BOOK REVIEW
Glimpses of Life in America
Review
by Syed Osman Sher
Glimpses
of Life in America by Arif Hussaini
Publisher: Royal Book Company, Karachi, Pakistan
Published: 2005
Pages: 266
Glimpses of
Life in America is the title of the book written
by Syed Arif Hussaini. The author needs no introduction.
A civil servant and a diplomat, he has seen a lot
of the world and acquired varied experiences of
life; also, he is a prolific writer whose column
appears every week in the prestigious weekly Pakistan
Link, published from California.
The book mirrors the United States, popularly known
as America, in its multifarious images. It reflects
the various shades and colors of the American life,
right from the land and its people to its political
relations with the world, as well as the author’s
personal encounter with life in the United States.
While in this book we find the United States trying
to portray its image as an overwhelming power dominating
the world, we also come face to face with numerous
queer aspects of life bringing the ordinary American
down to earth. Yes, we view portrayals of ordinary
mortals, in the streets, in bureaucratic garbs,
full of ambitions and American dreams, generally
laboring to live well, but trifling at the same
time with sexuality and family values, and so on.
The way Arif Hussaini expresses the seriousness
of life is not bland but is blended with humor.
It lessens the pain of an unpleasant situation.
He has the magic to turn even the personal tragedy
into a breath of fresh air. He writes: “Some
time back, I had received a letter from the Social
Security office informing me that I had died. The
letter, rather a NOTICE OF ACTION as it was called
bore my name as the addressee and said: ‘Medical
coverage for the above named will be discontinued
effective -/-/ 1998 because we have been notified
of the person’s death. There are no special
death or burial benefits provided under the Medi-Cal
program’ ”. When Hussaini reaches the
Social Security office to understand what the Notice
of Action meant, or to make the bureaucrats understand
the real situation, “the moon-faced, oriental-looking
lady at the window was all charm. I informed her
that I was not dead but it was my wife who had passed
away and I had myself informed their office of her
demise. The lady kept saying Hokay, Hokay (OK) to
emphasize the clarity of her comprehension. She
also took some notes….Lo and behold! Within
a couple of weeks of all that ‘hokay. Hokay’
I received another notice saying exactly the same
thing.”
According to Hussaini, the Americans bend backwards
to be nice and friendly. The blacks of the country
are referred to as African-Americans, a computer
is sold with label of user-friendly, a car is called
diver-friendly, a laxative is bowels friendly, and
lavatory is named a restroom where escaping from
the rigors of the workplace one can really rest.
The United States, the author maintains, is a free
society that provides ample opportunity to an individual
to take whatever shape he likes. In the egalitarian
American cultural milieu, nobody is devalued or
overvalued because of his birth in a particular
class. It is up to the person concerned to make
his life or mar it. A person like Bill Clinton,
belonging to a family of ordinary means, rose to
the position of the President of the United States.
On the other hand, Patty Hearst, the granddaughter
of the multimillionaire media Mogul, Randolph Hearst,
landed in jail for joining a criminal gang and taking
part in a robbery.
From all over the world, the poor, deprived, uneducated,
affluent, intellectuals, and freedom seekers set
their eyes towards this land. It is deemed to be
full of opportunities and where all the comforts,
luxuries and riches of life chase a person.
This book would be a valuable asset for them in
understanding the real-life in America. The book
pictures the country not only in its greatness,
its military might, administrative grandeur, social
security network, and individual freedom, but also
in shattering its image of larger than life.
The book is a collection of Hussaini’s writings
that have been published earlier in journals. Here
a selection has been made with the intent to focus
on the American life alone. The getup of the book
is wholesome, but the contents section shows some
niggardliness by not giving the page number of each
of the articles, which makes it difficult for the
reader to locate the one he chooses to read.
Even the greater anomaly I find is with the title
cover. It should portray how the reader should look
at America and not the other way round. It shows
in the backdrop of the American flag, a frowning
Uncle Sam pointing his finger towards us saying:
“You, the scum of the global society!”
Those interested in the book may contact the author
at: arifhussaini@hotmail.com
(Syed Osman Sher is the author of several books
on Indian history and an occasional contributor
to Pakistan Link)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
