Published on May 11, 2008

Reminiscences of an Immigrant: Struggles and Achievements Sam Lingayah Published by Pro Bono Books, 2008 ISBN 978-0-9542872-2-1 317 pages, £10 + p&p. £3 Distributed by Gardners Books: www.gardners.com Copies also available from S. Lingayah, 38 Kimberley Rd. London N17 9BJ, Tel. O20 8801 8343 Shortly also From Le Printemps, Mauritius, at Rs 700.

The approach used in writing this book is down-to-earth without any academic pretensions. It is primarily seeking to convey events as experienced, with all the raw feelings, frustration, anger and hopelessness, as aroused at specific times and occasions in the author’s quest for his dreams and goals. Reviewers’ Comments “Dr Sam Lingayah’s Reminiscences has described the unfolding of a human drama in its rawest and purest form. Prof. Roger Haw, Ansted University.” “This is a story of our time that should be read by all who decry immigrants and immigration. Sam Lingayah’s story of his life from day labourer to retired Social Worker with PhD is proof of the achievements of a liberal British state and condemnation of recent policies shutting down access to such opportunities. Today [a student without formal qualifications could not do this] and that is a measure of the way we have moved backwards rather than forwards as a civilised nation”. Prof. Tim Butler, King’s College London. A Child Labourer’s Quest for Social Justice Sam Lingayah, born into a working class family in a superstition-dominated close community, where he developed an acute observation and consciousness of social injustice from an early age during his experiences as a child labourer. He began to question the fact that why his and other working class’s parents could never make ends meet, despite hard work and sacrifices. Viewing this as a monstrous injustice, he embarked on a long gruelling journey, vowing to challenge it. Child Labourer to British Soldier Failing to resolve the problem in his community, Sam left home in order to serve apprenticeships in greengrocery and also attempting to learn to drive a bulldozer. Unable to accept deeply rooted tradition of his community, he was dubbed as a maverick, an influenced to be avoided by his peers. This status was confirmed by the ultimate outrage of joining the British army on his 18th birthday and served overseas. To his great surprise, it was during the army service in the Middle East that he discovered the key to overcoming the indignity of poverty but also his potential for self-development for greater things in life. The Indian Odyssey Demobilised from the army after a three-year service, the impatient Sam betrayed his parents’ trust in trying to implement his education programme in India. His father’s sudden death severely interrupted financial support. Unable to pay college fee, he was expelled. Destitute, he encountered some physical violence in Bombay; expulsion from Gandhi’s ashram; and, experiencing a relapse of depression, lost faith in life’s worthiness.

Emigrating to England

Returning from India with the failed mission, Sam Lingayah encountered as a consequence the full brunt of a community bordering on feudalism and buried in a tradition of non-interference in the state of society as prevailed. Still bound by his commit to turn his life around, Sam, in 1961, Sam left the colony ravaged by chronic unemployment and joined the exodus to England. Persevering and taking any jobs that came across, he attended evening classes. In 1979, 14 years after emigration, he graduated in Sociology and began his social work career. He was a social work practitioner until 2008, 14 years of which he worked for Hackney Council. Exposure of corruption, conflict and bias in provision of services led to Sam’s harassment and finally to forced early retirement.

Life as Immigrants

The first part of the Reminiscences constitutes the backdrop to the life and struggle of another ambitious migrant worker in the pursuit of dreams and goals. In doing so Sam has demystified the erroneous perception that migrant workers are a burden instead of an asset to their adopted country. Like many others, he has shown that hard work, sacrifices and tolerance have their rewards.

Celebration of Dreams and Goals

Fascinated by writing and further education, Sam Lingayah started writing and publishing articles on social work issues as long ago as 1983. He has also carried out a few studies. As for post-graduate education, in 1991, the once child labourer successfully studied for a Master’s Degree at Brunel University and in 1995 he completed his PhD thesis on Social Welfare in Mauritius at Middlesex University.

As Role Model

Reminiscences of an Immigrant is a story of our time, when immigration is preoccupying the mind of the nation. It is also an inspiring account of a long gruelling journey successfully realised and useful for others to emulate. It demonstrates vividly of the enormous often untapped human capacity and endurance for survival and success, the two main factors, which have driven so many outsiders into taking the great risks entailed in the initially uncertain migration adventure.

Sam Lingayah will be available for interview and will also be willing to write an article about his experiences. If you would be interested in talking to him, doing a feature/review on Reminiscences or even extracts from it, please contact Sam Lingayah on: 020 8801 8343