Background, Casually by Nissim Ezekiel
Published
in: Collected Poems: 1952–1988
Genre:
Autobiographical poem
Form:
Free verse
Summary
“Background,
Casually” is one of Nissim Ezekiel’s most personal and powerful poems. It tells
the story of his own life — his childhood, education, struggles with identity,
and eventual acceptance of India as his home. Ezekiel was born in Bombay into a
Bene-Israel Jewish family, which made him feel different from the majority of
Indians around him. In the poem, he recalls his early days in a Roman Catholic
school, where he was the only Jewish boy among Christian students. He describes
himself humorously as “a mugging Jew among the wolves,” meaning he was a
hardworking student surrounded by others who often teased or ignored him.
As
he grows older, Ezekiel experiences confusion and curiosity about the world. He
experiments with different beliefs and lifestyles, searching for meaning.
Hoping to find a better life, he travels to England, but there too he feels
like an outsider. Although he is Indian by birth, people in England see him as
foreign, and he realizes that he doesn’t belong there either. His search for
identity becomes a journey of learning through mistakes — what he calls “trial
and error.”
After
many struggles, he returns to India. At first, he finds India’s landscape harsh
and painful — he says, “The Indian landscape sears my eyes,” meaning that
India’s poverty, heat, and contradictions deeply affect him. But gradually, he
begins to understand that this land, with all its flaws, is truly his home. By
the end of the poem, Ezekiel accepts himself completely, saying he has “made
his commitments now.” He decides to live and write in India, proud of his roots
and experiences. The poem ends on a confident and humorous note when he calls
himself “a poet, rascal, clown,” suggesting that he has accepted every side of
his personality — creative, mischievous, and human.
Theme and Central
Idea
The main
theme of the poem is identity and self-realization. Ezekiel
explores his cultural roots, his alienation in his own land, and his eventual
acceptance of his Indian identity. The poem captures the poet’s inner
conflict between his Westernized education and his Eastern heritage,
ultimately leading to self-acceptance and artistic maturity.
Other major
themes include:
Search for identity in a postcolonial world
Religious and cultural alienation
Conflict between tradition and modernity
The artist’s journey toward self-discovery
Irony and self-criticism in personal reflection
Structure and Form
The poem is
written in three parts, each reflecting a stage in the poet’s
life:
Childhood and family background
Youth and education
Maturity and self-acceptance
The poem is
written in free verse, allowing a conversational, reflective
tone. The simplicity of language and the use of irony make it both personal and
universal.
Style and Language
Ezekiel’s
style is marked by:
Irony and humor – He mocks himself and his
circumstances gently.
Conversational tone – The poem reads like
an honest confession.
Plain language – No ornamentation; the focus is
on sincerity and thought.
Symbolism – The journey from alienation to
acceptance symbolizes the search for identity faced by postcolonial Indians.
Tone and Mood
The tone
moves from ironic and self-mocking in the beginning to philosophical
and accepting toward the end.
The mood shifts from confusion and disillusionment to peace
and self-realization.
Critical Opinion
Critics
often regard “Background, Casually” as Ezekiel’s spiritual
autobiography.
It mirrors T.S.
Eliot’s “The Journey of the Magi” in its movement from confusion to
understanding.
It also
shows the influence of modernist confessional poetry, where
the poet speaks directly about his own life.
The poem is
a manifesto of Ezekiel’s poetic identity — honest, self-aware,
and rooted in India.
Conclusion
“Background,
Casually” is a remarkable journey from alienation to self-realization.
It is both a personal confession and a reflection of the postcolonial Indian
intellectual’s struggle for identity. Nissim Ezekiel emerges as a poet who
embraces his hybrid background with pride and humility. The poem ends on a note
of reconciliation, where the poet finally accepts himself as he is — an
Indian by choice and conviction.
Central
Idea
The
central idea of the poem is the poet’s search for identity and belonging.
Ezekiel feels alienated both in India and abroad because of his mixed cultural
background. However, through self-reflection and experience, he learns that
true identity does not depend on nationality or religion — it comes from
self-acceptance. The poem beautifully expresses the journey from confusion to
confidence, from alienation to belonging.
Themes
The
main themes of “Background, Casually” are identity, alienation,
self-acceptance, and cultural conflict. The poem also reflects the tension
between Indian and Western values that many modern Indians face. Ezekiel shows
how a person can live between two worlds yet still belong somewhere. He learns
that instead of rejecting his Indian identity, he must embrace it. The poem
finally celebrates reconciliation — the poet’s peace with himself and with his
country.
Search
for Identity – Personal and
cultural identity crisis.
Alienation
and Belonging – Feeling like
an outsider both in India and abroad.
Self-Acceptance – Coming to terms with his mixed identity.
Cultural
Conflict – Clash
between Western modernity and Indian tradition.
Home and
Exile – The poet’s
realization that true belonging lies in accepting one’s roots.
Structure
The poem is written in three
sections.
It is free verse, without rhyme or
meter.
It moves from childhood → adulthood → self-realization.
Style
and Language
Conversational and autobiographical tone
Irony and self-mockery
Simple, direct English
Reflects both urban Indian and cosmopolitan
experience
Tone and
Style
The
tone of the poem is casual, ironic, and conversational.
Ezekiel uses humor and self-mockery to talk about serious subjects like
alienation and belonging. His language is simple and clear, making the poem
sound like a conversation rather than a formal speech. The free verse style
allows him to speak naturally, just as one would while narrating real-life
experiences. His honesty and humility give the poem a deeply human touch.
Autobiographical
Elements
“Background,
Casually” is completely autobiographical. It mirrors Nissim Ezekiel’s real life
— his Jewish background, schooling in Bombay, education in England, and final
acceptance of India. Each stage in the poem represents a stage in his life:
childhood innocence, youthful confusion, and mature understanding. It is his
poetic autobiography written with humor and truth.
Detailed
Analysis
1. Autobiographical
Tone
The
poem is deeply personal. Ezekiel narrates his own life — childhood, education,
experiences abroad, and his return to India — reflecting his journey
of self-discovery.
2.
Search for Identity
Ezekiel
feels alienated
both in India (because of his Jewish background) and abroad (because of his
Indian origin). This double alienation pushes him to search for a stable
identity, which he ultimately finds within himself and his Indian context.
3.
Indian English Experience
Ezekiel
was among the first Indian poets to use English to express truly Indian
experiences. He combines Indian themes with English form,
showing that Indian poetry in English can be authentic and meaningful.
4. Tone
and Style
Conversational and humorous
Introspective and ironic
Free verse, with irregular rhythm
Simple but powerful diction
5. The
Title – “Background, Casually”
The
title suggests that Ezekiel presents his background — his life story —
in a casual,
conversational manner, without pretension.
Text of the Poem
A
poet-rascal-clown was born,
The frightened
child who would not eat
Or sleep, a boy
of meagre bone.
He never learnt
to fly a kite,
His borrowed
top refused to spin.
I went to Roman
Catholic school,
A mugging Jew
among the wolves.
They told me I
had killed the Christ,
That year I won
the scripture prize.
A Muslim
sportsman boxed my ears.
I grew in
terror of the strong
But
undernourished Hindu lads,
Their
prepositions always wrong,
Repelled me by
their smells and shouts.
I often wish I
had a stone
To shatter
every window-pane.
I learned to
laugh and even dance.
I learned to
wince at every whiff
Of human
difference, and to grow
In leaner parts
of compromise.
I never learnt
to fly a kite.
I grew in
terror of the strong
But
undernourished Hindu lads.
I went to Roman
Catholic school,
A mugging Jew
among the wolves.
At thirty-six,
the strongest years,
The world was
theirs, my time was mine.
A poet, rascal,
clown was born.
I dreamt that
all was well,
But then the
trouble came.
I went abroad,
pursued the unknown.
The unfamiliar
streets, the alien tongue,
The cold
climate, the unspoken fears,
And what I saw,
and what I heard —
All this became
my secret shame.
Returning to
India was not easy.
The Indian
landscape sears my eyes.
I have made my commitments
now.
This is one: to
stay where I am.
As others
choose to give themselves
In some remote
and backward place.
My backward
place is where I am.
A poet, rascal,
clown was born.
Paraphrase
Stanza
1: Early Life and Education
“A poet-rascal-clown was born…”
The
poet begins by talking about his birth. He calls himself a poet,
rascal, and clown, meaning he is creative, mischievous, and
humorous — all at once.
He was born into a Jewish family in Bombay, a
small community in India.
He
went to a Roman Catholic school, where he
was the only Jewish boy among Christian students — he calls himself “a
mugging Jew among the wolves.”
This means he felt lonely and different, often bullied or mocked for being
different.
He
studied hard, though he didn’t always understand what life meant.
As a young man, he had ambitions — to learn, to
explore, and to find out who he was.
Stanza
2: Youthful Confusion and Experiments
In
his youth, he tried different things — he
became friends with different kinds of people, had various interests, and even
made mistakes.
He looked for meaning in philosophy, politics, and relationships, but nothing
gave him peace.
He traveled
abroad (to England), hoping to find a better life there.
However, in England too, he felt like a stranger — neither fully accepted nor
understood.
He realized that running away from his background did not help; his identity
followed him wherever he went.
He
says he had many “trials and errors” — he
experimented, made wrong choices, and suffered, but learned from them.
Stanza
3: Return to India and Self-Acceptance
After
years abroad, he decided to return to India.
Even though India had problems — poverty, heat, chaos, and contradictions — he
realized it was his true home.
He says, “The Indian landscape sears my eyes”,
meaning that India’s realities deeply affect and shape him.
He
now accepts India completely — with all its imperfections.
He no longer feels ashamed or confused about who he is.
He accepts that he is an Indian poet, even though he
writes in English and belongs to a minority religion.
He
declares proudly, “I have made my commitments now.”
This shows that he has found peace and purpose — he will stay in India, write
about it honestly, and live truthfully.
He
ends the poem by saying he is “a poet, rascal, clown.”
This shows that he accepts himself fully — with all his flaws, humor, and
contradictions.
Difficult
Words and Meanings
|
Word
/ Phrase |
Meaning
(in simple English) |
|
Casually |
In an informal, relaxed way;
without seriousness |
|
Poet-rascal-clown |
A person who is creative (poet),
mischievous (rascal), and humorous (clown) — Ezekiel describes himself like
this |
|
Mugging
Jew among the wolves |
“Mugging” means studying hard;
“Jew among the wolves” means being a Jewish boy among Christian students —
feeling alone and different |
|
Bene-Israel |
A small Jewish community in India,
to which Ezekiel belonged |
|
Roman
Catholic school |
A school run by Christians
(Catholics) |
|
Philosophy |
Study of knowledge, truth, and
life’s meaning |
|
Alienation |
Feeling of being alone or not belonging
anywhere |
|
Identity |
The sense of who you are — your
name, background, and personality |
|
Trial
and error |
Learning by making mistakes and
correcting them |
|
Confusion |
Not being sure or clear about
something |
|
Rebellion |
Fighting against accepted ideas or
authority |
|
Disillusionment |
Realizing something is not as good
as you believed |
|
Landscape |
The view of land or surroundings;
here it means India’s physical and cultural setting |
|
Sears
my eyes |
Burns or hurts my eyes; deeply
affects me emotionally |
|
Commitments |
Promises or responsibilities one
accepts in life |
|
Alien |
Foreign, strange, or not belonging |
|
Indifferent |
Not caring much about something |
|
Belonging |
Feeling of being accepted and part
of a group or place |
|
Exile |
Being forced to live away from
one’s home country |
|
Irony |
Expressing meaning by saying the
opposite; humor mixed with seriousness |
|
Autobiographical |
Based on one’s own life story |
|
Satire |
The use of humor or irony to
criticize something |
|
Self-mockery |
Making fun of one’s own weaknesses
or mistakes |
|
Cosmopolitan |
Having international culture or
mixed background |
|
Contradictions |
Opposite ideas existing together |
|
Commitment |
Strong decision or promise to do
something |
|
Acceptance |
Agreeing to or being at peace with
something |
|
Reconciliation |
Becoming friendly or at peace
after conflict |
|
Expatriate |
A person who lives outside his own
country |
|
Assimilation |
Becoming part of another culture
or group |
|
Introspection |
Thinking deeply about one’s own
thoughts and feelings |
|
Modernist |
A person or style that breaks traditional
rules; new and experimental |
|
Cultural
conflict |
Clash between two different ways
of life or values |
|
Belief |
Trust or faith in something |
|
Belongingness |
The feeling that you fit in
somewhere |
|
Detachment |
Emotional distance; not feeling
connected |
|
Realization |
The moment when you understand
something clearly |
|
Acceptance
of self |
Being satisfied and peaceful with
who you are |
Questions
1. What is the poem “Background, Casually”
about?
The poem is about Nissim Ezekiel’s own life story — his search for identity and
belonging. It narrates his childhood as a Jewish boy in India, his experiences
abroad, and his final acceptance of India as his home.
2. How does Ezekiel describe his childhood and
school life?
Ezekiel describes his early life with humor and irony. He went to a Roman
Catholic school, where he was a hardworking Jewish boy surrounded by Christian
students. He felt lonely but learned strength and patience from that
experience.
3. Why does the poet feel alienated both in
India and abroad?
In India, he feels alienated because of his Jewish background, and in England,
he feels alienated because of his Indian identity. He realizes that he does not
completely belong to either culture.
4. What does Ezekiel learn from his stay in
England?
He learns that running away from one’s roots doesn’t help. Identity cannot be
found in another country; it must come from accepting oneself. This realization
makes him return to India.
5. What does the line “The Indian landscape sears
my eyes” mean?
It means that the sight of India — with its poverty, suffering, and
contradictions — deeply affects and moves the poet. It also shows his emotional
bond with his homeland.
6. How does the poem end?
The poem ends on a confident note. The poet declares that he has made his
commitments — he has accepted his Indian identity and decided to live
truthfully. By calling himself “a poet, rascal, clown,” he embraces his
imperfections and humanity.
7. What are the main themes of the poem?
The main themes are identity, alienation, cultural conflict, and
self-acceptance. The poem also explores how one can belong to a country and
culture despite differences.
8. How is the tone of the poem?
The tone is casual, humorous, and reflective. Ezekiel speaks honestly about his
life, often making fun of himself to express truth without bitterness.
9. How is “Background, Casually” an
autobiographical poem?
It is autobiographical because it describes real events and feelings from
Ezekiel’s own life — his childhood in Bombay, his experiences abroad, and his
acceptance of India. The poem is his personal story written in poetic form.
10. What message does the poem convey?
The poem teaches that true peace comes from self-knowledge and self-acceptance.
Instead of rejecting his mixed identity, Ezekiel learns to embrace it. He finds
belonging not in place or religion, but within himself.
Conclusion
“Background,
Casually” is one of the finest examples of modern Indian English poetry. It is
both personal and universal — personal because it tells Ezekiel’s story, and
universal because many people experience similar feelings of confusion and
search for belonging. The poem shows that accepting who we are — our roots,
culture, and imperfections — leads to peace and confidence. Through humor,
honesty, and simplicity, Nissim Ezekiel teaches that identity is not given to
us; it is something we must create and accept ourselves.
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