zpostcode
The Namesake
Jun 27, 2025 5:41 AM

  

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 >
8 Notable Buildings in Moscow
     Nikolai Sorokin/Dreamstime.com The site now occupied by Moscow was likely inhabited in Neolithic times, though 1147 is typically considered the year of the city’s founding. It has remained at the center of Russian life, and its architecture is a unique reflection of the country’s history.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You...
8 Hotly Disputed Borders of the World
     38th parallelMilitary vehicles crossing the 38th parallel during the Korean War.(more)NARASome borders, like that between the United States and Canada, are peaceful ones. Others are places of conflict caused by rivalries between countries or peoples, disputes over national resources, or disagreements about the past. Eight of the most contentious borders in the world are described in this list.   Senkaku...
9 Memorials and Monuments in the United States
     AdstockRFThe United States is filled with memorials and monuments to its past. These nine commemorate some of the most important episodes in American history.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these places first appeared in1001 Amazing Places You Must See Before You Die, edited by Richard Cavendish (2016). Writers’ names appear in parentheses.   The unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial is...
8 of the World’s Most
     Jeremy Woodhouse—Digital Vision/Getty ImagesEven in the 21st century, there are places on the planet where few people tread. Lonely mountain tops, desert interiors, Arctic ice floes, or the vast frozen ice sheets of Antarctica are remote places that come to mind immediately. But what about faraway islands of adventure? Are there any that remain in this modern age? Some...
Information Recommendation
7 Wonders of America
     It’s almost time for that long-awaited family vacation, and you’re starting to make plans. With so many destination choices, how do you decide where to go? For many families, that choice is often one of America’s national parks. The U.S. government maintains hundreds of national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and historic sites that are visited by millions of...
7 Iconic Buildings in Chicago
      In 1779 Jean-Baptist-Point Du Sable, a trader, founded the settlement that would become Chicago. It was incorporated as a town in 1833 and then again as a city in 1837. A third of it burned down in 1871, but Chicago rebuilt itself ferociously and has been building, and tearing down, ever since. The result has...
7 Must
     Koba Samurkasov/Dreamstime.com Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the seat of the European Union. That makes it a hub of international governance and business, and the city shows its cosmopolitanism through its architecture.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Mark Irving (2016). Writers’...
9 Buildings Worth Visiting in the Czech Republic
     gary718/Shutterstock The history of the Czech Republic reaches back more than a thousand years, and its capital, Prague, reflects that rich and varied existence. This list describes just nine of the Czech Republic’s innumerably significant buildings.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Mark Irving...
7 Quizzes That Will Help You Prepare for Your Next Trip
      You’ve made your hotel reservations. You have your airline tickets. You’ve identified your mass-transit options. But…what do you really know about that place you’re going to? Do you know its capital? Its history? How about its area? Facts are the best things to pack for your trip, so use these quizzes to pick the best ones.   World...
7 Iconic Buildings in Havana
      The Old Havana district of Cuba’s capital was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982, but there’s much else to see in Havana. Here are just seven of the city’s iconic buildings.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Mark Irving...
8 Amazing Physical Features of Africa
  The vast expanse of the African continent spans several different climatic regions and contains everything from dry deserts to rainforests to snow-covered mountaintops. Check out some of the most-impressive physical features found in Africa.   Victoria Falls      Victoria Falls.This spectacular Southern African waterfall, considered to be among the greatest in the world, is located along the Zambezi River...
9 Historic Buildings in Florence
      Florence was founded in the 1st century BCE as a Roman military colony. During its long history it has served many other roles, including a brief stint as the national capital of Italy in the 1860s. But the city remains best known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, and most of these nine buildings reflect that era’s...