“Indian Objects”
Brierly writes, "Mum had decorated the house with Indian objects - there were some Hindu statues, brass ornaments and bells, and lots of little elephant figurines. I didn't know then that these weren't normal objects to have in an Australian house. She had also put some Indian printed fabric in my room, across the dresser, and a carved wooded puppet in a brightly colored outfit." Brierly's mum is unique because she upholds Indian culture although she is not Indian. Her decorations indicate that she accepts Brierly unconditionally; hence, the household includes adornments that allude to Brierly's background. If she were an ethnocentric woman, she would condition Brierly to behave like an Australian so he would conceal his Indianness, but she rises above the ethnocentricity which is beneficial in Brierly’s development of his Self-concept.
The Mothers' Meeting
Brierly recounts, “The moment when my two mothers met for the first time was an incredible milestone…When the moment arrived in Ganesh Talai, with the 60 Minutes in tow, time seemed to stand still. All concerns washed away as I watched my mothers-who had given me not just one life but two-embracing with tears in their eyes." The reunion is emotional for both Brierly and his mothers. At the moment of adoption, Brierly's mum would not anticipate that she would someday reunite with the Biological mother of her son. Accordingly, the moment is utterly noteworthy in Brierly's existence.
“Father Figure”
Brierly recounts, “The other person who was a father figure to me for a brief time was one of the supervisors of the young men’s military school camp. He noticed me hanging about, and would call me over in the morning to share some of the porridge that was made in vast quantities for the boys at the camp.” The supervisor’s generosity with Brierly encourages Brierly to look upon him as father although they are not related. Providing him with porridge meets Brierly’s physiological needs for nourishments. The supervisor, who offers Brierly love and support, takes up the role which Brierly’s Biological father would have done.
Cinema
Brierly recalls, “ Another bright spot in my existence was the cinema, but the only way I could get into it was to sneak through when no one was watching. Sometimes I’d make it inside, only to be chucked out because they could tell just by looking at me that I hadn’t paid. Occasionally my brothers and I got to see an entire movie, and I fell in love with drama and music. My favorite actor was Mithun Chakraborty, and the best song I ever heard was “Lambi Judai.” Brierly’s poverty does not hinder him from enjoying cinemas. He risks humiliation by sneaking in. "Drama and music” permit Brierly to experience sublimation which critical in diverting his thoughts and his brothers’ from ruminations reading their poverty. Chakraborty inspires Brierly positively through his acting.
