Saroo Brierley's A Long Way Home: Review

Our desire to belong is universal, but expresses itself in different ways ‘A Long Way Home,’ written by Saroo Brierley gives a riveting overview of the harsh reality the 5 year old encountered whilst being lost in the slums of India. In this suspenseful Autobiography Brierley takes the readers on his life changing journey from his old life in India to his new life in Tasmania. Throughout the Autobiography Brierley is faced with the difficulties of not belonging and wanting to belong.
The idea of human need for connections is demonstrated through Brierley, although he has a new family and a new life he is still connected to his birth family, which is expected. His need for connection inspires him to search for his mother, Brierley achieves this by reconnecting with the adoption agency (Mrs Sood), using social media sites such as Google maps and Facebook to enhance his knowledge of places, Brierley also connected with other Indian students in his local community. ‘Then there was the opinion of the Indians at college that I looked like someone from the east, perhaps around West Bengal... (Brierley, 2013, p.133) ‘. In relation to my own experience I have not yet encountered such an emotional journey like Brierley, although I have conducted my own research. By connecting with my Grandmother and Indigenous Elders, I was able to obtain vital information on my family background, which I believe enhanced my self-confidence and sense of belonging.
Brierley is introduced to the harshness of attending school, although the young boy is used to the colour around him the community is not so forthcoming, he knew he stood out a dark boy living with white parents. Brierley received many racial comments that caused controversy within the community. ‘Apparently, I once asked her what’s a “black basket?” ’… (Brierley, 2013, p. 89). Peers would often ask Brierley where he was from but he had no true answer. It was because of these comments that Brierley’s mother, Sue decided she would attend a parent teacher day to inform his peers on his journey. This defused the tension in and outside the classroom. I have a strong relation to Brierley in this department as I myself have experienced what it’s like to move away from what you know as your home and be placed in a new school with strangers, I can also relate to Brierley with the racism factor, as well as moving schools I was also faced with the harsh difficulties of being victimised about my skin colour and a rather large birth mark on my leg.
…’as we were lining up for me to register for a sports team, Dad heard the woman in front say. ‘I don’t want him in same team as that black boy.’ I don’t mean to make light of comments like that, but in comparison with what I’ve heard about other non-Anglos’ experiences, I don’t think I had it too bad, and I’ve always felt that I grew up without any scars from racism’ (Brierley, 2013, p. 89).
Ironically Brierley found it extremely difficult fitting into his Local Indian Community, he and the family would attend functions and dances for the group but felt they were treated as outcasts. The Brierley’s were later informed that it is somewhat frowned upon for an Indian child to be taken from India by white parents. ‘But my parents came to notice that we were treated a little suspiciously’ (Brierley, 2013 p. 90). None the less Sue Brierley still tried to connect her child to his cultural background. Sue cooked mostly
Indian food and placed Maps of India throughout Brierley’s room, this eased Brierley into the Australian culture. After reading this section of the Autobiography I found the Local Indian Community to be very irritating because the Brierley’s were only trying to connect their son with his cultural background, they weren’t there to cause any harm. It’s also frustrating for me to hear that they were letting non-Indian families such as, Fijians and South Africans’ in to their community. It is heart-warming however to know that both his adoptive parents were being supportive by creating their own India at home. I feel I share a close relation to Brierley in this particular part of the text, as I myself had to leave Flinders Island for Launceston and felt I left that part of my life behind. However I was able to reconnect to this part of my life when my school set up various lunches aimed to help indigenous students such as myself. I was also involved in NAIDOC week assemblies where I would talk to my school about my culture. Connection is a key theme of ‘A Long Way Home’ and the ASIAC, Australian Society for Intercountry Aid (Children), provided that for Saroo. They were able to reunite Saroo with other Multicultural children from the orphanage, this gave him time to compare notes with some familiar faces and finally relax. ASIAC also flew Mrs Sood to Hobart which helped Saroo become more comfortable with his community and surroundings. ‘ASIAC also put me back in touch with some of the other kids from Nava Jeevan’ (Brierley, 2013, p. 90). It is in my opinion that the ASIAC are one remarkable organisation not only have they single handily saved the lives of deprived children, they have changed the adoption process and gone out of their way to assure that children are comfortable with their new families.

‘A Long Way Home’ has drastically challenged my definition of community, connections and belonging. Before laying my eyes upon the Autobiography, I didn’t take in to consideration the importance of connections. Without them Brierley would never have rekindled his relationship with mother and I may never have discovered my ancestors. Furthermore this Autobiography has challenged my faith in the wider community, previously my definition of community was a group of people coming together to create brighter futures and a welcoming environment, no matter what skin colour you may have. I now believe that a community is a group of unwelcoming and racist people who criticise other community members on their religion, culture, sexuality etc. the also criticize people for the choices they may make. In the Brierley’s case this may have been adopting Indian children to give them a second chance .Lastly, Saroo’s journey has shaped and recreated a new definition of belonging, I have now realised that in order to belong you don’t have to be a part of a group or team. I feel belonging is to be with your family, feel safe in a certain environment, whether it may be religion, culture or sexuality. There will never be a definition of belonging for I believe that everyone will create and hold their own.

Bibliography

Brierley, S. (2013) A Long Way Home. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Penguin Group

Bibliography: Brierley, S. (2013) A Long Way Home. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Penguin Group