Anita and Me is famous semi-autobiographical novel authored by Meera Syal. The novel was originally published in 1996. The story of novel sets in imaginary town, Tollington.
ANITA AND ME BY MEEERA SYAL
Summary of Anita And Me By Meera Syal
Meera Syal’s “Anita and Me” story begins with fictional English village, Tollington, 1970’s. The story of novel revolve around a character, Meena, a daughter of Indian immigrants. In novel starting, author tells us about her parents memories like how they came to England from India.
Meena grown up in Tollington with her parents. One day, Meena’s father caught her lying. Her father was very disappointed when he caught her lying. Meena love her parents as her parents are very supportive and guiding.
There are many other Indian immigrants who are living in Tollington like Meena and her parents. Meena and her parents love talking with other Indian immigrants and they also love to talk with them. Because it makes them feel connected to India.
By looking at her parents and other Indian immigrants, she get some advice that she should develop herself like an Indian typical girl. On the other hand, Meena wants to go out and do physical activities. Meena life changes when she meets Anita, a 13 years old local white girl.
Anita has a group of three friends which include Sherrie and Fat Sallly. And Anita is a leader of her three friends group. Meena noticed one thing about Anita that she create rivalry between her two friends so that she can lead and control them.
Meena is fascinated by Anita, the way she speak and behave is really fascinating. Meena soon become a follower of Anita knowing whenever Anita will talk to her she won’t talk respectfully. Meena started spending more time with Anita.
The story now features new character, Sam, a 16 years old white guy who has bad reputation in his town. Meena meets Sam. Sam is a bad guy though but he is kind to Meena and become good friend of her. One day, Meena’s mother was taking her to another city via car, car driver insult Meena and her mother by calling them Bloody wogs. Bloody wogs in an offensive terms which was uses for non white people.
This was the first time in Meena’s life that she faced racism like that. Meena wants to share this racism with her father but she realized that her father have also faced such racism. So Meena decides to not share it with her father.
After few weeks, Diwali came, Meena’s mother was cooking food, Meena wears her mother’s diamond necklace and goes to Anita. Then Anita and Meena go at Fair, on the way they came across haunted house named Big House.
In fair, Anita and Meena meets their friend Sherry and Sally. Anita, Sherry and Sally chooses one partner for themselves to roam in Fair. Anita did not introduce Meena to any of her male friends. It felt like a racism to Meena. Afterwards, Meena returns to her home.
There was Diwali gathering on Meena’s home, other Indian neighbour were also gathered at Meena’s home to celebrate Diwali. Meena’s father sing few Punjabi songs, he also ask Meena to sing songs. Meena sings song but while singing she mention vulgar sexual expression of Anita. Everyone get shocked to see Meena behaving like that as she is just a 10 years old girl. Meena’s parents tell her to go in in her room.
Meena listen her mother talk with their neighbour. Her mother was talking about her strange behavior with their neighbour. After listening her mother talk, Meena goes back at Fair. In Fair, Meena get shocked to see Anita’s mother kissing a boy named Dave because before that Anita was kissing also kissing Dave. Meena and Anita were walking and again they came across “Big House” and they entered into someone’s property while talking to each other.
Thereafter, Meena lost her mother’s diamond necklace. She has a fear, when she will return home then her mother will punish her. But when Meena returns home she get to know that her mother went to Hospital due to medical emergency. Meena’s mother was pregnant actually and when she went to hospital she learns her mother has given a birth to baby boy named, Sunil.
As Meena’s mother is in Hospital, she started spending more time with Anita. Meena and Anita convince other little girls to join their gang. The story now introduces new character, Tracey, a shy and mature sister of Anita.
Meena saw marks on Tracey’s leg, through which she learns that her father, Roberto may have sexually molest her. Tracey is different from Anita, she does not let anyone touch her. Through marks on her legs, it was clear that someone has sexually abused her. Meena’s behavior is changing day after day by living with Anita and other friends.
Meena goes at Mr. Ormerod’s shop along with her friend, Anita, Pinky and Baby. There Anita ask Meena to rob Charity box. Meena was so influence with Anita that she robbed Mr. Ormerod’s charity box from his shop.
When Mr. Ormerod learns about it, he goes at Meena’s home, he told her father that his daughter has robbed Charity box from his shop. Meena lies to his father and put all blame on her other friend, Baby. Meena is proud as she behaved the same way Anita does. To impress Anita, she lied to her father. But after some time, Meena feels guilty because she put her blame on somebody else just to save herself.
There comes new character, Mr. Pembridge, rich villager who organised big party as spring season come. He invites all the villager of Tollington so Meena, Anita and Sam were also there. The Villagers get tensed when Mr Pembridge annouce that they are building a new motorway in village for that they are going to destroy big part of Tollington.
Sam comes forward and started criticising Mr. Pembridge Motor project. Many villagers join Sam and they all criticize Mr Pembridge and he also criticize Wogs. Meena had good friendship with Sam but when she heard Sam saying Wogs, she decides to go home. As Meena was going, Anita stopped her and praises Sam good looks in front of her. So on this for the first time, Meena calls Anita stupid girl and returns to her mother.
Meena’s mother was feeling very tired as she had to do domestic duties. Meena’s mother called their Nani into their home. Through Nani, Meena learns lots of thing about Indian culture which she haven’t learn from her parents. Meena’s Nani told her many things about Indian history which are very fascinating.
Thereafter, Meena get attracted to Indian culture and she decides to explore India by herself. She formed a loving relationship with her Nani Maa. One day, Meena was on walk with her Nani and Sunil, she saw Sam talking with her Uncle with racism attitude. As Meena hates racism, she insult Sam and goes away from there.
As the story progresses, Meena learns that Anita’s mother has left them. Meena decides to become friend with Anita again. Meena also learns that Anita is in relationship with Sam. She returns home and started focusing on studies. Meena injured her leg by mistake so her parents bring her to hospital. There she meets a guy named Robert for whom she started falling.
As Meena discharged from hospital, she get to know that Robert is no more as he was dealing with life threatening disease. As well as her Nani goes back to her home. There comes Tracey who goes to Meena and ask her to follow her because she feels like someone is trying to kill her sister.
Meena and Tracey followed Anita till Big house where they saw Anita and Sam making love. Tracey thoughts its a violent attack so she attacks on Sam and Anita. Tracey fell into pound and died. At the end of novel, Meena has only one goal in life which is to score top in studies and goes out from this city.
She succeed in studies and decides to leave Tollington along with her parents. The most important theme of “Anita and Me” is culture and belonging. Even though Meena was born in England but she doesn’t feel connected to it and its people. She was always fascinated by Indian culture.