Acculturation, transnationalism, and the politics of belonging - A study on Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake

Abstract

This paper discusses the different aspects of cultural challenges that Indian immigrants face, such as displacement, marginalisation, acculturation, and transnationalism. Within the community of diasporic writers, numerous are expatriates who consider India their homeland, deeply rooted in its cultural traditions and values. Themes of exile, alienation, cultural clashes, and the experiences of migration persistently emerge as central motifs in diasporic literature. It analyses Jhumpa Lahiri's novel, The Namesake, focusing on Ashima's feelings of loss, pain, and nostalgia for her homeland. The paper also explores the difficulties of adapting to a new culture and the lasting profound struggle to find a sense of belonging.