THE HYPNOTIZED PEOPLE
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Why, then, did I come to England, and why do I stay here?
The answer to the first part of this question is straightforward.
The archetypal adventurer is Ulysses. There is a parallel to be
found in the Indian epic, the Ramayanam. In both these stories
the hero is exiled because of a suggestion that within his triibe
he is a weak man. The process of going abroad, the physical
combat with forces unknown, long periods of isolation, reflection,
and discipline, these make a weak man strong. And, finally, the
exile returns a hero, ready to bend the long bow and to reveal
himself as the strongest of the tribe. In the Ramayanam, Rama is
exiled to a forest for fourteen year. His main task is the destruc–
tion of the demon king Ravana, who has kidnapped Sita, Rama's
wife. Rama does this and returns to his home to claim the throne.
The populace rises against Sita who by now has two children.
They suspect her of adultery for she remained for a long period in
Ravana's custody. It is then that Rama, once weak, reveals his
moral fibre, his sense of dedication towards his people. Even
though he himself knows the infinite fidelity of his wife he dis–
owns her and his two children in the interests of his people.
The second part of the question concerns a writer's instinct
for survival. I must have know intuitively that it is in the nature
of British civilization to cherish people like me, homeless orphans.
We are looked upon as children of conflict, born in transit, to
be pitied. It is assumed that we will eternally remain torn within
ourselves but that we can be taught to recognize our duality: the
dear octopus of dichotomy never surrenders its victims. For nearly
seven years, ever since I came to England, I have lived smugly
and comfortably on the borderline, battening on the profits that
derive from playing the role of cultural schizophrenic.
And why not? In such a singular position I did not have to
go out and woo life. One is endlessly misunderstood, and in terms
of literature, misunderstanding pays dividends; in terms of life,
misunderstanding provides one with a cloak under which the
interior monologue may be conducted without any disturbance
from out,ide. I did not have to endure the daily tyranny of living
with one face: instead I could wear two eternally unconverted
faces. I did not have to make an effort to walk the tightrope:
instead opposing winds conspired to keep me balanced there. To
