"Gogol" by Jhumpa Lahiri

"Gogol" by Jhumpa Lahiri is a story that tells the tale of a Bengali couple, Ashoke and Ashima, that struggle with their new life after immigrating to the United States. The husband, Ashoke, is in the lobby of a hospital at 4:30 a.m. waiting for his wife to give birth to their first child. As he waits, Ashoke quietly reflects on his life, instead of indulging in cigars like the other expecting fathers in the waiting room.  He remembers advice from family and relatives, and recalls an accident he was in when he was younger on a train, reading a page of a book written by Gogol, as he awaits the arrival of his new born son.

When his son is born, they write Ashima, the wife's, grandmother to do the honors of naming their baby, as it is tradition. Unfortunately, the couple and their child cannot be released from the hopsital unless the baby has a birth certificate and the only way they can contact the grandmother is through telegram. The telegram never arrives to the couple and soon they learn the grandmother has died. The couple settles on the name "Gogol" for their son.

Time passes on for the family, and Gogol seems to be rejecting his name and his family's culture. He wants to be American, not Bengali. He expresses this frustration to his parents through out his life and eventually his parents agree to give him a public name, Hikhil. Once he was old enough, Gogol changes his name to Nikhil Gogol Ganguli and starts an American lifestyle.

One instance when Gogol goes home for the summer by train, Gogol's train loses electricity because a man attempted to commit suicide by jumping in front of the train. Ashoke hears of this and becomes anxious for his son's safety, thus driving to the station and awaiting his son's safe arrival. It is this event that leads Ashoke to finally explain to his son the meaning of his name. Gogol suddenly becomes regretful for changing his name and asks his father why he didn't tell him before. Ashoke replies it never felt like the right time. Gogol asks if he reminds his father of that accident, but Ashoke just replies that Gogol reminds him of the life he gained after the accident.

This story was incredibly touching and really takes a hit at how kids recklessly reject their family's history. It is family history that makes that ignorant person be. Family history teaches to appreciate their past. If there is no family history, then who are they?