Masterful Storytelling With Flawless Writing

I had already read all of Jhumpa Lahiri's works before finally delving into her debut novel, "The Namesake." Like every other time, I’m left amazed by her magical craft and her ability to make trivial things appear larger and more important. Jhumpa Lahiri never plots ambitious narratives; all she does is grasp the quotidian and drive the narrative forward seamlessly with her flawless writing. "The Namesake" falls under the same category.

One day, as Ashoke Ganguli travels by train to his grandparents’ house, he encounters a man who has travelled to different parts of the world. This man suggests to Ashoke that leaving his land provides an opportunity to see the world from a new perspective. Before this encounter, Ashoke had never considered going to other countries, spending the majority of his years in a foreign land where, in the initial days, he would have to struggle for his identity. Unfortunately, that night, the train derailed, resulting in the deaths of hundreds, including the man who suggested Ashoke go beyond the borders of his country. Ashoke is fortunate enough to survive the disaster, but the years that follow are no less perilous as he stays bedridden, unable to walk or travel. Strangely, a book written by his favorite author, Nikolai Gogol, also survives the chaos. After recovery, Ashoke marries, and then, as the man on the train had suggested, he departs for the US, trying to obliterate the train accident from his mind. However, the images of that horrible night loom in his mind every now and then. When Ashoke and Ashima become parents, they wait for Ashima’s grandmother's letter bearing the name of the newborn. For some reason, the letter never reaches the mailbox of Ashoke’s apartment in the US. The newborn is named, temporarily, after Ashoke’s favourite author, Nikolai Gogol. They assume that the grandmother’s letter will find them someday, and then they can replace the temporary name with the one on the letter. The temporary name, only used by family members, becomes the official name of the boy as they fail to find the letter. The grandmother, not in good health, eventually dies, disrupting the pattern of her keeping the names of the grandchildren.

The novel showcases the difference between the cultures of India and the US through characters like Ashoke, Ashima, and Gogol. Gogol’s younger sister, Sonia, is not emphasised, as the author chooses to drive the narrative through the experiences and understandings of Gogol. Gogol is uncomfortable with his name; his classmates in the US, he thinks, have popular and stylish names. When he is occasionally taken to India for Durga Puja, he doesn’t connect to the places and relatives in India. He feels like one of those Americans, puzzled by the enormous set of formalities. In the US, his home, on special occasions, is always crowded by his parents’ Bengali friends. The closest he ever comes to India is through these people: his father’s anticipation for a party to be held in their house and his mother's relentless efforts in the kitchen for days on end. In gatherings, the other children, like him, are always bored and watching TV, leaving the adults among themselves, making them feel more like Indians. A professor at a US-based university, Ashoke, figures out that his son hasn’t inherited Indian culture. Ashoke and Ashima never complain to Gogol for not doing certain things like Indian people generally do. When Gogol grows up, he even changes his name to Nikhil. Yet he remains Gogol to his parents and the people he knows as his parents’ friends. At the peak of his youth, he makes an American girl his girlfriend. Though his parents show no signs of disapproval, he knows that they don’t want him to marry her.

Ashima, a quiet woman, hates having her family members away from the house for too long. Ashoke has been on an educational trip for a long time; Gogol is with his girlfriend’s family on vacation; and Sonia is in a different city for studies. And then, suddenly, one day, she is informed about the untimely demise of her husband. The death of his father transforms Gogol into a thoughtful figure; thereafter, he starts realising the silent love of his father. Some years later, he marries a Bengali girl who has been living in the US. Though the relationship shows some promise, the girl cheats him, and once again, he becomes a single man. By the time he turns thirty-two, he has seen it all: his parents’ struggle in the US, the stark distinction between the cultures, the love of his parents, and the most heartbreaking—the death of his father.

The novel evokes a sense of transformation one goes through in life, showing why a person can’t forget his roots. Ashima, a widow, sells the US house and plans on dividing her time between India and her children’s apartment. Though the love shared between Ashima and Ashoke is not expressive, readers feel a deep connection that binds them together in a foreign pasture. The novel is well-paced, and by the time you finish reading the book, you are transported to a different world, a world of Gogol and his family. It's as if Jhumpa Lahiri stands on the aisle between two cultures, gazing with compassion to discern the tiniest nuances. You just can’t forget the characters built by Jhumpa Lahiri. Her writing is a testament to what people describe as meticulous work. The fine details she sketches will keep you engrossed, not wanting to let go of the book. With her masterful storytelling and well-developed characters, Jhumpa Lahiri has certainly given a masterpiece to the literary world—one that will be cherished for ages.

(The author is a writer from Pokhara.)