Mohsin Hamid, an award-winning Pakistani author known for thought-provoking novels like "The Reluctant Fundamentalist," discusses his latest work, "The Last White Man." He delves into themes of race and identity, recounting the story of Anders, who experiences a dramatic racial transformation. The conversation covers the implications of privilege and the importance of inclusive storytelling in shaping societal narratives. Hamid also reflects on global racial injustices spurred by recent events and the influence of grief on identity formation.
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Shifting Perceptions
Mohsin Hamid's experience living in the West changed after 9/11.
Increased scrutiny and suspicion altered his perceived racial identity, inspiring The Last White Man.
insights INSIGHT
Generational Divide
The Last White Man explores intergenerational love stories amid societal upheaval.
An older generation's broken promises contribute to a breakdown of generational compacts.
insights INSIGHT
Race as a Construct
Race is a social construct imagined into existence, not a biological reality.
Hamid destabilizes this construct in his novel by making race difficult to determine.
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In this novel, José Saramago narrates the story of an unexplained mass epidemic of 'white blindness' that suddenly and inexplicably afflicts nearly everyone in an unnamed city. The government responds by quarantining the blind in an abandoned mental asylum, where social order quickly deteriorates. The narrative follows a small group of characters, including the 'doctor's wife,' who is the only person to retain her sight. She guides her group through the harrowing conditions within the asylum and later in the city, as they struggle to survive and maintain some semblance of humanity. The novel explores themes of social decay, morality, and the resilience of human spirit in the face of catastrophic adversity[2][4][5].
Moth Smoke
Mohsin Hamid
Moth Smoke is Mohsin Hamid's debut novel, published in 2000. It tells the story of Darashikoh Shezad, a banker in Lahore who loses his job and becomes embroiled in a life of drugs and crime. The novel explores themes of identity, class, and societal decay in Pakistan during the late 1990s. Through Daru's narrative, Hamid critiques the elite's detachment from the broader society and the country's pursuit of nuclear power.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Mohsin Hamid
Satya Bhabha
Hamid Yoshin
The Reluctant Fundamentalist follows Changez, a young Pakistani man who excels at Princeton and lands a prestigious job in New York. However, after the 9/11 attacks, he faces discrimination and begins to question his identity and loyalty. The novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the impact of global politics on individual lives. Changez's journey leads him to return to Pakistan, embracing his roots and rejecting his American life.
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Anders wakes up one day to find that his skin has turned dark. Soon it transpires that this is happening to people all over the land, leading first to panic which then turns into an upheaval in establishment, power, and compassion.
In this Kafka-esque tale, award-winning Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid explores how we as a society define the concepts and structures of race, and how much in turn we let them define us. To delve deeper into The Last White Man, Mohsin Hamid joins us on the podcast, in conversation with BBC broadcaster Razia Iqbal.
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