'From An-Other Land' - Book Review

Tanushree Ghosh’s ‘From An-Other Land’ is an insightful look into the lives of the immigrant population in the US. This book deftly explores what it means to be an ‘outsider’ and to be constantly seen as the ‘other’, particularly, in the current political climate of the country. It also gives the readers both an insider’s and an outsider’s perspective presented through compelling situations and narratives.

The collection interestingly starts at the very point where this journey to the coveted land begins – the airport. Where we see a steady flow of anxious and nervous passengers waiting eagerly for their turn to ‘check-in’ to their dreamland. This community of people is a jumble of students, young professionals, new brides, and even bystanders, whose only motive is to get inspired by this force of people enthused with dreams and aspirations.

The author very skillfully picks each individual story from this mass of people and examines their circumstances, and situations, through the prism of immigration. While a young Meera is forced to leave her husband in a small town in Punjab, to fulfill the family’s notion of success and prosperity. There are people like Tarun and Raji on the other hand, who despite making it in their dreamland, are still faced with problems much bigger than their hopes and aspirations.

All the thirteen stories focused around individual struggles and trappings are unique in their own way and represent a prototype we come across in real life. This makes the stories both relatable and believable. Through her characters, the author also explores the ideas of dreams and reality, and hopes and disillusionment. The stories also echo the idea that some of the basic human biases are prevalent throughout the world. And sometimes, even an advanced nation like the US can be fraught with deep-seated biases and hypocrisies that can take the human race back by many decades. In that sense, this book will resonate with everyone regardless of his/her bearings.

The writer’s experience of living in the US for a substantial number of years, helps her look at the unique nuances of the immigrant community - the impact of remittance money on a family’s economic and social situation, ageing parents and their day-to-day struggle back home, social media’s contribution to keeping the world connected, the conscious acknowledgement while spotting a fellow countryman in a foreign land, the infamous Indian Standard time, the awareness that comes with the color of one’s skin etc.

The stories also address some of the topical issues such as - gun violence, Islamophobia, post-partum mental health, LGBT rights, and domestic violence. The writer has made sure that each aspect of this community of people is given a voice, and are represented well. 

Just as the journey of each story begins at the airport, they are tied neatly at the final chapter with references to airport scenes. And despite the stories of their trials and tribulations, they end at a hopeful note. Some of the stories run a few pages longer than the other. And some might come across as too descriptive, where the narrative could have easily broken into dialogues. The language is simple but can get wordy, particularly when the narrator’s perspective is presented. But overall, the stories manage to effectively map the very essence of the immigrant population living in America, with a special focus on the Indian community.