Stupendous Man

I came across two postings made on Desipundit, linking to a review of a trailer (yeah, review of trailer) of the movie “The Namesake”, based on the book by Jhumpa Lahiri. Given Mira Nair’s ability to screw things up (except Salaam Bombay), I don’t have much hopes from the movie, though I must say I was very impressed by the trailer. Kal Pen and Tabu look fabolously cast as Gogol and Ashima; I think Tabu will do justice to the role of Aashima Ganguli.

Though I still can’t comprehend why Mira Nair had to take creative liberties, and make Aashima a singer, and set the story in New York – I mean, Cambridge where its set is not too far away! However I hope she’s able to bring out the finer nuances of the book onto screen; after all that is what made the book so memorable.

Below is a review written by me around two years ago; Even back then I had the felt that this was a story so real, that if I stayed long enough in United States, it would be my life. 2 Years hence, I still think the same. This has to be one of my favorite books ever.

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Book Review : The Namesake.

While many Indian authors (who most of them have settled abroad anyway), have written about displaced Indians (example: Salman Rushdie) and weaved fantasy stories around them, there are others who have preferred be an on looker and write stories set in India (example: Rohinton Mistry). These writers have similar qualities in their characters trying to find their lost souls back in motherland or stories of pathos in the country. However when an author comes along and decides to take a view of an Immigrant life it becomes interesting. It becomes even more interesting when the view is not presented as soul searching drama or triumph of human spirit, but just a book about normal characters, leading their lives normally.

Enter the Gangulis. Ashoke Ganguli is one amongst those who like so many before him enters the American soil to fulfill his dream of leading his life there, beginning as a student at MIT. While as a student, he is also married to Ashima Ganguli who finds it difficult to accept her new home. Enter Gogol Ganguli a few years ahead, a misplaced namesake to their first son whom they cannot name properly because of a mail lost between the two countries, and who by the time they decide a proper name “Nikhil” seems to have lost himself in the namesake. Enter Sonali a.k.a Sonia, Gogol’s sister, and the circle of family is completed. The Namesake is their journey as Immigrants trying to find their real identity behind their namesake of being in America, and later holding American citizenship. And while it is the former, it is also about Nikhil trying to find a sense in his namesake.

A typical immigrants life begins with student life in America; after studies they germinate to good jobs, good cars and so forth. A marriage later and a green card in kitty, its time to start a family; a family being, its a struggle trying to bind the personal history to the kids who become more American – and thus end up being called ABCDs: people displaced and trying to find their acceptance in the foreign land, while still not ready to let go off their roots. Years later, the parents have let go of their children, lost in their own identity crisis of having embraced a foreign land, without letting the roots of homeland go. The next generation, quite nicely becomes jelled and thus one more family is absorbed into the foreign land; but its the first and second generation that find it the toughest.

Lahiri doesnt boast of telling an awfully touching story or a dramatic novella, but rather weaves a very realistic story of a displaced family. Her characters are immediately believable, and one can relate to such every day characters. All characters, their behavior, their living style make up for a very believable story; Lahiri infuses minimum fuss and melodrama in the proceedings. Events in book are given their due respects, and situations and confrontations presented in the book are much authentic – the coming back to India for holidays, Durga Puja and Christmas, childrens non-interest in understanding their roots, real events make for a riveting story.

However it is not the story per se that holds the readers interest. It is in Lahiri’s observations of nuances in life that makes the book immensely likeable. She is able to bring out the differences of American and Indian life from an immigrants point of view without too many words. Sometimes, it just takes a sentence or two for her to convey her thoughts on conflicting life and ideals. Simple observations like how most first generation Indians dont quite have any American friends to call their own and close strikes a chord somewhere, even me, because its a simple truth. Observations like these are a plenty in the book, and make this a memorable read.

However saying that, The Namesake is a difficult book to relate to. While most of western audience cannot glimpse the nuances of her observations, I would be very surprised if Indian audiences would find her observations real and so true. The Namesake treads a middle path, relating to Immigrants, and perhaps lies in a land it belongs nowhere to. Unless you are an immigrant and have seen the other part of Immigrant life, its pretty difficult to relate to the book. Those who are can and will very well relate to the book. Saying that it should not hinder either western or Indian audience to read this book – for it shows how the namesake of American life perpetually confounds the Immigrants.

Overall
An Excellent debut novel (her first was a collection of stories) A must read for everyone, especially the Immigrants.