Year of the Runaways Essay Two
Year of the Runaways (2015) is a novel by Sunjeev Sahota, a British
author of Indian descent. The book explores the lives of three Indian
migrants—who each come from very different backgrounds—trying to
build new lives in the UK. The story addresses issues of immigration,
exploitation, identity, and survival, offering a nuanced look at the human
cost of global migration.
The narrative follows three central characters:
1. Tochi – A young man from a small village in India, who has fled the
oppression and violence in his home country. He travels to England
illegally, hoping for a better future. Tochi is resourceful and driven by the
desire for a new life, but his journey is fraught with hardship as he
struggles to survive in a foreign land without legal documentation.
2. Randeep – A man who comes from a wealthier background in India but
has been driven to escape after an emotionally and psychologically taxing
family situation. He is also an illegal immigrant in the UK, dealing with the
alienation and humiliation of working in menial jobs beneath his
qualifications. His internal struggle centers around maintaining his dignity
in an environment where his worth is reduced to his labor.
3. Avtar – The third character is an older man who comes to England to
provide for his family. He is a kind of father figure to the younger men and
acts as a mentor, helping them navigate life in an unfamiliar and often
hostile country. However, Avtar too faces his own personal tragedies,
including an ongoing sense of failure and the emotional distance he has
with his family back home.
The novel's title, Year of the Runaways, refers to the year when these
characters, along with countless other undocumented immigrants, are
fleeing hardship and violence in their homeland to pursue an uncertain
future. This "year" encapsulates the urgency and desperation many
migrants feel as they attempt to start anew in a place where they are
often treated as outsiders.
Themes:
1. Immigration and Exploitation – The characters endure constant
exploitation, living in the shadows of society, working under exploitative
conditions, and facing the constant threat of deportation. Sahota sheds
light on the harrowing experiences of migrant laborers who are invisible in
the eyes of the state but vital to its economy.
2. Identity and Belonging – The novel delves into questions of identity,
particularly the characters’ internal struggle as they try to reconcile their
past lives in India with their present struggles in the UK. Their sense of
belonging is continuously challenged by their status as illegal immigrants
and the racial prejudice they face.
3. Hope and Despair – Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the
characters hold on to a sense of hope that things will improve. The
narrative highlights both the despair of their situations and the small
moments of connection that give them the strength to go on.
4. Class and Social Mobility – Randeep’s storyline, in particular, explores
themes of social class. Although he comes from an upper-middle-class
background, he finds himself performing menial labor in the UK, a stark
contrast to his earlier privileged life. This reversal of fortune highlights the
rigidity of social mobility in the face of systemic barriers like immigration
status and class.
Narrative Style:
Sahota employs a shifting narrative perspective, offering the reader
access to the inner lives of each character. The novel is written in a
manner that emphasizes the fragmented, uncertain nature of the
characters' lives, mirroring the dislocation and confusion they feel in their
new environment. The prose is stark and raw, with emotional depth,
capturing the complexity of human experience in the context of migration.
Critical Reception:
Year of the Runaways received critical acclaim for its portrayal of
contemporary issues and the human costs of migration. It was shortlisted
for the 2015 Booker Prize, which brought wider recognition to Sahota’s
work. Critics praised the novel for its empathy, depth, and the way it
sheds light on an often overlooked facet of modern life—the lives of
undocumented migrants.
Overall, Year of the Runaways is a powerful and poignant exploration of
the migrant experience in a globalized world, offering a rich, multifaceted
narrative about survival, dreams, and the meaning of home.
