Diasporic Narrative in Jhumpa Lahiri
Thakur Ankita
Project In English I
13 October 2014
Diasporic Narrative in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake
Abstract
Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake predominantly involves the collision between the two cultures American and Bengali. It not only determines the clash between the different generations but also vivid ideologies affecting the lives of middle class family and especially the life of Gogol. Jhumpa Lahiri tries her best to portray the lifestyle of a very simple Bengali Family residing in abroad away from their homeland India in a simple yet elegant way. The main purpose of writing this research paper is to reveal the interstitial intricacies developed in the lives of born Indians and born American-Bengali child. The Namesake gives a clear review of the diaspora and numerous miniature imagery and sense of belongingness along with lucid validation of point of view of author. Lahiri is very much the“second-generation” writer.
Keywords: Diaspora, generation clash, Gogol, multiculturalism, Identity crisis
Diaspora and its etymology
Diaspora is not described as a new phenomenon and is alike from exile or expatriate rather it is interactivity between the third world countries and homeland. Originated from a Greek word Diaspeirin meaning “to scatter or disperse”, firstly used by the ancient
Greeks to refer to people who migrated to new colonies for settlements, however the Indian diaspora relates to the people who migrated from territories of the republic of India.Similar is the case with Gogol’s parents Ashoke and Ashima who migrated to a significantly different state; USA for making their living with the continuous struggle between their inherited culture and nascent culture whereas Gogol who was born in USA faced the conundrum of the Indian diaspora and western breeding. Other than Diaspora a major concern has been drawn regarding the “Identity”; as both are interrelated in some or the other way to a pronounced outcome.
Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London in
Project In English I
13 October 2014
Diasporic Narrative in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake
Abstract
Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake predominantly involves the collision between the two cultures American and Bengali. It not only determines the clash between the different generations but also vivid ideologies affecting the lives of middle class family and especially the life of Gogol. Jhumpa Lahiri tries her best to portray the lifestyle of a very simple Bengali Family residing in abroad away from their homeland India in a simple yet elegant way. The main purpose of writing this research paper is to reveal the interstitial intricacies developed in the lives of born Indians and born American-Bengali child. The Namesake gives a clear review of the diaspora and numerous miniature imagery and sense of belongingness along with lucid validation of point of view of author. Lahiri is very much the“second-generation” writer.
Keywords: Diaspora, generation clash, Gogol, multiculturalism, Identity crisis
Diaspora and its etymology
Diaspora is not described as a new phenomenon and is alike from exile or expatriate rather it is interactivity between the third world countries and homeland. Originated from a Greek word Diaspeirin meaning “to scatter or disperse”, firstly used by the ancient
Greeks to refer to people who migrated to new colonies for settlements, however the Indian diaspora relates to the people who migrated from territories of the republic of India.Similar is the case with Gogol’s parents Ashoke and Ashima who migrated to a significantly different state; USA for making their living with the continuous struggle between their inherited culture and nascent culture whereas Gogol who was born in USA faced the conundrum of the Indian diaspora and western breeding. Other than Diaspora a major concern has been drawn regarding the “Identity”; as both are interrelated in some or the other way to a pronounced outcome.
Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London in
Cited: Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. New Delhi: Harper Collins, 2003.Print. PBS(2008), Online news hour.