Identity

One of the main themes of the autobiography Greetings from Bury Park by Sarfraz Manzoor is identity. Throughout his life, Sarfraz struggles to reconcile his British and his Pakistani identity. He only comes to terms with who he really is later in life, when he is in his thirties and openly embraces his British identity without feeling guilty anymore. 

As a child, Sarfraz is more connected to Britain than to Pakistan, even though he was born in the city of Paharang. Because he immigrates to Britain when he is only a toddler, Sarfraz does not maintain an emotional connection to Pakistan, like his older siblings, and sees Britain as his home. 

This idea is reinforced when, in his teenage years, he travels to Pakistan and claims he feels “alienated and alone in a strange place far away from home” (Land of Hope and Dreams, 28%). Although he has fun with his cousins, Sarfraz constantly feels “homesick” (Land of Hope and Dreams,32%), which shows that he does not see himself as Pakistani. Furthermore, his feeling is enhanced by his relatives who refer to him as English: “the door towards feeling Pakistani has slammed in my face” (Land of Hope and Dreams,40%). 

Despite feeling that Britain is his home, Sarfraz is relu...