Introduction of Poem “Background Casually” :
“Background Casually” is a semi-autobiographical poem by Nissim Ezekiel, one of the most significant voices in post-independence Indian English poetry. First published in his collection The Unfinished Man (1960), the poem traces Ezekiel’s journey from his childhood to maturity, reflecting on his identity, struggles, and self-realization as an Indian poet writing in English.
Written in a confessional and reflective tone, the poem presents Ezekiel’s attempt to come to terms with his Jewish heritage, Western education, and Indian belonging. It captures his lifelong search for meaning, belonging, and authenticity in a world that often viewed him as an outsider. Through candid narration and conversational language, Ezekiel explores themes of alienation, identity, self-acceptance, and the poet’s role in society.
Stylistically, “Background, Casually” is marked by Ezekiel’s characteristic wit, irony, and introspection. The poem functions almost like a spiritual and intellectual autobiography, moving from the uncertainties of youth to a mature acceptance of his roots and individuality. By the end, Ezekiel affirms his place as an Indian poet who, despite his complex background, has learned to say with conviction:
“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.”
Summary of the Poem “Background Casually”:
The Poet’s Childhood and Early Life:
The poet describes himself as a poet, a rascal, and a clown. As a child, he was timid and frail, unable to sleep or eat properly. His weak health kept him from joining other children in their games. With gentle irony, he ridicules his own inability to fly kites or spin tops. Too poor to own toys, he often had to borrow them from others. His childhood lacked the simple joys of play, as poverty deprived him of such pleasures. Being a Jew, he also endured various hardships and discrimination during his school days.
The Jewish Boy’s Suffering in School:
He was admitted to a Roman Catholic school where the Christian boys ridiculed and mistreated him for being a Jew, a member of the community they believed had betrayed Christ. To them, his faith represented the race held responsible for the Crucifixion of Jesus. Amid such hostility, he was like an innocent lamb surrounded by wolves. The other boys were harsh and domineering, taking every chance to torment him. Yet, he endured their cruelty in silence, choosing instead to focus on his studies. He was a diligent and serious student.
The Irony of His Achievement and the Muslim Boy’s Attack:
He studied his lessons so diligently that he knew them by heart. The irony was bitter: the same boys who mocked him for being Jewish now watched as this Jewish boy received an award for mastering the scriptures — not only the Old Testament, central to his own faith, but also the New Testament, sacred to the Christians but not to the Jews. Yet his triumph was fleeting, for almost immediately afterward, a strong Muslim boy struck him and beat him.
The Poet’s View of the Hindus and His Inner Conflict:
The poet portrays the Hindus as formidable bullies—despite being undernourished, they possessed great strength and often intimidated the helpless Jewish boy. Yet, he too looked down upon them, mocking their constant grammatical errors and considering them idle and sluggish. He recalls a particular incident when, amidst a loud and chaotic brawl, he was forced to defend himself with a knife. Reflecting on his past, the poet adds that people once expected him to become a Rabbi, but through introspection, he came to recognize the darker, more corrupt aspects of his own nature.
His Failure to Become a Religious Man and His Journey to England:
He made earnest efforts to elevate his character by learning from Hindu yogis and Jewish priests, yet none of their teachings seemed to transform him into a better person. In time, he came to understand that what he truly lacked was the devotion essential to a priest’s calling—he simply did not possess that spiritual zeal. The years slipped by, and his school life eventually came to an end. At the age of twenty-two, a family friend generously financed his passage to England so that he could pursue higher studies.
Life in London:
He recounts his days in England through words that have become renowned and frequently quoted. In London, he says, philosophy, poverty, and poetry were his three companions who shared his humble basement room. He found the city warm and welcoming, full of life and openness. There, he observed the external world with keen curiosity and enthusiasm. The image of the basement room appears repeatedly in many of his poems.
His Hardships and Return to India:
Ezekiel endured two difficult and joyless years in London. Isolated and withdrawn, he took little part in the vibrant life that surrounded him. Eventually, he came to see his stay there as a failure and decided to return to India. Lacking the money for his passage, he secured a berth on a cargo vessel transporting French arms and mortars to India, agreeing to work as a menial servant in exchange for the journey. He scrubbed the decks and performed various humble tasks aboard the ship — yet, despite the hard labor, he felt a sense of happiness and contentment.
His Struggles and Adjustment in India:
After two years, he returned to India—utterly defeated. His brief engagement with philosophy had proved futile; instead of offering clarity, it only deepened his confusion and disorientation. Now, he faced the formidable challenge of adapting to his circumstances and making the best of the situation he had created for himself. He was uncertain about his purpose and struggled to find a sense of belonging. Yet, despite these hardships, the poet retained a deep affection for India—his chosen homeland—and for the city of Bombay, where he lived. In time, he married, calling it later the greatest mistake of his life. Restless and dissatisfied, he moved frequently from one job and profession to another.
Reflection on His Ancestry and Childhood Memories:
This is the backdrop he draws upon in his poem. Yet, there is much more to be said about his background. To present a fuller and clearer picture of it, he must recall not only his childhood experiences but also his ancestral roots. Thus, he turns once again to the past. He tells us that his forefathers were oil pressers by trade, earning their livelihood by extracting oil from seeds. He recalls watching, as a child, the bullock trudging in endless circles, turning the machine that crushed the seeds. He also remembers a British Major who narrated terrifying tales of the Boer War in Africa—stories that filled young Nissim with fear and haunted his dreams, where he imagined a fierce man binding his hands and feet.
His Growth as a Poet and Detachment from Reality:
These were the dreams of his early years; yet now, still a child in spirit, he dreams as a poet does—of words alone. He does not understand that words can betray. He continued to write poetry until he lost all sense of reality and, in doing so, let slip the rewards of the world. Living in the realm of imagination, he failed in the practical world, unready for its unforgiving truths. He declares that, if granted another chance, he would not repeat the same folly.
His Search for Wisdom and Meaning:
Yet, in spite of all the setbacks and disillusionments, he continues to seek a sharper insight and a fuller understanding of life and its many complexities. Though some might dismiss him as naive, he holds that true wisdom lies in making the most of whatever chances one is given. Accordingly, he draws deeply from both his inner and outer experiences, giving voice to his emotions and desires, his disappointments and defeats, and the struggles that real life has placed before him. The poem thus becomes a reflection of the diverse experiences that have shaped his journey.
Love for India and the City of Bombay:
Nissim’s love for his adopted country and chosen city equals his dedication to his art. Though the scorching heat burns his eyes and the city’s squalor can be overwhelming, he endures it all — to the astonishment of his foreign friends who visit or correspond with him. To Nissim, their complaints seem exaggerated; he believes that, despite the hardships, he has become one with the land and accepted its challenges with dignity. He takes pride in his surroundings and in the nation he calls home. India has become his permanent dwelling, and Bombay, the city he has chosen, remains central to his life and poetry, where he truthfully portrays its realities as he experiences them.
Critical Appreciation of Poem “Background Casually”:
Introduction:
The poem entitled Background Casually is one of the several biographical poems that Ezekiel has written. This poem appeared in the Hymns in Darkness, sixth volume of poems. This volume was published in 1976. In this poem, the poet recounts some of the experiences of his life from his boyhood onwards. It is a testimonial to the poet’s innate Indianness and his commitment to India. In it, the poet reflects upon his success and failures. His love for the earth finds an expression in the poem. He affirms his Indianness and the fact that his roots are deeply embedded in the Indian diaspora.
Thought – Content:
When the poet grew up, he attended school, where his religious identity set him apart. Though he was Jewish, not Christian, the Christian boys treated him with cruelty, blaming him for the death of Christ and showing none of the compassion their faith preached. The Muslim boys, too, showed little kindness. Through irony, the poet exposes the communal prejudices and religious intolerance deeply rooted in Indian society. The Hindu boys were no better—they were bullies who frightened him. Yet, he held them in low regard, thinking them dull, passive, and grammatically inept. Once, during a heated quarrel, he was even forced to defend himself with a knife.
At home, Friday night prayers reminded him of his supposed wickedness. Though he listened to the sermons of Hindu yogis and Jewish priests alike, none could awaken in him any genuine religious devotion. Later, in London, he spent two lonely and difficult years, marked by sadness and disillusionment.
There, he came to realize the bitterness of failure—he felt defeated in every way. When he returned to India, this sense of failure persisted. His philosophical studies offered little help in facing the realities of life; instead, they deepened his frustration and confusion about how to adapt to his surroundings.
Eventually, the poet found solace in a complete identification with India. He devoted himself to words—the only things, he believed, that would never betray him. Immersed in poetry, he lost interest in material success, missing out on worldly rewards but finding purpose in artistic creation. Though others might call him foolish, he remained unconcerned. He transformed his inner conflicts, disappointments, and struggles into the very substance of his art. His life became an act of commitment—to poetry, to India, and especially to Bombay, the city he loved. In its chaos and vitality, he found both identity and inspiration, and he took pride in belonging to its unique environment.
Autobiographical Elements:
The poem contains a wealth of autobiographical detail, with the poet devoting considerable attention to his past. He vividly portrays his childhood, describing himself as a timid boy easily frightened by the world around him. He confesses that he never mastered simple childhood skills like flying a kite or spinning a top. Poverty marked his early years—he could not even afford to buy toys for himself.
The poet goes on to recount his school days. He was educated at a Roman Catholic institution, where he diligently memorised his lessons but suffered harsh treatment from his peers. His Christian classmates taunted him, accusing his community of being responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He recalls the joy he felt when he won a prize for his knowledge of both the Old and the New Testament—joy that was short-lived when a Muslim boy later beat him up.
He also remembers an incident of utter despair, when constant bullying drove him to use a knife against one of his tormentors. The poet then turns to his later years—his lonely stay in London for two years, where isolation weighed heavily upon him. There, he met a woman who awakened in him a sense of manhood. To survive, he took up menial work on a cargo ship to earn his fare back to India. He recollects meeting a British army major and reflects on his early poetic career, when his carefree, impulsive writing style caused him to lose focus. Realising this, he resolved to abandon that effortless manner of composition and adopt a more mature and grounded poetic approach.
His Great Devotion for India:
The poet’s love for his country and his chosen city equals his dedication to his craft. Though the scorching climate burns his eyes and the squalid surroundings test his endurance, he learns to live with them—much to the astonishment of his foreign friends who visit or correspond with him. He believes, however, that these friends exaggerate the hardships, for to him, such challenges are inseparable from the nation’s essence. He embraces them with dignity and pride, finding beauty even in adversity. Deeply attached to his homeland, he has consciously chosen India as his permanent abode. In his poetry, he faithfully mirrors the life he observes in Bombay, portraying the city with striking realism and heartfelt emotion.
Style and Language:
This poem is confessional and autobiographical work. It is a long poem which consists of three sections, each section consisting of five stanzas of five lines each . The first section begins in a tone of light banter in the third person. The following lines are partly amusing but largely moving and poignant:
“Philosophy,
Poverty and poetry, three
Companions shared my basement room. ”
His entire poem is suffused with Indianness. His commitment to India and Bombay which is his chosen home, is total. The poet graphically describes some of the experiences of his life.
Alienation and Search for Identity:
Born in a Bene – Israel family which migrated to India generations ago, Ezekiel is alienated from the cultural heritage of India. The poem provides an example of cultural and social alienation:
“My ancestors, among the castes,
Were aliens crushing seed for bread. “As a schoolboy he felt alienated among his class mates. He went to a Roman Catholic School:
“A mugging Jew among the wolves.
They told me I had killed the Christ. ”
He was an alien among both Muslims and Hindus. The poet once said, ” My background makes me a natural outsider: circumstances and decisions relate me to India.” At the same time the poet’s alienation from his own minority religious ethos also appears to have begun quite early, as his confession in the following lines would indicate:
“At home on Friday nights the prayers
Were said. My morals had declined.
I heard of Yoga and of Zen.
Could I, perhaps, be rabbi – saint?
The more I searched, the less I found. ”
