BOOKS: Greetings from Bury Park (From Asian Image)

BOOKS: Greetings from Bury Park

10:09am Tuesday 10th July 2007 in News features By Tanzeel Akhtar

From Lahore to Luton to London, broadcaster and documentary film maker Sarfraz Manzoor has written a touching memoir, "Greetings from Bury Park" which will move many readers.

Born to a working class, Pakistani family he arrives to live in England at the tender age of two.

He grows up feeling misunderstood, lost and unable to relate to his father, the late Mohammed Manzoor.

His memoir begins with him living in Manchester, a vibrant, multicultural and hip city, it is the place to be and an escape from Luton.

Manzoor feels free without any real responsibilities, ambition or career prospects.

He is not your typical Pakistani lad, choosing to wear his hair in dreadlocks and a nose piercing he is a strong disappointment to his Muslim father.

But he manages to seek solace through the music and lyrics composed by Bruce Springsteen.

He dreads the customary trips home to his family home in Luton, giving him a headache before he even begins the journey home.

"I defined myself in opposition to my father. All that he believed, the values he upheld, the ambitions he cherished I rejected as embarrassing and outdated.

"When he said he was Pakistani, I declared I was British; he was Muslim, I was confused; he believed in family, I championed the individual; he worshipped money, I claimed it meant nothing," writes Manzoor in his novel.

The turning point is after the death of his father when things change dramatically.

He slowly begins to appreciate and realise the hardships that his Pakistani elders endured to build a better life in England.

Influenced and driven strongly by his interest in Springsteen's lyrics he manages to succeed in life, the only regret prominent throughout is that his father is not alive to see him do well.

Like many second generation immigrants he grows up constantly questioning his hybrid identity as a British Pakistani and the uncomfortable feeling of not completely belonging or being confident to call Britain his home and turf.

With the lack of creative Asian role models he grows up admiring successful writers such as Hanif Kureshi and Salman Rushdie.

His obsession with the legendary singer, Bruce Springsteen is prevalent throughout the novel.

So strong is his appreciation that Manzoor even misses his own graduation ceremony to attend a Springsteen concert.

His friendship with Scott and his Sikh friend Amolak prove that barriers such as race and religion can be broken through similar interests such as football and music.

A nervous moment that he captures excellently is his hesitation over whether to buy a T-shirt with the England flag on it; he is worried that people might say.

Does he have the right to wear a T-shirt with St George's flag on it?

He is hesitant but at the same time he wants to proclaim pride in England winning a football match.

But it is tragedies such as 9/11 and 7/7, which have left a major impact on many British Muslims who feel more lost and misplaced in today's Britain.

There are hundreds and thousands of young Pakistani Brits who face problems identifying with their Pakistani heritage and identity.

Manzoor very lightly touches upon the sensitive issue of belonging in Britain today.

It is a nervous time for many British Muslims and good timing for Manzoor's novel to be appreciated.

A fairly refreshing read, highlighting how a young British Pakistani man manages to succeed by moving onwards and upwards after his fathers death.

At times it is grim but a great insight into the hardships of a working class, Pakistani family, giving hope and inspiration to those who dream of similar success.

The only criticism is that at times it lacks depth and personality.

The novel is a lovely and tender tribute to both his father and Springsteen, the two men who have influenced him strongly.

(Greetings from Bury Park by Sarfraz Manzoor).