With a huge amount of multiculturalism surrounding me I can’t exactly relate to the Ganguli family but I can definitely understand the struggle they have to go through in order to fit in to the American way of life.Texas Bengali Cultural Alliance (TBCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-political, non-religious and non-discriminatory community organization, established in 2005. Personally I see the differences in cultures and their expectations simply by having friends at school. These contrasts of cultures and potential loss of culture is something immigrants face every day in our modern society. Ashima helps with the integration of Gogol into the typical American lifestyle, yet clings to her past in the hopes of not losing her own culture. The Bengali birthday however involves numerous people and a much grander celebration. The American birthday involves birthday cake and playing games with friends. When Gogol celebrates his birthday he has both an American and a Bengali birthday, something that is not heard of in typical American life. There might be one or two people to help with luggage and provide transportation, and sometimes not even that.Īshima and Ashoke may take their two children to visit Indian and get the sense of family they do not get in America, however while in the United States they are forced to bend tradition to help their children assimilate.
This many people don’t usually show up to an airport for a family.
This shows how close Bengali families are. As well when the Gangulis land in India their whole family, aunts, uncles and cousins are all waiting for them at the airport. American families tend to put less of an importance of the decisions of their elders and would consider it a missed opportunity to not name their own child.
It is Ashima’s grandmother who was supposed to choose Gogol’s name, not his own parents. There is an extremely high importance placed on family and your role in a family. The first action I found very contrasting to the American culture was how the Bengali’s value family. It is interesting to compare how American and Bengali culture differs and how older generations are forced to compromise certain things in order to fit into the melting pot that is the United States. When the Bengali and the American culture are placed side by side it gives the readers a real perspective of just how hard it can be for immigrants to assimilate into the American culture. From Ashima and Ashoke’s strong sense of culture and dedication to keeping it, to Gogol and Sonia’s desire to be rid of it, there is a huge contrast between generations. The impact and significance of culture can be seen changing from generation to generation. Culture plays a huge role in everything and everyone in the Namesake.
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