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It was when I realised I had a new nationality: I was in…

“It was when I realised I had a new nationality: I was in exile. I am an adulterous resident: when I am in one city, I am dreaming of the other. I am an exile; citizen of the country of longing.” quote by Suketu Mehta
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“It was when I realised I had a new nationality: I was in exile. I am an adulterous resident: when I am in one city, I am dreaming of the other. I am an exile; citizen of the country of longing.”

Suketu Mehta

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Exile feels like having a new nationality, dreaming of another city while living in one.

In simple terms: Exile creates a longing for another place.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the duality of belonging.

Themes

displacement longing identity

Mood

poetic reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • immigration
  • travel
  • personal identity

Key Concepts

migration urban life

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does longing shape your sense of home?
  • What does “citizen of longing” mean to you?
A Different Perspective

Romanticizing exile may ignore its hardships.

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