A Real Durwan

by

Jhumpa Lahiri

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on A Real Durwan makes teaching easy.

A Real Durwan Characters

Boori Ma

Boori Ma, the story’s protagonist, is a 64-year-old Bengali woman who has been a refugee since Partition in 1947. As a durwan, or “doorkeeper,” it is her job to clean the apartment building where… read analysis of Boori Ma

Mr. Dalal

The husband of Mrs. Dalal and a lower-level toilet part salesman. He lives the same apartment building where Boori Ma lives and works. When he is suddenly promoted to a management position at his company… read analysis of Mr. Dalal

Mrs. Dalal

The wife of Mr. Dalal. She lives in the same apartment building where Boori Ma lives and works and is the main protector Boori Ma. She insists on providing Boori Ma with additional materials… read analysis of Mrs. Dalal

Mr. Chatterjee

Mr. Chatterjee is known as the resident intellectual of the apartment building where Boori Ma, Mr. Dalal, Mrs. Dalal, and Mrs. Misra live, even though the narrator shares that he has not… read analysis of Mr. Chatterjee
Minor Characters
Mrs. Misra
A widow who lives on the second floor of the same apartment building where Boori Ma, Mr. Dalal, Mrs. Dalal, and Mr. Chatterjee live. She is the only resident with a private telephone.