Explore the real-world places that appear in Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Harvard Square, Sun Mahal Indian Restaurant, Boston Public Library - Copley Square, Lexington Suburban Neighborhood, Sun Temple at Konark and 7 more.
Cambridge — Where Lilia observes Mr. Pirzada
In 'When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine,' young Lilia accompanies her parents and Mr. Pirzada to Harvard Square, where the adults shop while she observes the cultural differences between her family's Indian guest and American life. Mr. Pirzada's anxiety about his family in East Pakistan contrasts sharply with the bustling academic atmosphere of Harvard Square.
Harvard Square has been the intellectual and commercial heart of Cambridge since the 17th century, centered around Harvard University founded in 1636. By the 1970s when Lahiri's story is set, it was a vibrant area mixing academic life with counterculture.
Harvard Square remains a bustling hub of bookstores, cafes, street performers, and the famous Harvard Coop. The area continues to attract international students and immigrants, much like the characters in Lahiri's stories.
Visit: Harvard Square (landmark)
Central Square, Cambridge — Miranda and Dev's meeting place
In 'Sexy,' Miranda meets her married lover Dev at an Indian restaurant in Central Square. She learns to pronounce 'pakoras' and feels sophisticated eating Indian food, while Dev introduces her to his culture. Their relationship begins to unravel as Miranda realizes the superficiality of their connection and the pain of adultery.
Central Square became home to many Indian and South Asian restaurants in the 1970s and 1980s as immigration increased. These establishments served both homesick immigrants and curious Americans exploring new cuisines.
Central Square continues to be one of Cambridge's most diverse neighborhoods, with numerous Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi restaurants serving authentic cuisine to students, immigrants, and locals.
Back Bay — Where characters seek connection to home
Several of Lahiri's characters visit the Boston Public Library to read newspapers from India and stay connected to events in their homeland. Mr. Pirzada checks for news about the Bangladesh Liberation War, while other immigrants seek familiar languages and stories in the international periodicals section.
The Boston Public Library's McKim Building opened in 1895 as the first large municipal library in the United States to allow free access to all citizens. It has long served immigrant communities seeking information about their home countries.
The BPL remains a crucial resource for Boston's diverse communities, with extensive foreign language collections, international newspapers, and programs serving immigrants and refugees from around the world.
Visit: Boston Public Library (library)
Lexington, MA — Shoba and Shukumar's home
In 'A Temporary Matter,' Shoba and Shukumar's marriage deteriorates in their comfortable suburban home during scheduled power outages. They play a game of revealing secrets in the darkness, culminating in Shukumar's devastating revelation about their stillborn child and Shoba's announcement that she's moving out.
Lexington became a prestigious suburb in the post-World War II era, attracting educated professionals including many immigrants who achieved the American dream of homeownership. The town is famous as the site where the American Revolution began in 1775.
Lexington remains one of Massachusetts' most affluent suburbs, known for excellent schools and attracting many Indian-American and other immigrant families seeking educational opportunities for their children.
Konark, Odisha — Mr. Kapasi's tour destination
In the title story 'Interpreter of Maladies,' Mr. Kapasi guides the Das family to the Sun Temple at Konark. As he explains the temple's erotic sculptures, Mrs. Das confides her marital problems to him. The ancient temple becomes a backdrop for their brief emotional connection and his romantic fantasies about their correspondence.
The 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark is one of India's most magnificent architectural achievements, built by King Narasimhadeva I. The temple is famous for its intricate stone carvings depicting various aspects of life, including erotic sculptures.
The Sun Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and major tourist destination in Odisha. Tour guides like Mr. Kapasi continue to explain its history to both Indian and international visitors.
Visit: Sun Temple (historic site)
North Calcutta — Boori Ma's workplace
In 'A Real Durwan,' Boori Ma works as the building's sweeper and gatekeeper, regaling residents with stories of her lost wealth in Partition. When the residents modernize the building and install new amenities, they blame Boori Ma for a theft and evict her, leaving her homeless on Calcutta's streets.
North Calcutta's old residential buildings housed middle-class Bengali families for generations. Many buildings employed durwans (gatekeepers) like Boori Ma, often refugees from the 1947 Partition who had lost everything.
These colonial-era apartment buildings still exist throughout North Calcutta, though many are now in disrepair. The durwan system continues, though it's increasingly modernized with security guards replacing traditional gatekeepers.
East Boston — Gateway to America
In 'The Third and Final Continent,' the narrator arrives at Logan Airport from London, beginning his American chapter. He describes his nervousness and anticipation as he enters the United States, carrying only a suitcase and the address of his Cambridge accommodation, marking the final leg of his immigrant journey.
Logan Airport opened in 1923 and became a major international gateway by the 1960s. It served as the entry point for thousands of immigrants from India and other countries during the immigration wave following the 1965 Immigration Act.
Logan remains New England's primary international airport, continuing to welcome immigrants and visitors from around the world. The airport has expanded significantly and serves as a symbol of arrival and new beginnings.
Visit: Boston Logan International Airport (landmark)
Cambridge — Mrs. Sen's driving lessons
In 'Mrs. Sen's,' the titular character attempts to learn driving on Massachusetts Avenue while babysitting young Eliot. Her anxiety about American roads reflects her broader struggles with American life. She crashes the car in a minor accident, symbolizing her inability to fully adapt to American independence and mobility.
Massachusetts Avenue has been one of Cambridge's main thoroughfares since the colonial era, connecting Harvard Square to downtown Boston. By the 1980s, it was a busy road that could be intimidating for new drivers, especially immigrants unfamiliar with American driving culture.
Mass Ave remains a major Cambridge artery, lined with restaurants, shops, and businesses. The street continues to challenge new drivers with its heavy traffic, bike lanes, and pedestrian activity.
Beacon Hill — Twinkle and Sanjeev's new house
In 'This Blessed House,' newlyweds Twinkle and Sanjeev discover their Beacon Hill home filled with Christian artifacts left by previous owners. Twinkle delights in the religious items, while Sanjeev finds them embarrassing. Their different reactions reveal deeper tensions about assimilation, spirituality, and their marriage compatibility.
Beacon Hill's Victorian homes were built in the 19th century for Boston's elite. By the late 20th century, many had been sold to young professionals, including successful immigrants who could afford the prestigious neighborhood.
Beacon Hill remains one of Boston's most expensive and historic neighborhoods. Its narrow cobblestone streets and brick townhouses are now largely owned by wealthy professionals, including many in the tech and finance industries.
Cambridge — Academic immigrant community
Several of Lahiri's academic characters are connected to MIT's intellectual community. The narrator in 'The Third and Final Continent' works at the MIT library, where he processes books and earns enough to bring his wife Mala from India. The campus represents the academic pathway that many educated immigrants used to establish themselves in America.
MIT became a major destination for international graduate students and researchers in the 1960s-80s, particularly from India. The institute's library system employed many immigrants in technical and administrative positions.
MIT continues to attract brilliant minds from around the world, with a large Indian and South Asian student and faculty population. The campus remains a symbol of American educational opportunity for international students.
Visit: MIT Campus (tour)
Newton — Mrs. Sen's connection to fish markets
Mrs. Sen mentions taking the T to reach Boston's fish markets, though her fear of driving limits her mobility. The Green Line represents both connection and isolation for her - a lifeline to familiar foods but also a reminder of her dependence on public transportation in a car-centric suburban culture.
The MBTA's Green Line extension to Riverside opened in 1959, connecting Boston's western suburbs to downtown. The system became crucial for immigrants who couldn't or wouldn't drive, providing access to ethnic markets and communities.
Riverside remains the western terminus of the Green Line, serving commuters from Newton and surrounding suburbs. The station continues to be an important transit hub for residents without cars.
Visit: Riverside MBTA Station (landmark)
North End — Where Mrs. Sen seeks fresh fish
In 'Mrs. Sen's,' she travels to Boston's fish markets seeking the fresh fish that reminds her of home in India. She carefully selects fish and prepares elaborate meals, using food as a way to maintain her cultural identity. Her detailed preparation rituals contrast sharply with American processed foods and represent her resistance to full assimilation.
Haymarket has been Boston's produce and fish market since the 1830s, serving the city's diverse immigrant communities. The outdoor market became a gathering place where different ethnic groups could find familiar ingredients.
Haymarket continues as an outdoor market every Friday and Saturday, though it's now more focused on produce than fish. The nearby North End still has several fish markets serving Italian-American and other communities.
Visit: Haymarket (market)
More by Jhumpa Lahiri: The Namesake locations map · All Jhumpa Lahiri books
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