Into the suburbs By Christopher Raja

Into the suburbs By Christopher RajaIn Calcutta we were crammed in among crowds, traffic and pollution. We had visions of breathing fresh, clean air and living in a classless society where everyone was your mate. Christopher Raja was eleven years old when his father, David, decided to move the family to Australia in pursuit of the idyllic lifestyle. They brought their hopes and aspirations to a bungalow in Melbournes outer suburbs. On the surface, the Rajas appeared to be living a

˜In Calcutta we were crammed in among crowds, traffic and pollution. We had visions of breathing fresh, clean air and living in a classless society where everyone was your mate. Christopher Raja was eleven years old when his father, David, decided to move the family to Australia in pursuit of the idyllic lifestyle. They brought their hopes and aspirations to a bungalow in Melbournes outer suburbs. On the surface, the Rajas appeared to be living a ˜normal Australian life.Throughout his teenage years, Christopher embraces the freedoms of his adopted country, while his father becomes more and more disenchanted. Just as Christopher is settling into university, the family is rocked by a tragic and unexpected loss.Exploring topical issues of race, class and migration, Into the Suburbs is an affecting portrait of one familys search for home.