Long Way Home Revision Notes

Lion, an autobiography previously published as ‘Long Way Home’ by Saroo Brierley, explores the ongoing quest in search for his home and family among the immensity of India. It presents a challenge that serves as an open window for understanding his character. Through Saroo’s determination, emotional trouble and relentless chasing of belonging, Saroo immerses himself through difficult questions of self identity. Saroo’s narrative of his journey unpacks three main themes of challenges, the lack of his identity and cultural awareness which was channelled by his early separation from his family and heritage, the rough realities of poverty faced from a young age that helped shape Saroo’s resilience over his journey, and his quest for his ongoing

Being adopted from India into an Australian family challenges Saroo, leaving him with a cultural disconnection. As Saroo explains “My identity was shaped by both my Indian heritage and my Australian upbringing. They were two halves of a whole” this creates a reflection on Saroo’s ongoing struggles of integrating these two aspects into his life. Throughout the text, Saroo constantly describes himself as “an outsider, a foreigner” among others, this experience creates a link between a challenge many adoptees face in navigating their origins with their upbringing. As Saroo tries to grow and navigate the complexities of his two identities, he faces an internal conflict among himself where he faces “a kind of reverse culture shock” he explains “in the company of international students I was for the first time stripped of my Indianness.” His challenge raises a sense of awareness to the readers, reflecting on their own impression of identity and cultural belonging, which fosters a deep message linked with the character of appreciation of the complexities of individuals. As Saroo himself reflects, “Searching for my hometown was more than just a place; it was about finding a piece of my identity that had been lost” and how “in the process of finding my family, I also found myself. I discovered who I truly was.” Saroo’s challenges with his identity enlightens the narrative by growing a sense of connection with the

Growing up in the streets of Ganesh Talai, Saroo confronts the reality of poverty from the day he was born. Saroo’s family’s struggles from poverty is shown in the text, providing readers with an insight into the constant cycle of poverty which played a crucial role in shaping Saroo and his upbringing. Poverty is a very common challenge faced by millions of individuals and families across the country of India. The narrative provides a better insight into the day-to-day struggles faced by the families living below the poverty line. Who are challenged with limited access to basic necessities such as food, shelter and healthcare. The narrative follows Saroo’s mother, Kamla, who is shown in the text as a tireless mother working hard each day to provide for her four children. Saroo reflects on moments of hunger and poverty, describing the conditions of his family and how they would go without any food for days on end. He describes this as, “We are the poorest of the poor.” This emphasises the nature of poverty in India and the importance of addressing its root causes to ensure a more equal society for all. Through Saroo’s childhood, he had a lack of missed opportunities due to poverty. With him missing out on receiving a formal education, he had the chance to collect basic literacy and numeracy skills. The text explains how he spent his days observing other children