Having said all that, the vast majority of indians in the UK are model citizens and have only brought good things to the UK. The key thing is that the mentality of desis is usually to progress and move forward so they tend to do that and not get stuck in negative modes of behaviour. Even people who have been in jail (of which indians is the smallest minority in the UK, I believe) want to come out, put it all behind them and get on in the world in a legitimate manner. That is why desis tend to succeed pretty much anywhere they are.

You have some serious elitist arsehole on your face. How can you, specifically, speak for what’s “nice” for anyone, much less that anyone would aspire to your definition?

Maybe YOU didn’t grow up with a psychotic, abusive mother who hated your father and herself, and if that’s case, you have no perspective on the matter aside from a convenient, condescending ivory tower one. As far as I can tell, Aryian IS fixed! He overcame seriously sh!tty circumstances, reached out to his family (father) for the better, and is now an author gaining worldwide notice. Do you feel some sort of psychological discomfort/self-loathing because he doesn’t conform to your notions of what a sikh should be? If so, you’re the one in need of getting “nicer”.

You yourself are an academic, no? Do you consider yourself part of this insulated world? When I first read the piece, I wondered why you digressed for a full paragraph to discuss the character from your own novel. But in the context of the quote above, perhaps meeting your character’s embodiment is some sort of validation?

I enjoyed this piece very much. Thank you.