Glasgow: Through the eyes of first generation Indians
Have you read a book about Glasgow seen through the eyes of first generation Indians? Twice Born does just that. The novel follows the life of a young couple from India and their experiences in Glasgow.
Twice Born peels away the layers and presents the simmering progress of their life in Glasgow.
Straddling the two cultures, putting down their roots while not forgetting their liberal family values steeped in an ancient culture is a delicate balance for them.
The overarching themes of the novel are the universal aspects of love, identity and betrayal. An interesting aspect of the novel is that it also follows Scotland's fight for Independence as the political events parallels their lives.
Leela Soma's very first foray into publishing came when she entered two poems and raised a modest amount for a breast cancer charity. Her portfolio contains poems and a collection of short stories, some entirely in Glasgow dialect.She won the Margaret Thomson Davis Trophy for Best New Writer 2007 for Twice Born.
Leela was formerly a principal teacher of modern studies in Glasgow. She is married with one daughter. and lives in Milngavie, Glasgow. She arrived in Scotland in the late 60s and says of the city 'This is my home. I love Glasgow as much as my birth city of Madras Chennai. I am proud to be Scottish and Indian.'Click below for the interview:
