When Mr Pirzada Came to Dine by Jhumpa

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine by Jhumpa Lahiri

Summary • A young girl named Lilia remembers Mr. Pirzada’s evening visits to her home. Mr. Pirzada had left his family in East Pakistan to write a book on foliage in the United States. • While he was gone, a war started in his country, so he feared for the safety of his wife and seven daughters. Through his visits, Lilia learns many things. Page 133

The story takes place in Massachusetts in 1971. • The story is told through the point of view of Lilia, who is looking back to when she was ten years old. She is an Indian-American. It is set in America. • It begins with her explanation that Mr. Pirzada came from Dacca, which is now the capital of Bangladesh but was then part of Pakistan. • There is a brief inclusion of Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971 and a reference to Partition.

IDENTITY • The narrator’s family is Hindu and Indian-Bengali while Mr. Pirzada is Muslim and Pakistani-Bengali and becoming Bangladeshi. • Lilia’s father tells her: “Mr. Pirzada is no longer considered Indian… Not since Partition. Our country was divided. 1947” (p. 24)

SETTING Lilia’s parents House • North of Boston • Host dinner for visiting Indian and other nationals from their homeland • Eat in the living room while watching the news Dacca, Pakistan • Dacca is the capital of East Pakistan • Mr. Pirzada lived there with his wife and daughters

Background After ruling India for almost two hundred years, the British agreed to a transfer of power in 1947. The Indian subcontinent then was divided into Pakistan and India. Muslim minority demands separate state Indian subcontinent partitioned predominantly Muslim Pakistan predominantly Hindu India violent killings; displacement of millions of people

Pakistan itself was divided into two geographically, ethnically, and linguistically separate parts. Other than sharing a common religion, the people of East Pakistan and West Pakistan had little in common. They spoke different languages and had different cultures, traditions, and physical traits.

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine Background By the autumn of 1971, when this story takes place, Pakistan was engaged in civil war. • East Pakistan, led by Sheikh Mujib Rahman, was demanding independence. • The West Pakistan government reacted with brutal force, driving ten million refugees into India.

• India intervened, quickly forcing the Pakistani army to surrender. • In mid-December 1971, Bangladesh, the former East Pakistan, was established as an independent state.

It is 1971, and Pakistan is caught up in civil war. • Lilia is a ten-year-old girl living near Boston. • Her parents, who are from India, befriend a visitor from East Pakistan and regularly invite him for dinner. • As Mr. Pirzada becomes more important to Lilia, the events in far-off Pakistan also become more real to her.

Reread: ‘When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine’ • Answer the following questions: 1. Mr Pirzada lives in America but is completely absorbed by events in East Pakistan. Why? How does Lahiri show this? (Try to use quotes in your answer) 2. Why does it take time for Lilia to be interested in Mr. Pirzada’s real identity?

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine Literary Focus: Theme A theme is an insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work. • A theme is rarely stated directly. • Instead, a theme arises naturally from the story. • The writer brings alive characters who learn, grow, and change. • As we read, we discover important truths along with them.

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine Literary Focus: Theme Ask these questions to help you find and state theme of Lahiri’s story. • What clue might the title provide to theme? • What does Lilia learn about herself, her family, and human relationships in general? • How has Lilia changed by the end of the story?

Write about themes by writing… • a general statement about that theme in life • what the author seems to be saying about it. • The process of growing up involves selfdiscovery. Through Lilia, Lahiri examines the way this process can be complicated by living within two different cultures. Write a couple of sentences about the way Lahiri explores another of the story’ themes.

FINDING EVIDENCE…. • Examples of Mr Pirzada struggling to adapt to life in a new place/culture • Examples of Lilia living between two different cultures

SYMBOLISM IN MR PIRZADA COMES TO DINE • What might the symbols be? • What do they mean?

WRITING TASK to be submitted at the end of the lesson • In When Mr Pirzada Came to Dine, Lahiri explores the difficulties of living in a new country. Discuss • In When Mr Pirzada Came to Dine Lilia learns a lot about herself. Discuss.