Thinking Activity: Gun Island
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Gun Island
Amitav Ghosh's latest novel, Gun Island, explores familiar themes found in his previous works. The story follows Deen, a scholar and collector of rare books, who embarks on a journey to unravel the mystery of a seventeenth-century merchant named Bonduki Sadagar, also known as "The Gun Merchant," and his encounters with the mythical goddess Manasa Devi.
Set in the Sunderbans of West Bengal, the novel highlights environmental concerns such as climate change and pollution, drawing parallels with Ghosh's earlier books like The Hungry Tide and The Great Derangement. Through Deen's quest, Ghosh explores the conflict between profit-driven trade and the natural world, symbolized by the goddess's pursuit of the merchant.
As Deen delves deeper into the merchant's story, he uncovers connections to Venice, where he discovers the exploitation of Bangladeshi migrants as illegal laborers. This subplot contrasts with the merchant's prosperous journey to Venice in the past, reflecting on themes of migration, displacement, and societal tensions.
Overall, Gun Island delves into cross-cultural patterns, environmental issues, and the complexities of human interaction with the natural world, all woven into a captivating narrative that spans continents and centuries.
About Amita Ghosh :
Amitav Ghosh, born on July 11, 1956, is an acclaimed Indian writer known for his thought-provoking novels. He received India's highest literary honor, the 54th Jnanpith award, in 2018. Ghosh's novels delve into complex themes of national and personal identity, particularly focusing on the people of India and South Asia. He writes both historical fiction and non-fiction, exploring topics such as colonialism and climate change.
Ghosh attended The Doon School in Dehradun and later earned a doctorate in social anthropology from the University of Oxford. He has worked at various academic institutions and also served at the Indian Express newspaper in New Delhi. His literary career took off with the publication of his first novel, "The Circle of Reason," in 1986, followed by other acclaimed works like "The Shadow Lines" and "The Glass Palace." Between 2004 and 2015, he worked on the Ibis trilogy, which explores the First Opium War and its consequences.
Apart from fiction, Ghosh has penned non-fiction works like "In an Antique Land" and "The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable." He has received numerous accolades, including two Lifetime Achievement awards and four honorary doctorates. In 2007, he was honored with the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards. Ghosh was also a recipient of the Dan David prize in 2010 and the Grand Prix of the Blue Metropolis festival in 2011. He holds the distinction of being the first English-language writer to receive the latter award. In 2019, Foreign Policy magazine recognized him as one of the most influential global thinkers of the past decade.
How does this novel develop your understanding of a rather new genre known as 'cli-fi'?
Climate fiction, or cli-fi, is a genre of literature that focuses on stories about climate change and its impact on the world. Similar to how science fiction explores future technology, cli-fi imagines what could happen if climate change continues unchecked. These stories range from realistic depictions of how climate change affects people's lives to imaginative scenarios set in altered or devastated environments. Cli-fi helps to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourages discussions about how to address them.
In Amitav Ghosh's novel "Gun Island," climate fiction plays a significant role. The novel addresses various aspects of climate change, such as storms like the Bhola Cyclone and Tropical Storm Aila. These storms caused widespread devastation and loss of life, highlighting the vulnerability of coastal communities to natural disasters. The novel also mentions other signs of climate change, such as dolphins beaching, floods, wildfires in Las Vegas, shipworms, and spiders in Venice.
The Bhola Cyclone, which struck East Pakistan and West Bengal in 1970, was one of the deadliest natural disasters on record. It caused extensive damage due to storm surges, high winds, and heavy rainfall, leading to significant loss of life and infrastructure. Similarly, Tropical Storm Aila hit Bangladesh and India in 2009, causing floods, mudslides, and disruptions to daily life. These events underscore the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and mitigation measures to address the impacts of climate change.
How does Amitav Ghosh use the myth of the Gun Merchant ['Bonduki Sadagar'] & Manasa Devi to initiate discussion on the issues of climate change, migration, the refugee crisis, and human trafficking?
In Amitav Ghosh's novel "Gun Island," the myth of the Gun Merchant ('Bonduki Sadagar') and Manasa Devi serves as a powerful storytelling tool that helps bring attention to important issues like climate change, migration, the refugee crisis, and human trafficking.
1. Climate Change:
The myth of the Gun Merchant and Manasa Devi represents ancient wisdom and folklore deeply connected to nature. Ghosh uses this connection to draw parallels between the wisdom of the past and the challenges we face today with climate change. Through the story, Ghosh shows how the effects of climate change, like floods, droughts, and extreme weather, are impacting people's lives and communities. By linking ancient myths with modern-day environmental issues, Ghosh encourages readers to think about how we can protect our planet and adapt to a changing climate.
2. Migration and Refugee Crisis:
Throughout the novel, characters are forced to migrate because of environmental changes caused by climate change. This mirrors real-life situations where people are displaced from their homes due to floods, storms, and other environmental disasters. The story of the Gun Merchant symbolizes the experiences of migrants and refugees, highlighting the challenges they face when seeking safety and livelihoods in new places. Through the characters' journeys, Ghosh explores the human side of migration and the importance of compassion and solidarity in helping those who are forced to leave their homes.
3. Human Trafficking:
The novel also delves into the darker aspects of human trafficking, showing how vulnerable migrants can be exploited by traffickers. Ghosh parallels the exploitation depicted in the myth of the Gun Merchant with contemporary issues of human trafficking, highlighting the ways in which greed and exploitation can thrive in the face of environmental crises. By shining a light on these issues, Ghosh encourages readers to think critically about the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and the need to address root causes of exploitation and injustice.
Overall, by weaving together ancient folklore with contemporary challenges, Ghosh prompts readers to reflect on the interconnectedness of human experiences across time and space. The myth of the Gun Merchant and Manasa Devi serves as a lens through which to explore complex issues and encourages readers to consider how we can work together to create a more just and sustainable world.
How does Amitav Ghosh make use of the 'etymology' of common words to sustain mystery and suspense in the narrative?
Amitav Ghosh frequently uses the technique of etymology in his writing to maintain suspense and intrigue by assigning unconventional or hidden meanings to ordinary words, resulting in a feeling of uncertainty and mystery.
The title of Ghosh's novel, "Gun Island," may initially suggest a connection to firearms or a specific island, but in reality, the story does not involve guns or a particular island. Instead, "Gun Island" has a symbolic meaning within the novel. In this context, the word "gun" actually represents "Venice." This concept is supported by various passages from the book.
Through this approach, Ghosh introduces an element of ambiguity and complexity, prompting readers to question the true significance of familiar words and concepts within the narrative.
'And through Arabic the name if Venice has travelled far afield, to Persia and parts of India, where to this day guns are known as Bundook - Which is, Of course, none other than 'Venice' or 'Venetian'.
In the novel, the Word "Gun Merchant" or "Bonduki Sadagar" refers to a merchant who traveled to Venice.
Was it possible that I had completely misunderstood the name ‘Bonduki Sadagar’? Could it be that its meaning was not ‘The Gun Merchant’, as I had thought, but rather, ‘The Merchant who went to Venice’?
In the novel "Gun Island" by Amitav Ghosh, the word "Bhoot" means more than just "ghost." It represents the idea of a past existence or state of being, like memories or times gone by. This term comes up in a conversation between characters Tipu and Dinanath in Brooklyn. It shows how memories from the past can stay with us and influence how we see the world today. So, in the story, "Bhoot" isn't just about ghosts; it's about the power of memory and how it shapes our lives.
‘All I can tell you is that the Bangla word “bhoot” or “bhuta” comes from a basic but very complicated Sanskrit root, “bhu”, meaning “to be”, or “to manifest”. So in that sense “bhuta” simply means “a being” or “an existing presence”.'
‘Because “bhuta” also refers to the past, in the sense of “a past state of being”. Like when we say “bhuta-kala” or “times past”.’
In the novel "Gun Island," the word "Ghetto" has a different meaning than what people commonly associate with it. While many think of it as related to Jewish communities, in the context of the book, it refers to something entirely different. Here, "Ghetto" is the Venetian dialect word for a foundry, which is a place where metal is melted and shaped. It's used to describe an "Island within an Island," indicating a specific area within Venice where these foundries were located. So, in the novel, "Ghetto" doesn't have anything to do with Jews; it's about a specific place within Venice where metal work was done.
The old ghetto is an island within an island, as you can see.’
In the novel "Gun Island," the word "possession" has a different meaning than what some people might think. While it can refer to being taken over by a demon, in the book, it's used as a metaphor for greed. Essentially, it means being consumed or controlled by a strong desire for something, like money or power. So, in the story, "possession" isn't about demons; it's about the destructive force of greed.
‘It’s nothing. Just a metaphor for greed. An imaginary thing.’
In a chapter "Warning," Cinta explains that the word "possession" isn't always about demons or negativity. Instead, it means "awakening." When someone says they're possessed, it's like they're experiencing a new life, a new way of being, and gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
What are your views on the use of myth and history in the novel Gun Island to draw the attention of the reader towards contemporary issues like climate change and migration?Is there any connection between 'The Great Derangement' and 'Gun Island'?
In "Gun Island," Amitav Ghosh uses myths and real-world history to deepen the story's themes, such as climate change and migration. By mixing Bengali folklore and historical events, Ghosh creates a rich story that links the past with the present, showing how cultural, social, and environmental issues are all connected. The myths he includes highlight how these issues have been important throughout history. Places like the Sundarbans, Venice, Gito, and Sicily are mentioned, grounding the story in recognizable settings. Additionally, the symbols found in the shrine of Manasa Devi play a crucial role, especially those connected to the myth of Ilyas. This blend of myth, history, and contemporary events makes for a powerful narrative that underscores the urgent need for collective action in addressing the world's challenges today.
Four approaches to study myth and history in literature.
1.myth and ritual,
2. functionalism,
3.psychoanalytic approach, and
4.structuralism.
Amitav Ghosh, uses myth as a tool for the narrative at three levels: contemporary, historical, and mythological.He mixes old stories and real-life events to talk about today's big problems like climate change and people moving from one place to another. By using stories from the past, Ghosh helps us understand the issues we face now and how they're connected to things that happened a long time ago.
For example, Ghosh talks about ancient myths like the Gun Merchant and Manasa Devi to show how people and nature are linked. He explains how things that happened in the past can help us understand what's happening to our planet now, especially with the environment getting worse. Ghosh wants us to think about how our actions affect nature and what we can do to make things better.
He also looks at history to show how people moving from one place to another has always been happening. Ghosh compares things that happened in the past, like plagues and fires, to what's happening today, like refugees having to leave their homes because of floods or other disasters. He wants us to see that these problems aren't new and that we need to do something about them.
By mixing old stories with modern issues, Ghosh helps us understand the challenges we face today and encourages us to think about how we can make things better for the future.
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