IMAGINARY

HOMELANDS
KAADIR MOHIUDDIN
INTL 3111
IMAGINARY HOMES

Written by Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie

Collection of essays spanning from 1981-1992
Published in 1991
Covers various topics including magic realism,
dual culture, and a balance in life
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie was born on June 19, 1947

Born in Mumbai (known as Mumbai. Two months before
independence)
Moved to the United Kingdom, studied at Kings College and
Cambridge
Briefly worked in Pakistan as a television write
Returned to the United Kingdom to be with his family and
work as a copywriter. Started his career as an author
Currently resides in the United States (New York)
IMAGINARY HOMELANDS: AN OVERVIEW

Overall, the book is a collection of essays that cover a multitude of topics

Examples: Magic surrealism, and postcolonialism

Divided into six sections

1) Midnights children 2) Politics of India and Pakistan. 3) Indo-Anglian literature. 4) Movie and
Television. 5) Experience of migrants, -Indian migrants to Britain. 6) Thatcher/ flout election
question of Palestine

Specifically, discusses the struggles of balancing two cultures.

Questions of identity, memory, and balance
ANALYSIS

In the excerpt we read, Rushdie describes his return to his

birthplace of Mumbai (formerly Bombay)

Rushdie explains the struggles of growing up outside your native

homeland
Cannot fully remember what India was like because he left
at a young age.
Explains how he has to rely on bits and pieces of certain
memories, rather than a complete one
Compares human memory to a broken lens

Finding a balance between two cultures only makes it worse

Struggle to contain complete memories on one or the other
ANALYSIS

By moving to the United Kingdom, Rushdie became a part of two cultures

Pros and cons. Two cultures means more diversity, and more tradition (holidays).
He explains how it is difficult to find the balance between the two, like straddling
between two stools.
Sometimes the two cultures conflict and issues arise
Falling between the two stools
ANALYSIS

Imaginary Homelands, like Rushdie himself, has a central theme of displacement emphasized throughout
the book
Rufus Cook of World Literature Day described him as, one of the most persuasive spokesman we have
for the benefits, in increased tolerance and moral understanding, of cultural displacement.
His experience with various cultures allows him to empathize with others. Especially, those who struggle
with identity issues.
Self aware of emotions. Uses his writing to express himself. Allows people to make connections with him

I found Rushdie to be a perfect gentleman able to subject his own emotions and vulnerabilities to
careful analysisand in that sense he may well be the most worldly person I have ever met. (Shivani)
ANALYSIS

Rushdie also focuses on the importance of literature in these struggles. They can help us
to make connections between cultures. Can help with identity issues that stem from it.
Provides different points of view

We build out of scrapes, dogmas, childhood injuries, newspaper articles, chance remarks,
old films, small victories, people hated, people loved; perhaps it is because our sense of
what is the case if constricted from such inadequate material that we defined it so
fiercely, even to the death.
CONCLUSION

Gives us an insight into his various cultures, and how they shaped him
Salman Rushdies experiences with various cultures allow him to empathize with others.
Especially, those who struggle with identity issues.
Self aware of emotions. Uses his writing to express himself. Allows people to make
connections with him

I found Rushdie to be a perfect gentleman able to subject his own emotions and
vulnerabilities to careful analysisand in that sense he may well be the most worldly
person I have ever met. (Shivani)
WORKS CITED

"About the Author." Salman Rushdie. N.p., 17 Apr. 2017. Web. 15 June 2017.
http://www.salmanrushdie.com/salman-rushdie-the-author/
Cook, Rufus. Place and Displacement in Salman Rushdie's Work. World Literature Today, vol.
68, no. 1, 1994, pp. 2328. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40149840.
"Salman Rushdie (7508 Words)." Literary Encyclopedia | Salman Rushdie. N.p., n.d.Web. 15 June
2017. http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3889
Shivani, Anis, and Salman Rushdie. Look at the World as It Is: An Interview with Sir Salman
Rushdie. The Georgia Review, vol. 66, no. 2, 2012, pp. 222250. JSTOR,
www.jstor.org/stable/23268124.