Jhumpa Lahiri

Books as Journeys Beyond Maps and Miles

Finally, book-based travel raises ethical possibilities that literal travel cannot always match. It is carbon-light, accessible, and safe; yet it also confronts borders of a different kind, from censorship to market silos. Banned Books Week (American Library Association) reminds us that curtailed reading is curtailed movement, while histories of samizdat show how readers smuggled ideas past walls. The remedy is breadth: read across languages, genres, and identities to avoid replacing one narrow map with another. In doing so, we honor Lahiri’s promise—arriving widely, even when we stay still. [...]

Redefining Power Beyond Conventional Strength

Finally, Lahiri’s words challenge us to recognize the everyday acts in which real power exists—be it through kindness, steadfast morals, or resilience in adversity. Whether it’s a student standing up for a peer or a worker persisting in the face of hardship, these moments shape collective destinies. As we move forward, acknowledging these diverse forms of power allows us to cultivate more inclusive and compassionate communities. [...]