Maria Chaudhuri’s new memoir Beloved Strangers charts one young Bangladeshi woman’s journey to escape: “It is not that home is an unhappy place. It is just that in her family, joy is ephemeral. With a mother who yearns for the mountains … and a charismatic but distant father … they are never able to hold on to happiness for very long.”
Chaudhari is able to find home in many places – from her childhood one in Bangladesh to new frenetic Asian megacities like Hong Kong.
How do you interpret the concept of ‘home?’ Your characters move past national boundaries and discover new cities to establish themselves in. In the 21st century, when even small children have lived in at least two different places by the time they are three, the concept of home is anything but stationary.
For myself, the answer to “Where is home?” depends on what is being implied by the question. Am I being asked where I was born, where I live now, where I would ideally like to live or where I might end up living?
Certainly the answers to each of those would be different. And in many ways I find that to be such a liberation. I find it so terribly comforting that I can carry my home in my heart, sometimes more than one.
This is the idea that my narrative explores, this idea of a mobile, intangible home that has more to do with our souls than the physical habitation of our bodies. I think this idea is relatable to anyone, anywhere, in today’s world.
Are there any stories that are particularly made for Bangladesh or a Bangladeshi audience? No, not really. Stories are stories and their very strength lies in being accepted by readers across the board. Certain imagery or settings or historical references specific to Bangladesh may be easily recognised by the Bangladeshi reader, but that doesn’t mean the story is meant only for them.
How would you describe the literary culture of Bangladesh? “Bangla shahitto” has always thrived in Bangladesh despite many odds, and Bangla Academy is an example of that tradition. As far as the English literary scene, I’d have to say it has gathered speed and momentum in the last decade or so. As a Bangladeshi writer writing in English, this is terribly exciting for me. I feel that I am part of a movement that is young but promising.
What do you wish you would see more of among Bangladeshi writers? This year some wonderful new work is being launched by more Bangladeshi writers. I don’t feel like anything is lacking in terms of the diversity of topics and genres that have already been tackled by our very own. Kazi Anis Ahmed has written political fiction, Ahsan Akbar has written an incredible collection of poetry that has all the qualities of humor, heartache and honesty.
I’ve written a memoir. I suppose what’s different about memoirs in the Bangladeshi context is that no one has quite attempted anything like it in recent years. Biographies and autobiographies are prevalent enough, but not exactly memoir.
