East is East

Pakistan formed a separate Islamic state after freeing herself from the clutches of the British and Hindu dominated India. As a result of the partition, millions of people on both sides were relocated. Some chose to stay in India, while some Muslims decided to move to Pakistan. This mass exodus created skirmishes between the two sides and scores of people were killed. The conflict between the two countries was beyond religious and ethnic lines, although the former did play a vital role. As a result of this mass emigration, many people from the sub-continent looked to the west for opportunities. There is an old saying, “you can drive the British out of India, but you can never drive out the British in Indians.” This constant control and presence by the British for some two hundred years in the Indo-Pak area institutionalized the populous; hence, many South Asians fled to Britain. There was a constant struggle, and an obvious clash of cultures between the two, racism in Britain was far more prevalent than today, and the air of superiority of the British toward the South Asians was endemic, as they (the British) still believed the Indo-Pak area as a part of the Raj; the British Raj, which was the most shining jewel in the crown of the British monarchy. Amidst this chaos, George Khan, a Pakistani Muslim met Ella, a lower working class English girl. They were married and had five kids. This is their story.

The film is set in the Borough of Salford, in the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County. Like immigrants to most other countries, big cities in Britain hosted most new immigrants, after which they moved to smaller places, if they desired. It is assumed that George Khan moved to the City of Manchester before making his way to Salford. George is not very highly educated, but like most immigrants, very hard working. He often reminisces of how he came to England and started off with nothing to get to where they were. Although, not terribly well off, the family didn’t count their pennies too hard, they were moderate lower middle class people. George and Ella with their five children live in an urban sprawl. The neighbourhood is very lower middle class and the houses are close to each other with a narrow street running between. Chaos prevails on the street as you have cars driving, kids playing soccer and people watching other people while being watched. The thing that caught to my attention the most was the street; it was made out of cobblestones, which over time had become very smooth with people walking and cars driving on them. A Street like that in a different setting, like in rural Italy, would have seemed romantic; here it profoundly depicted the lives of the people- old and worn out, but somehow clinging on.

The film begins with a Christian Carnival where all of George and Ella’s kids take part in. George is a strict Muslim and expects his wife and kids to follow the Islamic way. They however seem to disagree and would want to follow the liberal Western way of life. George often is very blunt in expression what he expects from his family- traditional Pakistani conservative Muslims. The children on the other hand, don’t really care much for their culture or tradition, are greatly influenced by the Western Cultural attitudes and norms, they like going to clubs, having a drink, having girl friends and etc. At the carnival, the four boys bear the palanquin with the Virgin Mary in it, the moment one sees George, they start scurrying and running around in fear. The first scene pretty much conveys the message for the rest of the movie- rebelling against the parents. The movie also highlights the complex issue of arranged marriage that plagues almost every South Asian family. The oldest son, Nadir is the first sacrificial lamb. He remains timid thru most of the process, but the moment he looks into the eyes of the bride, he gets up and walks away, much to the indignation of George, his father and the awestruck look of the guests. George is extremely disappointed believes that the episode brought to his family a scarring shame so intense that he declares that he no more has a son. Nadir leaves the country and moves with his partner and runs a boutique in France. The rest of the family, who very much understand Nadir’s perspective are left bereft, but are mortified by the idea of conveying this to George. Their respect for George is propounded by fear.

Ella Khan, George’s wife is your typical English gal- cocky and defiant. She puts George in his place several times and understands the situation that the children are in, they are mashed in the world of too very opposing cultures- Pakistani Islam and the late 1960’s hippie movement of neo-liberalism. She often makes a point to treat herself as George’s equal and in doing that takes a few bruises every now and then. The couple owns a fish and chips shop, and Ella often tells George that she owns the place; while George with his wit and charisma threatens to bring his first wife from Pakistan. George is polygamous, and very open about it. The nature communication between the couple is glazed with sarcasm, although it did give me the impression that they loved each other very dearly. Ella finds solace and confides in her neighbour and friend, Annie, to whom George normally has an averse to because of her outspoken attitude. The kids also love Annie and often refer to her as Auntie Annie. 

As expounded earlier, traditional and cultural values are very important to George and one can see several glimpses of Pakistani Islam in the movie. For example, when the youngest Sajid was found to be uncircumcised, something which Islamic vehemently disallows, Meenah, the daughter is shrugged from playing soccer with the boys and is expected to be a neat and respectable Pakistani girl. She is made to wear a traditional Pakistani Sari, something in which she feels very alien. Quarrels and fights are the norm to this family, and the ritualistic cuppa chai makes up for most of it. The family is also faced with racist attitudes from the general population, because of the period of repatriation. They, however, are unfazed by this and go on with their everyday jolly lives. Another scene that captures my mind is when the family is on its way to Bradford, and one of the mutilated road signs calls Bradford, Bradistan, which is an obvious remark to say that there are too many Pakistanis in Bradford. This is also a period when India and Pakistan are at war over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

The climax of the movie is when George decides to get two of his sons married off to the girls of another Pakistani man. As sensitive as I am trying to be, it is quite true that the girls are extremely hideous. Ella refuses to get her sons married to the girls and get abused by George for it. He says, “You bring shame to my family!” The kids try to comfort Ella, and stand up to George in vain – George becomes violent and threatens to kill everyone in the family; Ella defends the kids and vice versa, and George leaves the set huffing and puffing. In the final scene of the movie, George realises that by being a “hard ass” he has alienated everyone in the family. He sits in his fish and chips store, where Ella joins and asks him if he wants a cup of tea. They both reconcile and the movie leaves the question begging to ask, what next?

On the whole, I would say this movie is worth watching because it brings out several stances of Pakistani life in England. Profanity, obscenity, blasphemy and swearing form every aspect of this movie, the use of the word “Bastard”, which in South Asia is a very sensitive word, is very openly used. Anti-Indian zest is also very openly put forth. I am quite surprised that this movie was banned in Egypt, but screened all across India. The actors, especially the main character, George Khan which is played Om Puri, a critically acclaimed actor and an Officer of the British Order. It brings forth the clear mind of immigrants who who are caught between two worlds, both of which he would like to embrace; the world of tradition and Islam and the world of money, which seems to be privy to the Western World.