Tanzanian-British novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah— the winner of Nobel Prize in Literature in 2021, was at the Jaipur Literature Festival, delivering his keynote address in the inaugural session. During a roundtable discussion, The Quint's Nishtha Gautam caught up with the eminent writer who in a hearty chat, deliberated on a range of topics from immigrants in UK, their identity and take on international politics, implications of Brexit, rise of Rishi Sunak and taking the process of writing as a 'serious business'.
I want to ask about the relationship that immigrants, more like the perception they might share towards the monarchy in England because it's such a lived experience for white people and those born in that place and grow up with the monarchy as opposed to the POV of those who come from outside such as yourself. Do you think there is a difference in which immigrants perceive the monarchy?
I don't have much to say about the members of the monarchy for a lack of better sense. But people really do have a great deal of sympathy and feeling and affection for the institution which is held in high esteem and regard. Having said that, I'm not the right person to comment on how the immigrant community views the monarchy.