My Rating - 4 out of 5 stars
Publisher - Lioncrest PublishingGenre - Non-Fiction/Memoir
Publishing year - 2020
Language - English
ISBN - 978-1544517155
Pages - 274
My Review -
Being an Indian girl, we heard many things from our parents, relatives, and society that describe the primary image of how we should talk, behave, and/or live our life. The boundaries we are not allowed to cross or to do things our way; I'm sure we all have heard this one, Humari izzat tumhare hath me he (Our family's honor is in your hand), don't do anything to ruin it. It simply means you can't fall in love, have sex before marriage, no parties or night outs, etc. All you have to do is study hard (if you're lucky enough to receive the education), and one day your parents will arrange your wedding with a stranger, and he will fuck you. Until then, save your virginity is the fundamental and legit thought process of Indian parents.
Generation Zero is Sabreet Kang Rajeev's debut book. It represents that even if your parents moved to America, they were stuck in Indian beliefs, affecting their children's lives. This book is a journey of Sabreet's parents and their American dreams and the course of a girl who has trouble finding her identity. At home, she is too American, and in school, a freaking brown person. So, with nowhere to go or have someone to talk to, she started manifesting negative thoughts about herself.
The dream of living in America and earning good money to support the family back in India made Sabreet's father an illegal immigrant. Soon his wife joined him and found that she is pregnant with Sabreet, and it changed their lives. Sabreet's parents belong to an orthodox part of India where the voice of women doesn't matter. It affected her adolescence and moulds her into a person who doesn't know how to convey emotions calmly and composed way. Her father suffered from the same issue, and I understand that people don't talk about mental health; they don't even know that they have any difficulties, nor they teach these things to the next generation.
Sabreet Kang Rajeev and her parents have all the symptoms of depression; no matter what they do, they don't feel enough or happy or whole. The underlying issues and the cultural difference took a toll on all of them. Her story also depicts gender favoritism and disparity. In India, most people treat boys as their investment plan or asset and girls as a liability. The author's parents were not any different, but they do provide good education to Sabreet. Indian parents have a tricky way of showing love and trust me, the children don't understand it. Many incidents were relatable and made me think that I go through the same.
The story will make you question Indian beliefs and traditions and help you build a sympathetic bond with the author. Sabreet's journey is inspiring, and with time, she understands her parents' POV. This story is all about individual growth; with time, a person changes and becomes much more than we believe them to be, and Sabreet is a real-life example of it. Her story is exceptionally cordial to all Indians and Indian Americans out there. I would recommend this fast-paced memoir.
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