Were it not for your correspondence, I’d still be living amidst Indian opulence as a wealthy individual aided by servants and drivers, always veering off to the left as I embarked on flights. Also absent would be the legacy left by the eponymous Mr Crombie – the expansive collection of over 50 publications spanning a fascinating variety of subjects, from athletics and biographies to history, economics, and political discourse, to include this impressively candid memoir from Mihir Bose.
Bose Da, out of deference to my ancestry, immediately emphasizes what influenced his existence from birth – an unfortunate dark skin tone. He unequivocally depicts the harsh customs and practices in India without flinching, making the initial chapters thoroughly engaging. He brings back memories of his large family, his upbringing amid disorder, and the established hierarchy amongst servants. It’s significant that he speaks plainly – instead of referring to domestic aids, he speaks of peons, ghattis, cleaners, drivers, and kitchen staff. Bose Da gives an unfiltered depiction of his privileged upbringing in India, blemishes and all. His subtle and fond teasing of his mother’s numerous Hindu superstitions is appealing, yet he willingly acknowledges that he was the alpha in an incredibly unjust pyramidal society.
“We began to question our worth due to colonialism,” he explains. Consequently, validation from previous oppressors became deeply coveted, with the Thappa, a British stamp of approval, deemed necessary even for slight self-confidence. However, after arriving in the UK, facing colour discrimination, being ridiculed for his accent, and encountering odour prejudice based on his cuisine, why did Bose Da persist?
A staunch resolve to realize a lifelong ambition of becoming a writer and a true passion for athletics fortified his resistance against prejudice – both the persistent, subtle form concealed in lethal courtesies and sporadic blatant “Paki bashing”, an offense to the face, a punch now, a hit later. The latter portion of the book presents a fantastic chronicle of perseverance and resilience, documenting and transmitting major events for esteemed newspapers, radio stations, and television channels throughout the UK.
Through a compelling and relatable narrative detailing the universal struggles, grief, and triumph of all immigrants, Bose Da spectacularly hits the ball out of the park, a proverbial home run.