Pirzada Came to Dine," written by Jhumpa Lahiri, discuses the differences between Pakistan and the United States, through the way a family lives and dines with Mr. Pirzada.
Told from the view point of a ten year old child, Lilia, this story is based during a time of war in 1971 between India and Pakistan. Lilia moves to the United States with her parents who are from Calcutta. They move for a better life for Lilia and themselves. Lilia has no knowledge or interest in the world conflict until Mr. Pirzada begins to dine with her parents. .
Lilia gets used to Mr. Pirzada coming for dinner and she begins to refer to him as the Indian man. Lilia's father quickly corrects her and tells her that Mr. Pirzada is now Muslim, not Indian. He asks her what she knows about what is going on in the world and Lilia has no idea. Lilia has a difficult time understanding because all she seems to learn in school is American History. Lilia's father becomes very displeased that Lilia isn't learning about what is going on in the world and he tires to describe to her what is going on and why. He explains to her that even though he and Mr. Pirzada speak the same language, have the same color skin, eat the same food, and are from around the same part of the world, Mr. Pirzada is considered Muslim, and Lilia, her mother, and himself are considered Indian. Lilia has a hard time comprehending this. I would too if I was ten years old. .
From the very start of the story I could get a feel for who Mr. Pirzada is. He is a very smart man who has a lot of heart and all he wants is to know that his seven daughters and wife are alive and safe. Lilia is very shy when Mr. Pirzada first starts coming over, but I think what really changes her feelings for him is when he takes his watch out and sets it on the table. It is set to Dacca time; he looks at it and stops to think, she then realizes that the whole time his mind is set in Dacca and all he ever thinks about is if his family is alright.
