Gifted by Nikita Lalwani

Lalwani, Nikita. Gifted, New York : Random House,c2007.

This story deals with an immigrant child, who is considered ‘gifted’ child.  Rumika Vasi struggles to fulfil her family’s demand on her.  Her father is determined that his daughter be accepted into Oxford University at the tender age of 14 – as the youngest undergraduate. 

Shreene, Rumika’s mother resentfully accepts the household’s dominance of Rumika’s studies, while contemplates how she is to raise her daughter as a proper young Indian woman.  Rumi grapples with maths and also with the new equation called love.

Lalwani portrays a myriad of cultural contradictions and Rumi’s warm relationship with India.  Although Rumi was born in the UK she has never felt at home in the UK.  The books deals with subverted immigrant identity clichés – neither of Rumika’s parents feel accepted in the Welsh community, so they channel their energies into making Rumika a child prodigy and thereby want to be recognised.

Interesting read to observe that Rumi, who has a deprived childhood a math nerd rebels against this regime and seeks a life of her own.

Nikita Lalwani, was born in Rajasthan and raised in Cardiff.  Her book “Gifted” was long listed for the Man Booker Prize.  Currently this book is being translated into 16 languages and the book has been adapted by BBC Radio 4 as a drama.