Pashmina

At the beginning of the novel, Priyanka prefers to go by the nickname “Pri,” but after her trip to India, she starts using her given name. What does this suggest about The Empowering Exploration of Cultural Heritage?

How do Priyanka’s experiences with being bullied at school illustrate The Challenges of Navigating the Immigrant Experience?

Examine the artwork associated with the idealized version of India and contrast it with the real version of India that Priyanka visits with Meena Mausi. What issues does the idealized version hide, and how are these issues portrayed in the illustrations of the real India? Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

Analyze Priyanka’s behavior at school, both before and after her trip to the real India. How does her behavior change, and what is the reason for this shift?

Research the figure of Shakti within the context of Hinduism. What concepts does this goddess represent, and how does she advance the cause of empowering women?

Chanani creates some illustrations in black and white, while other sections feature color illustrations. Identify and analyze at least three such shifts and examine how the novel uses color to convey specific meanings.

Throughout the novel, Chanani uses objects to symbolize complex dynamics and relationships. Analyze the depictions of the closet that holds Priyanka’s mother’s suitcase. What ideas are conveyed through these scenes, especially regarding The Challenges of Navigating the Immigrant Experience?

Chanani organizes most of the novel into panels, but some moments take up a full page. Identify and analyze at least two such instances and explain how this stylistic choice alters emphasis or meaning.