The Buddha of Suburbia

                                                   

                                                               The Buddha of Suburbia

          In the novel The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi the characters demonstrate that hybrid identities are always in motion through their constant struggle between embracing their native Indian culture and adjusting to fit the norms as an “Englishman.”  In McLeod, he quotes Kureishi by stating, “…feeling neither here nor there, unable to indulge in sentiments of belonging to either location, defined by others often in unflattering ways”, which is relatable to both the character Karim and his father Haroon throughout the novel (247). From the beginning of the novel you get a sense for Karim’s struggle, “I am an Englishman born and bred, almost” (3).  Karim describes himself as “belonging and not” because he is at constant struggle between his Indian heritage and his desire to assimilate into the British society.  Karim perpetually negotiates his hybrid identity.  Karim’s identity struggle is not solely based upon Indian vs. British; it also is within his sexuality and city vs. suburbia. Karim never fully states his sexual preference homosexual/heterosexual nor Indian/British; he consistently negotiates between the binaries. Haroon, Karim’s father, also depicts McLeod’s hybrid identities throughout the novel. He embraces his exoticness to help himself climb the social ladder, but without really believing the things he teaches others until the end of the novel. Karim describes his father as a magician, “having transformed himself by the bootlaces” who is always changing to whatever is most palatable or most marketable (31).  Both Karim and Haroon are stereotyped throughout the novel, and Haroon embraces the stereotypes for social gain.  “Dad appeared to be returning internally to India, or at least resisting the English here” Karim went on to say that his father never showed any desire to return to India (64).

          Both characters are so complex in qualities, yet have no single identity. In McLeod, he discusses those who live border lives, “borders are important thresholds, full of contradiction and ambivalence” (251).  Karim and Haroon are filled with contradiction and ambivalence. Haroon embraces Indian culture, yet has no desire to return to his homeland while also wanting to be an Englishman. Karim continuously struggles to fit in as a British teen, but is constantly stereotyped as an Indian boy despite never even have been to India. The hybrid identities are constantly in motion and persistently experiencing transformation.  

Racism and Hybrid Identities

 "I was sick too of being called Shitface and Curryface, and coming home covered in spit and snot and chalk and woodshavings" (63).

Indians make up about 1.4 million people in the United Kingdom. And just like Karim and his father many play a role of a hybrid identity. Society has its beliefs or perceptions of how a man or woman of Indian descent, and they are expected to fit that mold while also being assimilated. Haroon was expected to know yoga and Buddhist methodology, and Karim was expected to have an Indian accent for his role in the Jungle Book despite never have even stepped foot in the country.  For Karim and Haroon, it is like they never have a true identity, and for every role they play it is never the right one to them or to those around them. 

Forty-five per cent of the victims of racial attacks in Britain are Indian, says a study which also claims that such violence is spreading in the country due to the government's approach towards racism.  

"With great expectations I change all my clothes
Mustn't grumble at silver and gold
Screaming above Central London
Never born, so I'll never get old So I'll wait until we're sane
Wait until we're blessed and all the same
Full of blood, loving life and all it's got to give
Englishmen going insane
Down on my knees in suburbia"- Lyrics from the Buddha of Suburbia by David Bowie (music video above)