From Fiction to Facts: Rohinton Mistry‘s Lend me your Light as a literary reflection on emigration from India to Canada

Structure Fiction: short story by Rohinton Mistry Fiction: short story by Rohinton Mistry Facts: General information about emigration from India to Canada Facts: General information about emigration from India to Canada Comparison fiction and facts Comparison fiction and facts

Lend me your Light Written by Rohinton Mistry Written by Rohinton Mistry Indian Kersi emigrates from India to Canada Indian Kersi emigrates from India to Canada Problems to adapt to the new culture Problems to adapt to the new culture Feeling of guilt Feeling of guilt Visits Bombay  disappointed Visits Bombay  disappointed Not able to overcome his problems Not able to overcome his problems

Message of the story  Message of the story  Shows how difficult living in a diaspora situation can be Shows how difficult living in a diaspora situation can be Story is part of the book „Tales from Firozha Baag“ Story is part of the book „Tales from Firozha Baag“

Rohinton Mistry Rohinton Mistry Emigrated from Bombay to Toronto Emigrated from Bombay to Toronto won several prices and two of his novels were even shortlisted for the Booker Price won several prices and two of his novels were even shortlisted for the Booker Price

Immigration regulations 1960s harsh immigration regulations were abolished 1960s harsh immigration regulations were abolished new immigration system, based on division of immigrants into 3 categories new immigration system, based on division of immigrants into 3 categories The Independent and Economic class The Independent and Economic class Family class Family class Refugee class Refugee class

Indians living in Canada Canada‘s population  30 million Canada‘s population  30 million About 5 Million foreign born About 5 Million foreign born 5.7% Indian 5.7% Indian people of Indian-origin people of Indian-origin 10% of Toronto‘s population is Indian 10% of Toronto‘s population is Indian

Integration Indian culture is present in Canada Indian culture is present in Canada Indians suffer from many problems  homesickness, stress, have to cope with discrimination Indians suffer from many problems  homesickness, stress, have to cope with discrimination Problems to enter labor market  no Canadian work experience, degrees aren't accepted Problems to enter labor market  no Canadian work experience, degrees aren't accepted Jobs don‘t fit to their level of education Jobs don‘t fit to their level of education

But majority economically successful But majority economically successful High level of integration  policy of multiculturalism High level of integration  policy of multiculturalism 1960s discussion started 1960s discussion started 1988 policy of multiculturalism part of constitution 1988 policy of multiculturalism part of constitution Cultural mosaic- unique parts fitting together into a unified whole Cultural mosaic- unique parts fitting together into a unified whole Measures  dual citizenship, support of cultural works of different ethnic groups, education in language and democratic rights Measures  dual citizenship, support of cultural works of different ethnic groups, education in language and democratic rights

Comparison fiction and facts Story reveals problems of emigration Story reveals problems of emigration There are many problem, but there are success stories either There are many problem, but there are success stories either Influence of Mistry's personal emigration experience Influence of Mistry's personal emigration experience  just one example, emigration is an individual experience  just one example, emigration is an individual experience