zpostcode
The Namesake
Mar 17, 2026 10:46 PM

  

The Namesake1

  Jhumpa Lahiri Jhumpa Lahiri, author of The Namesake (2003), in 2003. (more) The Namesake novel by Lahiri Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Namesake-The Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites National Public Radio - Writer Jhumpa Lahiri Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Bianca Jackson Bianca Jackson is a doctoral candidate writing on the sexually dissident subject in contemporary Indian Anglophone literature at the University of Oxford. She is also a contributor to 1001 Books... Bianca Jackson Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Mar 14, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot The Namesake, first novel by English-born American writer Jhumpa Lahiri, published in 2003. It explored similar themes to those in her debut work, a collection of short stories entitled Interpreter of Maladies (1999), which had earned her the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The story begins in an apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1968, where newlywed Ashima Ganguli is going into labor. She and her husband, electrical-engineering student Ashoke, go to the hospital. Ashima and Ashoke had wed in a marriage arranged by their Bengali parents in Calcutta (Kolkata) not long before. Ashoke recalls the moment in 1961 when he was ...(100 of 629 words)

  Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Recommend >
How Do Gills Work?
     Respiratory system of a fish Simplified diagram of a fish's respiratory system, showing the location of the gills and the direction of water flow used for gas exchange. (more) How Do Gills Work? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/How-Do-Gills-Work Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you...
Do Blow Flies Spread Disease?
     New World screwworm fly An adult male New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax), one of some 200 million sterilized males released to control a screwworm outbreak in the Florida Keys in 2016. (more) Do Blow Flies Spread Disease? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/Do-Blow-Flies-Spread-Disease Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions?...
Why Is Bread Bad for Ducks?
     Splashing about A Mandarin duck, which is native to northern China, is seen flapping its wings in the water. (more) Why Is Bread Bad for Ducks? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Why-Is-Bread-Bad-for-Ducks Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires...
How Many People Did John Wayne Gacy Kill?
     “Killer Clown” John Wayne Gacy, 1978. (more) How Many People Did John Wayne Gacy Kill? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/How-Many-People-Did-John-Wayne-Gacy-Kill Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction...
Information Recommendation
Why doesn’t the U.S. have a Department of War anymore?
     National Security Act of 1947 U.S. Pres. Harry S. Truman signing the National Security Act of 1947. (more) Why doesn’t the U.S. have a Department of War anymore? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Why-doesnt-the-US-have-a-Department-of-War-anymore Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this...
What Is a Female Elephant Called?
     Cow A female elephant (cow) in Masai Mara, Kenya. (more) What Is a Female Elephant Called? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/What-Is-a-Female-Elephant-Called Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar...
When Did Vaccines Become Mandatory for Schools?
     Childhood vaccination Vaccine mandates for school attendance help establish a high level of vaccination coverage within school communities, leading to herd immunity and protecting vulnerable individuals from preventable diseases. (more) When Did Vaccines Become Mandatory for Schools? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/When-Did-Vaccines-Become-Mandatory-for-Schools Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let...
Dwayne McDuffie
  Dwayne McDuffie American comic book writer and animated-film producer Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dwayne-McDuffie Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback...
Why Are Chicken Wings Called Buffalo Wings?
     Buffalo wings Buffalo wings, chicken wings coated in a vinegar-and-cayenne hot pepper sauce mixed with butter. (more) Why Are Chicken Wings Called Buffalo Wings? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Why-Are-Chicken-Wings-Called-Buffalo-Wings Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback...
What Is the Deadliest Wildfire in History?
     Peshtigo fire of 1871 Forest fires that had been burning for several days and destroyed hundreds of square miles of forest and farmland consumed Peshtigo, Wisconsin, on October 8, 1871. In a few hours the city was razed, and about 800 people were killed; with the surrounding areas included, the total number of deaths reached some 1,200–2,400. (more) What...
Chinatown
     Chinatown Jack Nicholson in Chinatown (1974). (more) Chinatown film by Polanski [1974] Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinatown-film-by-Polanski Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional...
How Is Cheese Made?
     The cheese-making process Cheese production, step-by-step. (more) How Is Cheese Made? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/How-Is-Cheese-Made Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information...