An American Bengali family forges a new identity while trying to maintain old traditions.
A New York Times bestseller, Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake presents the fictional story of the Gangulis, a Bengali family originating from Calcutta going through the motions of cultural adaptation in an unfamiliar land. The story first details the life of newlyweds Ashima and Ashoke who make the drastic move to Massachusetts in the late 1960s. The entire narrative spans over 30 years as the Ganguli household expands with the birth of their son and daughter, and reveals how each family member blossoms through time.
A New Country, A New American Identity
The Namesake comments on the struggles of first generation immigrants to assert a western identity, as well as to maintain rich native traditions. The narrative also illustrates how new immigrants tend to label themselves as perpetual foreigners because they are deeply rooted in their homeland. Although their western lifestyles can challenge their allegiance to their motherland, Ashima and Ashoke devote themselves to teaching their children the importance of celebrating Bengali customs, without denying them the joys of western traditions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Gogol
Moreover the novel explores the challenges faced by their children, being second-generation Indian immigrants. The couple’s first born, Gogol, struggles to fit in among other students because of his unusual first name. Being the namesake of his father’s favourite author, the young man tries to shed his Bengali identity to fully embody his American status, yet his journey towards re-invention and self-discovery teaches him the value of family, one’s roots and cultural pride.
Personal Identity vs. Cultural Heritage
The portrayal of Gogol is realistic and touching and his experiences reflect those of many second-generation immigrants of all ethnicities. His rejection of his Bengali heritage isn’t completely about shame, but about yearning to forge his own identity and feeling that his cultural heritage denies him of that right.
A Pure Pleasure
Lahiri’s simple writing style makes this novel an enjoyable read and leaves the readers wanting more. With meticulous character development and by incorporating elements of her own experiences as a second-generation immigrant, her telling of this family’s fictional tale makes every character endearing and allows readers to delve into their own personal immigration experiences.
The Namesake- The Film
The Namesake was also made into a major motion picture in 2007 starring Kal Penn as the introspective Gogol, and Tabu and Irfan Khan as Ashima and Ashoke. Lahiri is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for Interpreter of Maladies published in 2000. Her latest book Unaccustomed Earthpromises to be another exquisite read to discover and cherish.
Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2003. ISBN 0-395-92721-8
