The Namesake

The Namesake chronicles the journey of the Ganguli family as they transition from Calcutta to the United States in the late 1960s. Following the arranged marriage of Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli, the story explores their struggles to adapt to a new culture and the emotional challenges faced by Ashima, who longs for her family back in India. When their son is born and his official name fails to arrive from India, they temporarily name him Gogol, inspired by a significant event from Ashoke's past. Jhumpa Lahiri's debut novel beautifully captures the nuances of identity and belonging over three decades and across continents.