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.