Nourishing Identity: Food's Role in Diasporic Experiences in La-hiri's 'A Temporary Matter' and 'When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine'

Abstract

Food forms a fundamental element in the cycle of life, influencing not only individual behavior but also shaping the actions of communities and entire societies. For immigrants and those living away from their homeland, food plays a crucial role in preserving identity. Di-asporic literature—works created by writers residing outside their country of origin—often re-flects this connection. This paper analyzes how food plays a significant role in exploring di-asporic themes within two short stories from Jhumpa Lahiri's renowned collection, Interpreter of Maladies: "A Temporary Matter" and "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine." The central aim of this study is to explore how food symbolically shapes and reflects the diasporic experiences portrayed in these narratives. In “A Temporary Matter,” Lahiri por-trays a couple dealing with emotional distance following a personal tragedy, where food serves as a symbolic representation of their changing relationship, with meal preparation and con-sumption mirroring their inner emotional landscapes. In contrast, “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” highlights cultural dislocation against a backdrop of political unrest, using shared meals as a medium for connection and remembrance of home. This paper emphasizes the sensory and emotional roles food plays in these stories, of-fering insight into how Lahiri intricately weaves culinary imagery to represent the complexities faced by diasporic individuals. Ultimately, the analysis seeks to show how Lahiri’s nuanced portrayal of food functions as a powerful metaphor for the broader diasporic journey, enriching the conversation on the role of food in diasporic literature.