Trapped, surrounded, quarantined or just reading too much into it? Re: #30

Hi, I don`t know what planet you are living on but in the current state of affairs (Not confined to India) but in West, Asia, Middle East you name it Pakistan is ``perceived`` as the ``epicentre of global terrorism``, wasn`t it Owen Jones who penned it first. Second, these Jihadis are not fighting or furthering the cause of oppressed Muslims anywhere!

The low point was when a colleague, a western educated white guy who is very critical of Israel, Cheney et al., even India`s handling of the Kashmir issue expressed concerns about Toronto ``pakistani immigrants`` and their unique proclivity for employing violence as a strategy for righting perceived wrongs. Forget Britian, Canada land of multiculturalism where Indians, Chinese, Koreans etc.. and Pakistanis have generally been welcomed has seen insane violent plots to blow up one of largest malls the Eaton Centre by a group of Pakistani youth. Furthermore Zeemax, it is not Hindus who are sending their children in droves to Islamic centre where they get to hear hatred spewed towards all kafirs blah, blah Ever heard of Farhat Hashmi? A real nut job by anyones defnition. Look her up. Thanks to people like you it is becoming ever so much more common that Indian= intelligent, can fit in and Paksitani=hates everybody. I overheard my secretary say to someone ``Oh India is Asian but Pakistan is Middle Eastern and they might look alike but they are very different`` This attitude extends all the way to Japan. Do you know how it hurts the most? Bright aspiring Pakistani children all over the world. Wake up out of your coma, some real reforms are in order.

A Teacup in My Hand Re:#15 lets see it`s been a while since I read them. What stands out is the story about the newlywed Indian yuppie couple (I think they were an arranged match) and the wife insists on showcasing a tacky bust of Christ in their living room much to her husbands annoyance but blithely dismisses any reservations he expresses. Lahiri was demonstrating the misunderstandings that can arise out of anywhere when two people who do not really know each other marry one another. Also the ? ``Sexy`` story seemed really cheesy. A Malaysian Chinese friend who is very familiar with Indian culture stated that the stories did not ring true and was not suprised to learn that Lahiri herself was born in the States. She tried hard to re-create the pathos of dislocation which she is more successful at in her novel.

A Teacup in My Hand Just my a comment. I disagree about critiquing the author for ``predictability``. It is the mindest of deeply entrenched gender biases and how they manifest in South Asia that is so predictable (unfortunately). I guess for some they know it so well that it becomes obvious what happens next. I think it rung true because that is how things evolved. What made the story disturbing/compelling is how even a seeimingly devoted couple and a man so in love with his wife finds it so difficult to stand up to familial/cultural pressures. the author is working with limitations of space. Yes the story and mindsets are all to familiar but the structure and form was taut and moved seemlessly from one situation to the next which is an achievement.

I remember reading Jhumpha Lahiri`s stories in ``Intrepreter of Maladies`` and just cringing at the pretentious contivances she attempted to avoid ``predicabilty``. Far more Americans were enthralled and captivated by her tales than Indians. I heard ``Namesake`` is far better.

A Teacup in My Hand I have never commented on fiction here but your story was a gem! So well constructed and you recreated the whole scenario in such a compelling fashion I could see it unfold in front of my eyes.

Hope you have more tales to tell.