In a first time collaboration with MTV Desi, mtvU surprised students at Pace University in New York City, hosting Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri as part of mtvU's Emmy-nominated series "Stand In." With cameras following, the acclaimed author of Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake and former Boston University professor appeared unexpectedly in "ENG 307 - Creative Writing: Fiction" – whose students have been reading her work as part of the class – and engaged the Pace students in a lively discussion on Ms. Lahiri's career, inspiration and the art of writing compelling fiction.

• Watch the Jhumpa Lahiri Stand In

Past Stand In Features Read about past Stand Ins by selecting an artist name from the drop-down.

Select An Artist -------- Marian Wright Edelman Dr. Muhammad Yunus President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Don Cheadle Annie Lennox President Paul Kagame Sam Brownback Malcolm Gladwell & Kenna Mike Judge Jhumpa Lahiri jhumpa_lahiri == jhumpa_lahiri, so currentIndex is:9 Larry David George Clinton Natalie Portman Madonna Cameron Diaz Bill Gates Melissa Etheridge Shimon Peres John McCain Sting Ashley Judd Elie Wiesel Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Tom Wolfe Russell Simmons Nas & Olu Dara Marilyn Manson Snoop Dogg Jesse Jackson Frank McCourt