Mihir Bose, born in Kolkata shortly before Indian independence in 1947, still feels enormous gratitude towards Mr Crombie of the UK-s Home Office, who confirmed his permanent resident-s rights. After studying in Britain, Bose had dreamed of making a life and career there; now he could pursue it. Shiva Naipaul mocked him for reembracing the colonial lash, doubting Bose-s prospects as a writer-but he was wrong.
This absorbing account shows how Britain has changed dramatically for the better since the -60s. Then, Indian food was shunned, not adored; landladies wouldn-t rent Bose a room; white women would not have relationships for fear of mixed babies; and he suffered several assaults, fearing for his life.
Bose could not imagine then that the British would take such great strides towards multi-racial harmony. Yet Britain-s complex, sometimes deeply shameful, imperial legacy must still be addressed. India, defying its doubters, has been coming to terms with its tortured pas
