Against the Grain

He started life in the simple world of a Kashmiri village. Here, each day was the same as ones gone before. Then one day, his parents announced that he is to go and live with relatives in England. They hoped for him to have a better life. Little did they know! We are taken on a journey with the boy as he becomes man in the newly developing multi-cultural world of the 1970s. We are given a glimpse into his life lived against the grain. With him, we encounter John Steinbeck, Bruce Springsteen and much more besides. We learn about his community as it becomes a part of the British landscape. With him, we also go on a faith adventure.... This is a wonderfully written story, full of human interest. Britain has long been multicultural but few of us understand what it is like to stand in the migrant's shoes. Rich in insight, uplifting in spirit, full of hope; this is a book for those who want to better understand contemporary society. Dr Paul Bendor-Samuel It is crucial to judge this book by its cover. It goes against the grain because there are few Pakistanis who can articulate the issues as well when it comes to being abruptly uprooted from one culture only to "make-a-go-of-it" in another. It goes against the grain because the author retains links to his heritage, while achieving full assimilation into British society. Steve Bell