home he lost connect with his American side altogether.
He
kept a beard, partly as a sign of protest, even despite the passive office
protocols demanded he be clean shaven. He let his performance on the job, which
he so loved in the beginning, flounder. He
grows increasingly tense within for due to conflict of identity and eventually
gives in to the calling from home. Before he finally makes this decision, comes a
nice interlude of conversation he had with a man called Juan Baitista, he
explained to him a concept of Janissaries. After that his resolve to go home
only grew stronger, having been fired, he headed to Pakistan.
After
returning to Pakistan, Changez takes up a post of a professor and instils among
students what he calls a true understanding of the subject as well as the ways
of the world. One of his students is held as a conspirator of assassination of
a top US government officer for developmental aid. And it is only when he
discussed this part with his listener do we realize that Changez is also being
questioned in this conspiracy.
It is
a matter of opinion whether stand Changez took was correct or incorrect.
However, what this book so exceptionally does is to make us think in this regard.
Even despite a few hard lines in thinking, behaviour and conduct, we don’t dislike
Changez. After reading this book I had mixed feelings about the man,
predominant of those was that for a friend who has lost his way. Credit for this largely goes to Author.
Reading
this book was a joy, I will soon try to catch up the movie too, as I am sure
this story translates into a good film.
