Bengali Culture
What aspects of Bengali culture do you think you know? Culture is a set of practices, habits, attitudes, values, and roles which are shared by the members of a society. Since culture is a matter of identity, people don’t want to let go of their culture wherever they are. In the novel The Namesake, written by Jhumpa Lahiri, Ashoke and Ashima, who are Bengalis and moved to America for a better education and life, try to maintain their culture. In her novel, Lahiri clarifies the different aspects of Bengali culture in depth through the experiences of Ashoke and Ashima in America. Some of the aspects of Ashoke and Ashima’s Bengali culture are being family oriented, practicing arranged marriage, and naming children in a unique way. …show more content…
In India, everyone gets two names: a pet name and a good name. A pet name can be given by family and relatives, so one can have more than one pet name. For example, Mr. Nandi, a Bengali, whom Ashima and Ashoke met in Cambridge, called Ashima and Ashoke’s first baby “Buro” meaning “old man” when he saw the baby’s wrinkled face. Also, Ashoke and Ashima called their first baby “Gogol” to remember the author of the book that saved Ashoke’s life from the train accident that he had before he met Ashima. Pet names are used only at home and are usually meaningless. Bengalis are known well by their pet names in the family. For example, Ashoke and Ashima were known as “Mithu” and “Monu” by the family and the relatives. Unlike a pet name, a good name is usually given to a child with more attention and care to give meaning. Also, good names are used officially. Lahiri notes, “letters from Ashima’s mother say “Ashima” on the outside and, “Monu” on the inside” (2.26). Formally, Bengalis are known by their good names. Good names appear on identification cards, on a driver license, and in all official records. For Bengalis giving a pet name and a good name is one of the most important parts of their
What aspects of Bengali culture do you think you know? Culture is a set of practices, habits, attitudes, values, and roles which are shared by the members of a society. Since culture is a matter of identity, people don’t want to let go of their culture wherever they are. In the novel The Namesake, written by Jhumpa Lahiri, Ashoke and Ashima, who are Bengalis and moved to America for a better education and life, try to maintain their culture. In her novel, Lahiri clarifies the different aspects of Bengali culture in depth through the experiences of Ashoke and Ashima in America. Some of the aspects of Ashoke and Ashima’s Bengali culture are being family oriented, practicing arranged marriage, and naming children in a unique way. …show more content…
In India, everyone gets two names: a pet name and a good name. A pet name can be given by family and relatives, so one can have more than one pet name. For example, Mr. Nandi, a Bengali, whom Ashima and Ashoke met in Cambridge, called Ashima and Ashoke’s first baby “Buro” meaning “old man” when he saw the baby’s wrinkled face. Also, Ashoke and Ashima called their first baby “Gogol” to remember the author of the book that saved Ashoke’s life from the train accident that he had before he met Ashima. Pet names are used only at home and are usually meaningless. Bengalis are known well by their pet names in the family. For example, Ashoke and Ashima were known as “Mithu” and “Monu” by the family and the relatives. Unlike a pet name, a good name is usually given to a child with more attention and care to give meaning. Also, good names are used officially. Lahiri notes, “letters from Ashima’s mother say “Ashima” on the outside and, “Monu” on the inside” (2.26). Formally, Bengalis are known by their good names. Good names appear on identification cards, on a driver license, and in all official records. For Bengalis giving a pet name and a good name is one of the most important parts of their