Saving Grace, by Carme Sanz
Dr Shah, an eminent cardiologist, was born in Battersea, a famous neighbourhood in London. He was a very peculiar man or, better to say, a peculiar doctor, because while he treats his patients, he likes to relate them the history of his own family.
Although he has never been to India, he has the
appearance of an Indian man, because his father came from this country. In those times, India was ruled by the British,
that means, before its independence in 1952.
His father was very fond of British culture, because
his family was one of the few that really revered the British, and was educated
as any boy in Britain. So, when the Second World War started, he fought for the
British and, in the D-Day, he was badly wounded in his leg. It was then when he
met Dr Chaudhry and, thanks to him, he could save not only his leg, but
probably also his life.
Dr Chaudhry came from India too, and, in those times,
not many people wanted to be treated by an Asian doctor, no matter how good he
or she was. At this point, Dr Shah liked to say that his father was really
lucky also because, thanks to his being in hospital, he met his future wife,
Nurse Rosie.
Dr Chaudhry became as a family member, and Dr Shah
thought he probably became a physician because of his mentorship.
To end up the story, he explained that his father had
been a hospital porter for ten years, and then a clerk, in spite of his poor education.
And this, thanks to his wife and probably to Dr Chaudhry.
As far as I am concerned, this story is easy to
understand. The author presents his main character, Dr Shah, as an honest and
calm man who likes to explain what happened to his family with all the issues
of the immigrant people, but without any anger or resentment, just with the
reality of facts. Things such as prejudice against foreigners were very strong
in the past and have changed nowadays, although probably less than we’d like to.
And eventually, how a man can feel a longing for his country and at the same
time be able to start a new life.
QUESTIONS
What do you know about the English rule in India?
“He was born into one of those families who revered
the British”. Is it possible friendship between owner and slave, between
colonizer and colonized?
Where is Poona? Can you point Birmingham, Bradford or
Battersea on a map?
Why sometimes a foreigner speaks the language better than natives?
According to your opinion, which position had to be
the Indian position in the WW2, pro or against Nazis, pro or against British?
Remember that Gandhi said that the British should not offer resistance to the
Nazis, even when he knew about the genocide.
Do you think our lives are directed by the chance, or
that we can decide our destiny?
What do you know about the D-Day?
He had an injured leg, and then he couldn’t go back to
fight. Is that good luck? What do you know about SIW?
What can you tell us about amputations?
“If they let him do, he could save them”, being
“he” a foreigner. What would you do in your case?
What does “Krupp” refer to?
“His home was in England now”. If you don’t live where
you’ve been born, how do you know where is “your country”?
What do you think about following one's parents' trade? Is it a good idea?
He said cardiology was the glamour field. What is it
now the glamour field in medicine?
Do you trust in foreigners when it’s an important job?
Why? Did you have any experience with them?
VOCABULARY
awash, cut up rough, consultant, chapter and verse, on
the mend, slot, overtook, mishap, whizzed, saving grace, stump, disadvantaged, pinstriped,
against all the odds, disclaimingly, beam, dexterous, worked up, puny, plumply
