Jhumpa Lahiri questions the mother tongue — and the need to belong

Jhumpa Lahiri, the acclaimed author, revealed she has no mother tongue, feeling perpetually outside of language. Born to Bengali parents and raised in the US, she embraces linguistic fluidity and creative trespass, finding freedom in writing in Italian. Lahiri advocates for learning other languages, warning against linguistic domination and nationalism, and finds home in experiences, not places.

Jan 31, 2026 - 18:55
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Jhumpa Lahiri questions the mother tongue — and the need to belong
Jhumpa Lahiri, the acclaimed author, revealed she has no mother tongue, feeling perpetually outside of language. Born to Bengali parents and raised in the US, she embraces linguistic fluidity and creative trespass, finding freedom in writing in Italian. Lahiri advocates for learning other languages, warning against linguistic domination and nationalism, and finds home in experiences, not places.

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