বাংলায় পড়ুন
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author turns 51 this year. Her first novel, ‘Namesake’, is her best selling work till date. Initially, she was known as Nilanjana Lahiri, which the Americans found difficult to pronounce. She decided to change her name to Jhumpa. She developed a special feeling for Kolkata as she could relate to her mother’s nostalgia and love for the city of joy. This has influenced her writing to a greater extent.
She was awarded the 2014 National Medal of Arts and Humanities by US President, Barack Obama at the White House for her writings that revolved around the Indo American experience. In her early days, her short stories got rejected by publishers repeatedly. However, she went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. A movie based on her novel ‘Namesake’ was released in 2007. It was directed by Mira Nair. Jhumpa Lahiri played a cameo; ‘Aunt Jhumpa’.
Surprising everyone, Jhumpa Lahiri got married to Alberto Vourvoulias-Bush, a Time journalist, in Kolkata.
Jiyo Bangla wishes her a very Happy Birthday.
