The Namesake

What is in a name ? Ever wondered why our parents gave us our name ?I used to wonder as many people always found it difficult to say my name..
"The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri is the book that inspired me to think about the story behind each name. This book is a simple book about the "Ganguli" family.Ashok Ganguli moves to US ,which is the land of opportunities.He marries Ashima and they have two children, Gogol Ganguli (later Nikhil Ganguli) and Sonia Ganguli.
Now Gogol is a funny name ...well i thought so.Why would anyone name a person so?
Ashok Ganguli named his son after the author Nikolai Gogol.Ashok was reading the book "The overcoat" by this author when the train he was travelling met with an accident and if it was not for this book he was holding onto , he would have not been rescued and he would not have seen another day in his life...
The book revolves around Gogol..his life,his feeling for his parents when he was in school,college and as he grew up and how he came to admire and love his parents for all that they had done for him.He always thought the he was named so as his Dad's favourite author asGogol and one day when Ashok told the story of the night of the accident, Gogol was dumstruck. For Ashok, Gogol reminded him of everything that came after that dreadful night of the accident ..!!

It felt a lot like any ones true life story as everyone goes through the same phase in life..Phase when you feel your parents are the world , then when you are in your teens you find them nagging and not soo cool and then as you mature and grow older you understand and admire them more and more..for all that they have given you!

Our parents are the people who live for us and who would do anything to see their kids happy.I am so thankful for all the love and care and everything that my parents have given me..and for making me what I am today..Thank you Dad and Mum!