• Reeta
• Dr. Ravinder Kumar

This postcolonial analysis explores the negotiation of food and culture in select works of Jhumpa Lahiri. Through an examination of Lahiri's literary works, particularly focusing on "The Namesake" and "Interpreter of Maladies," this study investigates how the characters navigate their identities and cultural heritage through the lens of food. The postcolonial perspective provides a framework to understand the complex interplay between colonial legacies, diasporic experiences, and the construction of cultural identity. The analysis delves into the ways in which Lahiri's characters grapple with their cultural roots in the context of migration and diaspora. Food emerges as a significant site for this negotiation, serving as a medium through which characters express and preserve their cultural identities. The study also explores how the colonial history, whether directly referenced or implicitly present, shapes the characters' relationship with food and influences their sense of belonging. This considers the power dynamics inherent in the act of preparing and consuming food, highlighting how these dynamics mirror broader postcolonial structures. Lahiri's works depict characters navigating the tension between assimilation and preservation, shedding light on the complexities of cultural negotiation in a postcolonial world. By employing a postcolonial lens to analyze the representation of food and culture in Lahiri's works, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate ways in which individuals negotiate their identities in the aftermath of colonial histories and within the context of global diaspora. The exploration of these themes in Lahiri's narratives provides valuable insights into the ongoing processes of cultural negotiation and preservation in a postcolonial and globalized world.

"'Postcolonial Analysis: Negotiation of Food and Culture in select works of Jhumpa Lahiri'", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 12, page no.a454-a456, December-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2312057.pdf

"'Postcolonial Analysis: Negotiation of Food and Culture in select works of Jhumpa Lahiri'", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 12, page no. ppa454-a456, December-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2312057.pdf