Abstract

Hyphenated Identity: Indian -American Selfhood in Gogol Ganguli

Dr. Neha

Volume: 15 Issue: 3 2025

Abstract:

Individuals who have experienced diaspora face a difficult negotiation between their cultural legacy and their own unique self-definition. The term of hyphenated identity encapsulates this complex interaction. Gogol Ganguli, the protagonist of Jhumpa Lahiri's novel The Namesake, is a striking embodiment of the Indian-American identity that the author explores in her work. The life of Gogol is a reflection of the contradictions that come with living between two different cultural worlds: the traditional Indian ideals maintained by his parents and the contemporary, individualistic attitude of American culture. His peculiar name, which is borrowed from the Russian author Nikolai Gogol, becomes a prominent emblem of his shattered identity and the internal battle that he is experiencing. Through this research, the author investigates how Gogol's evolving connection with his name reflects his battle to accept himself and to feel like he belongs. His decision to forego his given name and subsequent adoption of the name "Nikhil" is indicative of his efforts to integrate into the culture of the United States of America while simultaneously cutting himself off from his ancestry. Despite this, the shift does not help him overcome his identity issue; rather, it heightens his awareness of the cultural dislocation he is experiencing. Throughout his life, Gogol progressively comes to grips with the meaning of his dual personality. This is accomplished via significant life experiences including as familial ties, love interactions, and personal losses. It is the contention of this dissertation that Gogol's trip exemplifies the fluid and dynamic nature of hyphenated identity, which is characterised by the fact that selfhood is not fixed but rather is continually contested. It is important to note that Lahiri emphasises that the process of reconciling cultures does not include the erasing of one identity in favour of another, but rather requires the acceptance of many identities. In the end, Gogol's acceptance of his name represents a more comprehensive sense of identity as being multifaceted, hybrid, and shifting over time. This understanding is reflective of the lived reality of the Indian-American diaspora.

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