To be British, to be Asian? The dilemma of the British Asians as seen by Daljit Nagra

Abstract

British poet of Punjabi (Indian) origin Daljit Nagra (b. 1966) represents the second generation of Indians in the United Kingdom. He teaches English in London school and writes poetry. His poetic works deserved several national and international prizes. His first book of poetry “Look We Have Coming to Dover!” published by prestigious Faber & Faber reveals his literary tastes and interests. It also contains a dozen of poems in Punglish (Punjabi English) of interest for ethnographer. These are stories of an Indian boy in “White Town” and description of Asian enclave of London, a story of arranged marriage and a “myth of return” tale. He also covers the theme of death of Asian in the British environment, the race and racism theme and the “myth of return” among elder generation of immigrants. Daljit Nagra shows the picture of “Indian town” within the bigger white English city. He also explores life of the isolated Indian family in the dominant White suburb. The masterpiece of Daljit Nagra, his story of the visit of English Indians to the historical homeland shows the rising gap between the diasporic Indians and the sending society. Recent publication of his new book of poetry “Tippoo Sulan’s Incredible White-Man-Eating Tiger Toy-Machine!!!” shows that the Indian diaspora theme is not yet exhausted. An attempt by Nagra to turn to the Indian epic and his modern rendering of the famous ancient Indian epic poem marks the poets appreciation of Indian culture and “coming back” to his cultural roots. Refs 9.

Keywords:

Indians, immigrants, South Asians, Great Britain, poetry