Diasporic Language and Identity in “Namesake”

Abstract

The present paper attempts to indicate the way through which Lahiri investigates the issue of name and immigrant's identity and belongingness in The Namesake. In the ancient era an enormous number of Indians immigrated to Far East Asia to advertise Buddhism. But in the modern time the Indian Diaspora describes the people who emigrated from land of India. Nowadays, the condition is basically the story of success of the Indian Diasporas settled in America., U.K. and Europe. This study considers the term Diaspora: and its function and role in the contemporary world where the issues such as multiculturalism, identity and belongingness are observed among the Indian diasporas. The namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri have vividly depicted Gauguli family’s immigrate to American. Alienation and self-identity are main lines to connect the whole story. The most significant and debatable elements that the Jhumpa Lahiri covers in this novel is to depict the issue of multiculturalism and its influence on the person's identity very beautifully and utterly. Therefore, the theme of alienation, of being a stranger in a foreign land, isolation from a group or an activity to which one should belong or in which one should be involved. Main character Ashima’s feeling of isolated is prominent throughout the novel.