Pashmina

Although the novel’s protagonist, Priyanka, was born in the US, her mother emigrated from India when she was pregnant with Priyanka and settled in California. Because Priyanka is deeply curious about her Indian heritage, the challenges of navigating between two cultures figure prominently as thematic concerns. Despite Priyanka’s curiosity about India, her mother initially doesn’t allow Priyanka to travel there and never wants to return herself. She is reluctant to reveal too much information about India because she believes it is unsafe; her attitude is deeply influenced by her own negative associations and past experiences in the country. She argues that “India is a poor, dirty place. It does have beauty. More than here, but all that beauty isn’t what it seems” (78). Despite the drawbacks that may exist in India, Priyanka and her mother both recognize that the US has drawbacks as well, and both struggle to thrive in the US due to the prevalence of xenophobia, racism, and differing cultural norms. Ultimately, the characters learn that neither country is objectively better than the other, and they come to accept that because both places present unique challenges, different strategies are needed in order to live comfortably in either country.

Priyanka’s challenge of navigating between two cultures is partially symbolized through her internal conflict about her name. At first, she wants to “fit in” in the US, so she goes by the nickname “Pri” instead of her full Indian name, Priyanka. However, this strategy does not fully eradicate the challenges of living as an immigrant because Priyanka still faces racism and xenophobia at school. For example, a bully named Kristy calls her “Priyucka” in a racist refusal to use her preferred name, and the same character is also guilty of classism when she makes fun of Priyanka’s thrift store clothing. Although Priyanka tells her mom about the classist bullying, her mom still believes that “[i]t’s harder to be a girl in India than [Priyanka] thinks” and says that “[Meena Mausi] was teased a lot because she wore [her] old clothes” (49). She also asserts that “in India it’s different” (50), as if the classism in India is worse than in the US. As Priyanka learns, classism abounds in both cultures as a form of structural inequality that Priyanka and her mother must constantly navigate. Whereas Priyanka faces racism and xenophobia regarding her Indian name in the US, her Indian friends and family members also refuse to use her chosen name of “Pri.” As Uncle Jatin says, “Priyanka is easy for me. But I know for people here it’s not” (9). At the novel’s outset, Priyanka feels as if her identity and preferences are being denied by Indian Americans and by other Americans alike, so the navigation between two cultures becomes especially difficult for her. The magical trips to India are also confusing for Priyanka because she only sees an idealized, beautiful version of the country, one that makes her doubt the veracity of her mother’s feelings about the real place. However, after visiting the real country, it becomes easier for Priyanka to navigate between the two cultures in a realistic way, which is partially symbolized through her ultimate choice to use her given name, Priyanka, at school.

Although Priyanka’s mother has reservations about her daughter traveling to India because of her own negative experiences, she also acknowledges that the US has drawbacks and is not an easy place to live. As she admits, “Life isn’t simple anywhere, Priyanka. When I came to the US, I thought it would be better. Certain things are good, like it’s very clean. But not enough respect here” (33). Acknowledging that neither place is perfect is an important step that both characters take in their journey toward cultural autonomy. For example, when Priyanka learns that her mother moved to the US so that she could raise her daughter independently and safely without further persecution, this decision makes more sense to Priyanka, and she cultivates a newfound appreciation for the US despite its drawbacks. She also realizes that acknowledging the different beauty of both places is just as important as recognizing their drawbacks; Priyanka comes to appreciate her life in the US, and Priyanka’s mother rekindles her relationship with her sister and decides to visit India again someday to see her family. Thus, Priyanka and her mother learn to navigate the two cultures more effectively.