Unimagined
A Muslim Boy Meets the West
Imran Ahmad
Aurum Press, $19.95
What would you expect from a book, in which the author's note of dedicating the work to his father, as well as the acknowledgements make you laugh? Yes, Imran Ahmad's first book, Unimagined is funny—a self deprecating memoir of growing up as a Pakistani immigrant in London.
And I am afraid of getting into any form of serious analyses of his work—one unsuspecting reviewer has casually been reprimanded for her serious take on the book on Ahmad's website: "Lighten up A—, it's a funny book."
The book, described as part Bend It Like Beckham, part Adrian Mole, begins in Karachi with the 'Bonnie Baby' contest, where Ahmad dressed to look suave like James Bond, is denied the first prize, which not coincidentally goes to the organiser's daughter. "I began my lifelong struggle against corruption and injustice" writes Ahmad. And struggle he does—whether with learning to knot a tie or dealing with getting itchy under nylon trousers.
Yet, young Ahmad has one unwavering ambition—becoming the perfect English gentleman, with a perfect BBC accent, and always immaculately dressed with shirt pristinely ironed and hair neatly combed. "They may be white, but I become whiter than white, quintessentially English," he declares.
The book continues with a series of vivid memories of simple everyday, petty events, which cumulatively make for a highly enjoyable read, fulfilling our deepest voyeuristic needs. Each reader may find a part of themselves in Ahmad's journey from early success in a school quiz; and entry into a posh Grammar School; uncertainty as he seeks to fulfil his parents wishes of seeing him become a doctor, though he enjoys the arts; and a constant lack of luck with the girls.
There are of course the serious bits—their first home in London is a bed-sit, a part of a house that is rented out with shared use of bathroom and kitchen, not because of the lack of money, but because few English were willing to rent out to 'coloureds'. Ahmed recalls being racially bullied in school, and even that moment of epiphany of every migrant identity, when he is caught copying the prayer moves of other Pakistani boy at a mosque—"I am a foreigner in white, English Society, and don't seem to fit into Pakistani Society either," thinks Ahmad.
Yet, never does he speak in the rage or pathos of a victim of racial slur. In fact he acknowledges that his life's successes are far beyond what his parents could have imagined for him when they moved to London--thus the title, Unimagined.
And though post 9/11, it may seem predictable, some of his most interesting insights are from his attempts at finding logic in religious belief. He talks about the logical teachings of Islam—pork is forbidden because in the third world, it often brought disease. This may often sound like a propaganda for the British Muslims for Secular Democracy organisation, of which he is a trustee—but frankly, I am all for secular propaganda.
Along with the teething problems of every child, Unimagined is thus also the tale of Ahmad's reconciliation of his belief in the Islamic notion of Allah as the only God. He comes second in an exam which focuses on Christ's teachings, without attending a single class—the stories are common between the two religions. And he eventually even changes his mind about India despite Indo-Pak wars, after watching the even-handed treatment Hinduism, Christianity and Islam in Amar Akbar Anthony: "Maybe India isn't such a bad country after all," he concludes.
A Muslim Boy Meets the West
Imran Ahmad
Aurum Press, $19.95
What would you expect from a book, in which the author's note of dedicating the work to his father, as well as the acknowledgements make you laugh? Yes, Imran Ahmad's first book, Unimagined is funny—a self deprecating memoir of growing up as a Pakistani immigrant in London.
And I am afraid of getting into any form of serious analyses of his work—one unsuspecting reviewer has casually been reprimanded for her serious take on the book on Ahmad's website: "Lighten up A—, it's a funny book."
The book, described as part Bend It Like Beckham, part Adrian Mole, begins in Karachi with the 'Bonnie Baby' contest, where Ahmad dressed to look suave like James Bond, is denied the first prize, which not coincidentally goes to the organiser's daughter. "I began my lifelong struggle against corruption and injustice" writes Ahmad. And struggle he does—whether with learning to knot a tie or dealing with getting itchy under nylon trousers.
Yet, young Ahmad has one unwavering ambition—becoming the perfect English gentleman, with a perfect BBC accent, and always immaculately dressed with shirt pristinely ironed and hair neatly combed. "They may be white, but I become whiter than white, quintessentially English," he declares.
The book continues with a series of vivid memories of simple everyday, petty events, which cumulatively make for a highly enjoyable read, fulfilling our deepest voyeuristic needs. Each reader may find a part of themselves in Ahmad's journey from early success in a school quiz; and entry into a posh Grammar School; uncertainty as he seeks to fulfil his parents wishes of seeing him become a doctor, though he enjoys the arts; and a constant lack of luck with the girls.
There are of course the serious bits—their first home in London is a bed-sit, a part of a house that is rented out with shared use of bathroom and kitchen, not because of the lack of money, but because few English were willing to rent out to 'coloureds'. Ahmed recalls being racially bullied in school, and even that moment of epiphany of every migrant identity, when he is caught copying the prayer moves of other Pakistani boy at a mosque—"I am a foreigner in white, English Society, and don't seem to fit into Pakistani Society either," thinks Ahmad.
Yet, never does he speak in the rage or pathos of a victim of racial slur. In fact he acknowledges that his life's successes are far beyond what his parents could have imagined for him when they moved to London--thus the title, Unimagined.
And though post 9/11, it may seem predictable, some of his most interesting insights are from his attempts at finding logic in religious belief. He talks about the logical teachings of Islam—pork is forbidden because in the third world, it often brought disease. This may often sound like a propaganda for the British Muslims for Secular Democracy organisation, of which he is a trustee—but frankly, I am all for secular propaganda.
Along with the teething problems of every child, Unimagined is thus also the tale of Ahmad's reconciliation of his belief in the Islamic notion of Allah as the only God. He comes second in an exam which focuses on Christ's teachings, without attending a single class—the stories are common between the two religions. And he eventually even changes his mind about India despite Indo-Pak wars, after watching the even-handed treatment Hinduism, Christianity and Islam in Amar Akbar Anthony: "Maybe India isn't such a bad country after all," he concludes.
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