Firdaus Kanga
Encyclopedia
Firdaus Kanga is a writer and actor who lives in London
. He has written a novel, Trying to Grow
a semi-autobiographical novel set in India and a travel book Heaven on Wheels about his experiences in the United Kingdom
. Trying to Grow
was later turned into an award-winning BBC-BFI film, Sixth Happiness
, for which Kanga wrote the screenplay, and in which he starred. Alexander Walker of the Evening Standard said of Sixth Happiness
: "Firdaus Kanga's performance has battery pack power...a remarkable true story."
is about Brit - a boy born with brittle bones who never grows taller than four feet. It is also about the Parsi or Parsees - descendants of the Persian empire who were driven out of Persia by an Islamic invasion more than a thousand years ago and settled in western India. Parsees had a close relationship with the British during the years of the Raj. Brit is named by his mother, both after his brittle bones, and in tribute to his mother's love of Britain. The depiction of Brit's parents as ardent Anglophiles with fond memories of the Raj and WW2, presents a glimpse of a non-stereotypical Indian family. This, along with the story of a young disabled man's sexual awakening as family life crumbles around him makes Sixth Happiness
an interesting exploration of modern, urban India. Kanga's creation - both as writer and performer - resists drawing the main star Brit as either martyr or victim. Brit is bright, spiky, opinionated and selfish with a razor-sharp wit. He prefers the Kama Sutra to Shakespeare and does not allow gender or disability to come in the way of his desire for sex and love.
, 1992), a provocative documentary drama that explored sexuality and disability
. The film was broadcast as part of Channel Four's lesbian and gay series Out. Taboo, another documentary presented by Kanga, explored religion and disability - for instance, the Hindu notions of karma
- exploring how religion can exclude and patronise people of disability.
, a condition also known as brittle bones disease. This left him with several painful fractures throughout his childhood and adolescence in India
. He grew up in a family of five, in a one bedroom Bombay apartment. He spoke out against the Indian socialist consensus, and was a supporter of Reagan and Thatcher politics. Kanga's first major achievement was Trying to Grow
(also translated into French [Grandir] and Italian) a novel exploring disability, sexuality and culture. In India
where religion still dictates most cultural acts, Kanga's novel broke several taboos - portraying disabled people with healthy, rich sexual appetites. Kanga publicly rejected Hindu
notions of karma
(laying responsibility for suffering at what humans may have done in their last birth) often foisted on disabled people. Kanga was one of the first few public figures in India who stood up for the views of gay
people, celebrating sexuality, in a society that still criminalises, though hardly, if ever, prosecutes homosexuality
.
Kanga was born in Bombay in the westernised Parsi community, and his writing centres on dealing with disability and sexuality.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He has written a novel, Trying to Grow
Trying to Grow
Trying to Grow is a 1991 novel published by Bloomsbury. The novel is semi-autobiographical and set in urban India, about a young boy growing up with brittle bones. The protagonist, who would never grow taller than four feet, finds his way into the world of sexuality and adulthood...
a semi-autobiographical novel set in India and a travel book Heaven on Wheels about his experiences in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Trying to Grow
Trying to Grow
Trying to Grow is a 1991 novel published by Bloomsbury. The novel is semi-autobiographical and set in urban India, about a young boy growing up with brittle bones. The protagonist, who would never grow taller than four feet, finds his way into the world of sexuality and adulthood...
was later turned into an award-winning BBC-BFI film, Sixth Happiness
Sixth Happiness
Sixth Happiness is a 1997 film directed by Indian director Waris Hussein. It is based on the autobiography of Firdaus Kanga entitled Trying To Grow. Kanga played himself in this film about Britain, India, race and sex....
, for which Kanga wrote the screenplay, and in which he starred. Alexander Walker of the Evening Standard said of Sixth Happiness
Sixth Happiness
Sixth Happiness is a 1997 film directed by Indian director Waris Hussein. It is based on the autobiography of Firdaus Kanga entitled Trying To Grow. Kanga played himself in this film about Britain, India, race and sex....
: "Firdaus Kanga's performance has battery pack power...a remarkable true story."
Sixth Happiness - BFI/BBC Film
Sixth HappinessSixth Happiness
Sixth Happiness is a 1997 film directed by Indian director Waris Hussein. It is based on the autobiography of Firdaus Kanga entitled Trying To Grow. Kanga played himself in this film about Britain, India, race and sex....
is about Brit - a boy born with brittle bones who never grows taller than four feet. It is also about the Parsi or Parsees - descendants of the Persian empire who were driven out of Persia by an Islamic invasion more than a thousand years ago and settled in western India. Parsees had a close relationship with the British during the years of the Raj. Brit is named by his mother, both after his brittle bones, and in tribute to his mother's love of Britain. The depiction of Brit's parents as ardent Anglophiles with fond memories of the Raj and WW2, presents a glimpse of a non-stereotypical Indian family. This, along with the story of a young disabled man's sexual awakening as family life crumbles around him makes Sixth Happiness
Sixth Happiness
Sixth Happiness is a 1997 film directed by Indian director Waris Hussein. It is based on the autobiography of Firdaus Kanga entitled Trying To Grow. Kanga played himself in this film about Britain, India, race and sex....
an interesting exploration of modern, urban India. Kanga's creation - both as writer and performer - resists drawing the main star Brit as either martyr or victim. Brit is bright, spiky, opinionated and selfish with a razor-sharp wit. He prefers the Kama Sutra to Shakespeare and does not allow gender or disability to come in the way of his desire for sex and love.
Television
Firdaus Kanga has presented documentaries, such as Double the Trouble, Twice the Fun (d. Pratibha ParmarPratibha Parmar
Pratibha Parmar is a British filmmaker. She has worked as a director, producer and writer. Parmar is known internationally for her political and often controversial documentary film work as well as her activism within the global feminism and lesbian rights movements. She has collaborated with many...
, 1992), a provocative documentary drama that explored sexuality and disability
Sexuality and disability
Sexuality and disability is the study of sexual behaviour and practices of a person with a disability. Physical disability such as a spinal cord injury may change the sexual functioning of a person. However, the disabled person may enjoy sex with the help of sex toys or by finding suitable sex...
. The film was broadcast as part of Channel Four's lesbian and gay series Out. Taboo, another documentary presented by Kanga, explored religion and disability - for instance, the Hindu notions of karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
- exploring how religion can exclude and patronise people of disability.
Kanga's history and cultural contribution
Firdaus Kanga was born with osteogenesis imperfectaOsteogenesis imperfecta
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic bone disorder. People with OI are born with defective connective tissue, or without the ability to make it, usually because of a deficiency of Type-I collagen...
, a condition also known as brittle bones disease. This left him with several painful fractures throughout his childhood and adolescence in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He grew up in a family of five, in a one bedroom Bombay apartment. He spoke out against the Indian socialist consensus, and was a supporter of Reagan and Thatcher politics. Kanga's first major achievement was Trying to Grow
Trying to Grow
Trying to Grow is a 1991 novel published by Bloomsbury. The novel is semi-autobiographical and set in urban India, about a young boy growing up with brittle bones. The protagonist, who would never grow taller than four feet, finds his way into the world of sexuality and adulthood...
(also translated into French [Grandir] and Italian) a novel exploring disability, sexuality and culture. In India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
where religion still dictates most cultural acts, Kanga's novel broke several taboos - portraying disabled people with healthy, rich sexual appetites. Kanga publicly rejected Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
notions of karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
(laying responsibility for suffering at what humans may have done in their last birth) often foisted on disabled people. Kanga was one of the first few public figures in India who stood up for the views of gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
people, celebrating sexuality, in a society that still criminalises, though hardly, if ever, prosecutes homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
.
Influential Indian writing
Kanga was selected to be part of The Vintage Book of Indian Writing: 1947-97 - a major anthology of the work of the most important and influential Indian writers of the last 50 years. This volume was published by Salman Rushdie and Elizabeth West to coincide with the anniversary of India's independence.Kanga was born in Bombay in the westernised Parsi community, and his writing centres on dealing with disability and sexuality.