When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine

Short story When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine in the book Interpreter of Maladies takes place in Boston. The story is narrated by Lilia who talks about a man from Dacca that was sent to United States to study foliage from Pakistan.  Mr. Pirzada lives in the dormitories at the university. He has left behind, in Dacca, a wife and seven young girls. Lilia’s parents invite Mr. Pirzada for dinner every day because of his financial situation. Lilia grows so accustomed to Mr. Pirzada’s presence at dinner that one day while taking out an extra cup for their guest Lilia’s father tells her “Mr. Pirzada is no longer considered Indian… Not since the partition” (25). Lilia is surprised by this division since she can distinguish almost no differences between her parents and Mr. Pirzada.  Every afternoon Lilia’s parents and Mr. Pirzada watch the news and learn that there is a Civil War between Pakistan and India. Throughout the book Lilia becomes in touch with her roots and learns the ignorance of the ongoing war in her school.  Lilia worries for Mr. Pirzada because she knows he is concerned for his family. After the war Mr. Pirzada travels back to his hometown and reunites with his wife and children and sends a postcard. When Mr. Pirzada travels back home Lilia misses him and she mentions how her family sits quietly at dinner which shows that Mr. Pirzada brought a taste of home to her family. I think this short story shows strong symbolism of unity and sense of community.  Even though Mr. Pirzada was no longer considered Indian and Mr. Pirzada and Lilia’s parents’ hometown were at war, they still had dinner together because of their shared homelands even over thousands of miles away.  I think Lahiri points out that even though you may be thousands of miles away from your homeland you will have a shared sense of identity with individuals who share same customs and culture.