Interpreter of Maladies

Jhumpa Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth explores the universal themes of displacement, identity, and belonging, particularly the sense of loss felt by Indians who leave their homeland. The stories delve into the psyche of immigrants, tracing how older generations yearn for their roots while younger ones rediscover tradition as a way of understanding themselves.

The title, drawn from both the collection and a key story, suggests a world unsettled—an earth unaccustomed to the tremors of change, both natural and man-made. Lahiri portrays Indian-Americans questioning their seemingly privileged lives, revealing the fragility beneath.

Her prose is deeply emotional yet effortless, carrying readers alongside her characters, who remain profoundly human in their desires and struggles. The opening story follows Ruma, a young housewife in Seattle who has paused her career for family life. When her recently widowed father comes to live with her, Ruma assumes he will require care—yet Lahiri subverts this expectation, revealing strength and complexity where she anticipates weakness.

About Jhumpa Lahiri

Jhumpa Lahiri is an Indian American writer. She is well known for this collection of short-stories, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize, and for her full-length novels: The Namesake and The Lowland.

Ms. Lahiri was appointed a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities by Barack Obama. The Lowland was nominated for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award For Fiction. The Namesake has since been adapted into a film of the same name.