Lesson: In Search of Identity

A. Discussion

Have you ever read the “Problem Page” in magazines or newspapers? What kinds of problems do people often write about?

B. Reading and Discussion

Here are two letters from the problem page of the Daily Bangladesh. Read them and discuss with a partner what you think the content of the letters is about. Use a dictionary to check the meanings of any unfamiliar words.

Avajon’s Problem Page

You are not alone…

(Picture: A group of people living in makeshift shelters on a city sidewalk)

Dear Avajon:

I’m often saddened to see the city’s sidewalks occupied by homeless people. They live in makeshift shacks. I can’t imagine how a father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, and children all live in such cramped quarters. In the few square yards they occupy, they sleep, socialize, cook, and even try to maintain their appearance. These people are living in inhumane conditions! This is not the image of a civilized society. They are also polluting the environment and seem unconcerned about their health and hygiene.

Out of curiosity, I talked to some of these people. They have their own homes and identities in their villages. They are here because they believe life will be better in the city. What an irony! Can’t society or the government do anything for these people?

However, I must admit that I’m amazed to see how they tidy up their areas, especially in the evenings! Home, sweet home, after all!

Mithun

(Picture: Avajon, the advice columnist)

Dear Mithun:

I understand your concerns. The migration of people from rural to urban areas is a significant social problem in many countries like ours. These homeless individuals are undoubtedly a burden on the cities to which they migrate. When the numbers are large, it is challenging for any government to resettle them quickly.

Look at it from another perspective. The people you described have lost their roots and cannot assimilate into the new culture. Many of them may be attracted by the allure of the city, but I’m sure many others were driven by necessity. People become rootless for reasons such as climate change, river erosion, social inequities, or poverty.

However, you can’t solve this problem overnight. But you can take steps to improve their living conditions. Why don’t you form a committee with other young people in your area to teach them basic health and hygiene practices? This could improve their lives and help you minimize pollution. Give it a try!

Yours, Avajon

C. Pronoun Reference

Identify who/what the pronouns they, their, this, that, and it refer to in the following sentences:

• a) “They are living in some makeshift shacks.”
• b) “Within the few square yards they occupy, they sleep, socialize, cook, and even try to maintain their appearance.”
• c) “This is not the image of a civilized society.”
• d) “Why don’t you form a committee with other young people in your area to teach them basic health and hygiene practices?”
• e) “Give it a try!”

D. Problem Letters and Advice

Work in pairs.

1. Write two problem letters. The problems can be personal or related to your locality, as in Section B.
2. Exchange letters with your partner and provide suggestions for each other’s problems.

E. Role Play

Work in groups. Choose roles from the following: TV Anchor, Mojnu Mia, Fazlur Rahman, and Nilima Chowdhury.

Complete the dialogue by conjugating the verbs in parentheses. Then act out the talk show.

TV Anchor: Welcome, viewers, to our program “Looking Back to Roots.” Today we (have) ______ three guests with us—Mr. Mojnu Mia, a slum dweller, Mr. Fazlur Rahman, an immigrant to the UK, and social scientist Nilima Chowdhury. Today, we (explore) ______ how people (feel) ______ when they are disconnected from their roots, what some consequences might be, and how a social scientist (interpret) ______ these issues.

Let me turn to Mr. Mojnu Mia. Mojnu Mia, where (be) ______ you from, and why and how (come) ______ you to the city?

Mojnu Mia: I (be) ______ from Sherpur. You (know) ______ it’s a river erosion-prone area. The river (wash away) ______ most of my farmland and (destroy) ______ my home. You could (say) ______ that I’m a refugee. My family and I (come) ______ to this city with our last savings. But I (be) ______ fed up with life here. I (sell) ______ vegetables as a hawker. I (work) ______ very hard, and I (have) ______ no time for my wife or children. We (live) ______ in a slum. It’s filthy. People are sometimes involved in various crimes. My kids (hate) ______ it. My wife and I (do) ______ too. In the village, everyone (know) ______ us, but here, nobody knows me. I have nowhere to (go) ______, no one to (stand) ______ beside me. Nobody (care) ______ about me. I (think) ______ the city (give) ______ me a decent life. But I was wrong.

TV Anchor: We are very sorry to (hear) ______ about your situation. Now let’s turn to Mr. Fazlur Rahman. Mr. Rahman, why (leave) ______ you your country, and how (feel) ______ you in the UK?

Fazlur Rahman: Well, I was young when I (go) ______ to the UK. My first few years were difficult. I (do) ______ all kinds of odd jobs. Gradually, I (gain) ______ experience. I (take) ______ several professional training courses. Over time, my English (improve) ______. Now I’m a citizen there. I (have) ______ my own house, a car, and a business. When I (arrive) ______ there, I was poor, but now I’m wealthy. I (pay) ______ a considerable amount of income tax, but to be honest, when I (think) ______ about my own country, I wish I (not go) ______ to the UK. This is my own country. I (miss) ______ my friends and family here. I miss my culture, traditions, food, and everything! I (live) ______ there for over 15 years, but there’s still a distinction between native people and expatriates like me. Perhaps we’ll never shake off our identity as foreigners.

TV Anchor: Okay, let’s hear an explanation of these problems from a social scientist, Nilima Chowdhury. Ms. Chowdhury, what are your interpretations of these issues?

Nilima Chowdhury: These issues are often referred to as a diaspora. A diaspora is created by the migration or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland. There may be various reasons for this, such as government action, political decisions, or the desire to avoid conflict and war. Diaspora has some common consequences. Once people are away from their roots, they experience a kind of culture shock and need time to (adjust) ______ to the new culture. Sometimes they never integrate. This (give) ______ them a feeling of homesickness. Despite strong attachments to their homelands or hometowns, diaspora people (struggle) ______ to return to their roots because of economic and social realities. This creates a sort of mental conflict and identity crisis that makes their lives unsettled. Sometimes, a lack of social acceptance, coupled with economic hardship, inadequate education, and weak family ties, can lead people to (get) ______ involved in crime. You might ask, “Does this (mean) ______ that people (not move) ______ to other cities or countries?”

People will continue to migrate, as we live in the 21st century, and the world is a global village. But we (need) ______ to be aware of the problems caused by migration. It is a reality that people with strong connections to their roots suffer less from these problems. So, instead of being captivated by the idea of a “better life,” we can try to (be) ______ content with what we have and gradually improve our situation without forgetting our roots.