The NAMESAKE

By Jhumpa Lahiri

           (Current mood: Listening to 'Lullaby' by Bombay Jayshree and reminiscing 'The Namesake', which I completed 3 days back and the movie of the same name an hour ago.)

While some book-lovers claim they'd prefer reading books prior to watching movies; I, on the other hand, like to watch movies. Well, I know I'm a movie freak and I hope that doesn't make me less of a book lover. I'd watched Mira Nair's adaptation of The Namesake a few years ago, that too, a couple of times but I had this craving of watching the movie again after finishing the book. I could picturize Tabu every time I read about Ashima and Irfan when the author narrated about Ashoke.

The Namesake is a story of two generations: one, who were bound to leave their homeland for some reasons and the other, who struggled to fit-in the country they were born in while they still had to follow their roots. 

Ashima and Ashoke remind me of my parents and maybe my future (as well). Married as strangers, had to start their life and family in a completely different scenario far from the loved ones. Isn't it a story of every arranged marriage in the world? Well, it may differ a bit these days but Ashima and Ashoke met just once (in front of their parents, Ashima recited a poem and bang! there was a wedding ceremony next day.) Ashima never uttered her husband's name, till he was alive, and only once, after he died. They lived together, no matter what! On the other hand, Gogol dated 2 or 3 girls before he finally settled down and was divorced at the end. Ashima, on one hand, had to compromise her desires and was dependent on Ashoke for everything, while Moushami, today's girl, lived her life in her own terms and conditions and COMPROMISE wasn't in her dictionary. Maybe it was their upbringing that Moushami could do what she desired but was Moushami morally wrong on chasing her dreams??? 

Also, I realized how a country's environment could take a toll on the emotional state of a person! Both Gogol and Sonia could never understand or feel the sacrifices their parents had to make for their future. Though Ashoke and Ashima tried to keep the children intact with their Bengali cultures, they felt more close to the American style of living just because they were born in the States. On the flip side, Ashoke and Ashima lived half of their lives in the States, but they still had the Bengali blood in them. Having lived in a foreign country for 2 years, I too, feel like being close to my people, no matter the pollution and corruption I have to face in this country, I love my life in my motherland. 

I didn't like how Gogol treated his parents while he lived with his girlfriend! Yes, you have your life Gogol, but you have your family as well. Nonetheless, Gogol realizes his mistake at last. I was touched when he cries after his father's death and asked for forgiveness and how Sonia befriends her mother and supports her widowed mom. 

All these small things matters and touch my heart. I value my family and so I felt a bit connected to Ashima. I didn't really like how Gogol and Sonia took their parents for granted on the first half of the story. But everything is beautiful, that ends beautifully. 

Looking forward to Lahiri's second novel. <3