Salim Rahemtulla grew up in Kampala, as one of nine children in a close-knit family of modest means. In 1971, he received a partial bursary to study Computer Science at the University of Manchester, UK, which was meant to be a step toward a brighter future. Little did he foresee the tumultuous political landscape that would soon unravel and dramatically alter the course of his life. The dictator Idi Amin had come to power in Uganda earlier that year, and one of his first acts as president was to order the expulsion of some 80,000 Asians-most of whom, like Rahemtulla's family, were of Indian descent.
In this beautifully written memoir Salim Rahemtulla weaves together the threads of his past, painting a vivid picture of his formative years spent on Namirembe Road in Kampala. He writes about his years as a student and a security guard in the UK; his reunion with his parents and siblings in Canada; his life as a husband, father, computer scientist, and hotel owner; and his travels to India and Uganda to rediscover his roots.
With empathy, honesty, and insight, Rahemtulla invites readers to accompany him as he dives into the past, unraveling significant world events, including the Expulsion, Independence, Western cultural influence in East Africa and 1970s immigration to the UK. Through all of these delightful stories and characters, Salim highlights the profound significance of family and community ties that binds us together across time and distance.
