Society
Please, no more flock wallpaper
Published 25 April 2005
Observations on young British Asians
Asian weddings are re- nowned for opulence, bordering on kitsch, as my friend Neelesh found when he got married a couple of years ago. He and his wife had hoped for (and hinted at) sleek furnishings and matching home accessories. Instead, they were given a set of nylon, peacock-patterned blankets, more home-made floral settee covers than they knew what to do with, and red-and-gold plastic tissue-box holders.
As such, I do not blame the two out of three betrothed Brits who, according to a new survey, prefer banknotes to beautifully wrapped presents. Cash is certainly catching on among British Asian couples. For the weddings I attend, the last-minute panic to buy an original and inspired present has been replaced by a visit to the cash machine. But this is not simply a reaction to growing up in homes where doilies cover every surface and 1960s flock wallpaper is the ultimate in chic. Unlike their parents, young British Asians are buying into today's home interiors-obsessed society, and are sold on DIY culture.
This generation of Asians does not carry the sense of impermanence that characterised their parents' and grandparents' generations. The eager Pakistanis who travelled to find work in London and the industrial north were armed with a five-year plan that made interior decor a very low priority. For many, the idea was to work in the UK for five years and take their earnings back to the subcontinent. This condition of temporary exile was signalled by their homes.
"The mismatched furniture was a case of just making do with what they had, until they moved on to their permanent home, wherever that may be," explains Homi K Bhabha, author of The Location of Culture. "The suitcases on top of wardrobes that are a constant feature in Asian homes in the UK emphasise the travellers' condition, ready to pack up and leave as and when they decide, or are forced to."
In fact, most never did return to Pakistan. Some tried, but found they could not settle, as "back home" had become more foreign than the foreign land they had been living in. Though they then became more or less permanently resident in Britain, they remained, in their minds, temporary exiles.
Not so with young British Asians. They don't wish to live the rootless, in-between lives of their elders. By requesting cash instead of gifts, the new generation is showing that it intends to stamp its personality on to its homes, invest its identity in every stylised detail, and lay down roots to foster memories and belonging. British Asians see themselves as being here to stay, and what better way of emphasising this than exercising control over every aspect of their symbols of permanent residence: their homes.
Post this article to
We want to encourage people to comment on our content and to exchange views with other readers and hope this will be done on a courteous basis. However, if you encounter posts which are offensive please let us know by emailing comments@newstatesman.co.uk and we will take swift action where necessary.
