Gun Island- Amitav Ghosh

Hello! This blog is assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir. It deals with Amitav Ghosh’s 2019 novel Gun Island. As a task, we are assigned a few questions and from them, this blog deals with three questions.

GUN ISLAND

AMITAV GHOSH

Introduction:

Amitav Ghosh is an Indian-born, internationally acclaimed author and one of the most prominent voices in English-language fiction. He is best known for his novels, which often explore themes related to history, migration, and globalization. Ghosh's writing is characterized by its rich and evocative language, as well as its deep engagement with the cultural and political issues of our time.

"Gun Island" is a novel by Amitav Ghosh, published in 2019. The book follows the journey of Deen Datta, a rare-book dealer from Kolkata, as he travels to Venice in search of answers about a mysterious legend surrounding the goddess of snakes and firearms. Along the way, Deen encounters a diverse cast of characters who challenge his beliefs and force him to confront the impact of climate change on our world. With its rich, atmospheric writing and its powerful exploration of themes related to environmentalism, "Gun Island" is a must-read for fans of Ghosh's work and for anyone interested in the intersection of fiction and environmental activism.

How does Amitav Ghosh use the myth of Manasa Devi to create the myth of a Gun Merchant ('Bonduki Sadagar') and initiate discussion on the issue of Climate Change and Migration/Refugee crisis / Human Trafficking?

In Amitav Ghosh's novel, Gun Island, the character of Manasa Devi is first introduced through a conversation between Kanai Dutt and Deen, in which the myth of Chand Saudagar is discussed. This myth, crafted by Ghosh himself, serves as a central thread that weaves the novel's themes together. Through this myth, Ghosh draws parallels between the Little Ice Age and our present-day reality, where natural disasters such as droughts, floods, cyclones, wildfires, and epidemics have become a ubiquitous part of life. The novel posits that these unprecedented climatic conditions are the primary cause of these disasters.

Despite being intrigued by the myth of the Gun Merchant after hearing it from Kanai, Deen initially sees it as nothing more than a story, not worth his further consideration. However, while attending a conference in Los Angeles, he is moved by the speeches of a young speaker and Cinta, who suggest that there may be some truth to the myth after all. Cinta inspires Deen to visit Venice and follow the route of the Gun Merchant, in order to uncover the truth behind the myth. Through his journey, Deen unravels the suspenseful and amusing names of places, as he strives to discover whether the myth of the Gun Merchant holds any truth or not.

The theme of migration is a prevalent one in Gun Island, with various characters throughout the book having migrated for a variety of reasons. Some characters have fled due to natural calamities, while others have been forced to move as a result of communal violence or poverty. Some have migrated in search of a better life, while others have been driven by socioeconomic conditions.

Through his conversation with Horen Naskar, while visiting the shrine of the Gun Merchant, Deen is prompted to consider the reasons for the Gun Merchant's migration from Sundarbans. It becomes clear that the Gun Merchant may have been driven to leave his home by one of these very same factors that have caused other characters to migrate. The rich tapestry of characters and their motivations in Gun Island provides a nuanced exploration of the complexities of migration and underscores the idea that there is no single reason why people choose to leave their homes and start anew elsewhere.

“the disaster that had forced the Gun Merchant to flee his 

homeland: a drought so terrible that the streams, rivers 

and ponds had dried up and the stench of rotting 

fish and dead livestock had hung heavy in the air.”

The central characters are academics who have dedicated their careers to studying various forms of animal life. For instance, Piyali Roy is a researcher who has focused her efforts on the fascinating world of dolphins, while Lisa has studied the impact of climate change on bark beetles. Larry, another character, has dedicated himself to the study of spiders. Through the research of these characters, the reader is given an in-depth look into the lives of these creatures and how they are being affected by the changing climate. The novel also highlights the presence of snakes, spiders, and shipworms in Venice, offering a unique perspective on how these animals are adapting to their changing environment. These examples serve as poignant reminders of the far-reaching effects of climate change, and the importance of continued research and exploration.

“‘Larry says this is the first time he’s heard of one turning up so far north. But he’s not surprised either. He says the brown recluse has been increasing its range very quickly because it’s getting so much hotter in Europe. And there’s a related species, the Mediterranean recluse, that’s already widespread across Italy.” It gives us the effect of climate change on animals and their migration into the world."

At the conclusion of the novel, Ship, Lucania embarks on a mission to protect the refugees aboard the blue boat. Unfortunately, this mission is met with opposition from right-wingers, much like the attack experienced by the Gun Merchant during his time as a slave of pirates. This parallel serves to reinforce the themes of the novel and draws connections between the past and the present. Additionally, while everyone was aboard the Lucania, a sudden change in the atmosphere occurred, a phenomenon is known as bioluminescence. This event, with its mythical connotations, seems to suggest the presence of Manasa Devi herself. This moment serves to underscore the importance of the myth and its significance within the larger context of the novel.

The novel Gun Island uses the myth of the Gun Merchant to discuss important issues of Climate Change, Migration, and Human Trafficking. The events and characters in the book serve to explore these topics, inviting readers to reflect on the impact of their actions on the world and others. The novel raises important questions and provides insightful perspectives on these issues. this brief answer provides an overview of the themes explored in the novel Gun Island, and how they are linked to the myth of the Gun Merchant. I hope that this information will prove to be useful to you as you delve into the world of the novel and its thought-provoking themes.

What are your views on the use of myth and history in the novel 'Gun Island' to draw the attention of the reader toward contemporary issues like climate change and migration?

By incorporating elements of the past and using a mythical narrative, the author creates a compelling story that connects with the reader's emotions and imagination, making the themes of the novel more impactful and memorable. Myths and legends often have a timeless quality and universal appeal, making them a powerful tool for storytelling. By incorporating elements of myth into the narrative, the author creates a memorable and emotionally engaging story that draws the reader in and encourages them to reflect on the themes of the novel. The use of history in Gun Island provides a backdrop for the contemporary issues being explored, giving the reader a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of these challenges. This helps to make the themes of the novel more relevant and meaningful and strengthens the connection between the reader and the narrative.

The East is a tapestry of myths and legends, woven into the fabric of its people's beliefs. The inhabitants of this region have a deep and abiding connection to the divine and the mythical, with their imaginations captured by tales of gods and heroes. For them, these stories hold immense meaning and evoke powerful emotions.

When presented with contemporary issues in a straightforward, non-fictional manner, the people of the East may struggle to fully comprehend their significance. However, by wrapping these issues in the cloak of myth, the material becomes more captivating, drawing readers in and offering a fresh and insightful perspective. The infusion of myth with reality provides a deeper understanding of the subject matter and a more engaging read.

For those who seek a rational understanding of the world, a historical foundation provides a solid basis for comprehension. By examining the past and its events, we can gain a greater understanding of the present and make informed decisions for the future. The combination of myth and history is a powerful tool for exploring the complexities of our world, providing both depth and context to contemporary issues.

Generate fan literature with the help of ChatGPT (An ode on Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island)

Oh, Gun Island, a tale so rich and bold,

Of myths and legends, old and untold,

Through the pages of Amitav Ghosh,

We embark on a journey through time, full of twists and rosh.

Deen Datta, the seeker of truth,

Follows the whispers of an ancient proof,

To the city of water and love,

Where a goddess of snakes and guns, reigns from above.

Through the maze of canals,

We see the world's demise and its nightmarish thralls,

As greed and folly ravage the land,

Nature's wrath grows, a force to withstand.

Yet in Deen, we find a glimmer of hope,

As he learns the value of ancient lore,

And the power of knowledge to make right,

The wrongs of the past, and restore the light.

Oh Gun Island, your story we sing,

Of lessons learned and wisdom to bring,

For a world in peril, a call to action,

A reminder of our humanity's fraction.

Thanks for visiting. This is a brief blog, I hope it wi be helpful.
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Theories: Marxist, Ecocritical, Feminist and Queer Criticism

Hello! This blog is assigned by Dr. Dilip barad sir. It deals with the various literary theories like Feminism, queer study, eco- criticism, and Marxism. This blog deals with Ecocriticism, other blogs which deals with other theories are hyperlinked in the end.

Ecocriticism

“Ecocriticism” designates the critical writings that explore the relations between literature and the biological and physical environment, conducted with an acute awareness of the damage being wrought on that environment by human activities. It was first originated by Joseph Meeker as an idea called “literary ecology” in his The Comedy of Survival: Studies in Literary Ecology (1972). The term 'ecocriticism' was coined in 1978 by William Rueckert in his essay "Literature and Ecology: An Experiment in Ecocriticism".

Different types of ecocriticism include pastoral, wilderness, and ecofeminism.

• Pastoral, found primarily in British and American literature, focuses on the dichotomy between urban and rural life, often idealizing nature and rural life and demonizing urban life. There are three branches of pastoral ecocriticism: classical, romantic, and American.
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• Wilderness examines how the wilderness is constructed, valued, and engaged with. There are two branches of wilderness ecocriticism: Old World and New World.
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• The Old World portrays the wilderness as a scary, threatening place beyond the borders of civilization and as a place of exile.
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• New World portrays the wilderness as a place of sanctuary where one can find relaxation and reflection, similar to classical pastoral ecocriticism.

Ecofeminism analyzes the connection between the domination of women and the domination of nature, usually by men. It draws parallels between women and nature, which is often seen as feminine, fertile and the property of men. Ecofeminism also includes other aspects of environmental justice, such as racial environmental justice. There are two branches of ecofeminism:

The first branch of ecofeminism embraces the idea that women are inherently closer to nature than men on a biological, spiritual and emotional level. This branch is often called radical ecofeminism because it reverses the domination of men over women and nature. The second branch of ecofeminism contradicts the first, arguing that neither women nor men are more likely to connect with nature.

Key Concerns of Ecocriticism

• Reigning religions and philosophies of Western civilization are deeply anthropocentric
• Prominent in ecocriticism is a critique of binaries such as man/nature or culture/nature, viewed as mutually exclusive oppositions.
• Many Eco critics recommend, and themselves exemplify, the extension of “green reading” (that is, analysis of the implications of a text for environmental concerns and toward political action) to all literary genres, including prose fiction and poetry, and also to writings in the natural and social sciences.
• There is a growing interest in the animistic religions of so-called “primitive” cultures, as well as in Hindu, Buddhist, and other religions and civilizations that lack the Western opposition between humanity and nature and do not assign to human beings dominion over the nonhuman world.

Some of the important works of ecocritical theory are-

• Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson
• Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness (1968) by Edward Abbey
• The Comedy of Survival: A Literary Ecology and a Play Ethic (1997) by Joseph W. Meeker
• Politics of Nature: How to Bring the Sciences into Democracy (2004) by Bruno Latour
• The Future of Environmental Criticism (2005) by Lawrence Buell
• Ecology Without Nature (2007) by Timothy Morton

You can read in detail about ecocriticism or green studies on Wikipedia here. I am going to share some of my readings of ecocriticism. How is the environment seen in our movies and literature?

How is the environment harmed? Generally, the layman is blamed for harming the environment. How? They are asked by the government to stop the usage of plastics. What about stopping the production of plastic? Laymen are asked to minimize the use of AC and fridges with the excuse of the ozone layer getting harmed. What about factories and multinational companies using ACs day and night? Laymen are blamed for dirty water, washing clothes, and bathing in rivers or lakes. What about the companies flowing their waste in water?

Yes, tribal people use natural resources, they eat animals. But, They use it in a required manner, nature gets time to grow, to repair itself when it is used by people. While industries and companies harm nature, there is abundance which doesn't give nature a chance to repair itself. We can take a very famous example of the Chipko movement in which people stood by nature to protect it.

Indian culture is the culture of religion. We agree with the point that God has created this world. But still, religion has become a way of polluting and harming the environment. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most celebrated festivals. During this festival everyone brings Ganesh murti to their places and on the last day puts it in water, lake/ ocean/ river. Which harms water, pollutes it, and also to water animals. Religion originated for peace and togetherness but today it's changing its way. The celebration of every festival is full of music DJs, and yagnas which pollute the air. Devotion and destruction.

Adding to it, our festivals and new years are incomplete without crackers. It does not only harm nature but a number of new born animals die in fear, by the loud voice of crackers. Human beings are selfish, for its fun and enjoyment it stops thinking of its surroundings.

This seems contradicting to the idea of not blaming laymen. Yes definitely laymen use these products harming the environment because they're sold. Government can take legal actions against these companies for its production or should/ can make policies to control all these events which harm the environment and ecology.

We are seeing the spreading awareness about ecology and environment through movies, and the environment as a theme in movies, since the crisis of the climate are introduced. The recent S. Rajampuli’s telugu Movie RRR is talking about the importance of ‘Jal, Jameen, Jungle’ and bringing the voice of tribal. Tribal who just want nature to be protected. The movie has two environmental activist Bheem Komram and Alluri Sitarama who fought for protecting of environment.

Another movie is Robot 2.0 in which the villain is ‘Pakshiraj’ (king of birds), he in order to safeguard the earth and to make it a better place for living for birds attracts or takes away mobile phones from all over the world.

Here is a Poem by Kedarnath Singh- Vidroh. This poem strongly suggests the ways in which we are surrounded by nature and what if nature decides to resign? This seems to be great example of how we humans are overtaking nature.

आज घर में घुसा

तो वहां अजब दृश्य था

सुनिये- मेरे बिस्तर ने कहा-

यह रहा मेरा इस्तीफ़ा

मैं अपने कपास के भीतर

वापस जाना चाहता हूं

उधर कुर्सी और मेज़ का

एक संयुक्त मोर्चा था

दोनों तड़पकर बोले-

जी- अब बहुत हो चुका

आपको सहते-सहते

हमें बेतरह याद आ रहे हैं

हमारे पेड़

और उनके भीतर का वह

ज़िंदा द्रव

जिसकी हत्या कर दी है

आपने

उधर आलमारी में बंद

किताबें चिल्ला रही थीं

खोल दो-हमें खोल दो

हम जाना चाहती हैं अपने

बांस के जंगल

और मिलना चाहती हैं

अपने बिच्छुओं के डंक

और सांपों के चुंबन से

पर सबसे अधिक नाराज़ थी

वह शॉल

जिसे अभी कुछ दिन पहले कुल्लू से ख़रीद लाया था

बोली- साहब!

आप तो बड़े साहब निकले

मेरा दुम्बा भेड़ा मुझे कब से

पुकार रहा है

और आप हैं कि अपनी देह

की क़ैद में

लपेटे हुए हैं मुझे

उधर टी.वी. और फोन का

बुरा हाल था

ज़ोर-ज़ोर से कुछ कह रहे थे

वे

पर उनकी भाषा

मेरी समझ से परे थी

-कि तभी

नल से टपकता पानी तड़पा-

अब तो हद हो गई साहब!

अगर सुन सकें तो सुन

लीजिए

इन बूंदों की आवाज़-

कि अब हम

यानी आपके सारे के सारे

क़ैदी

आदमी की जेल से

मुक्त होना चाहते हैं

अब जा कहां रहे हैं-

मेरा दरवाज़ा कड़का

जब मैं बाहर निकल रहा था.

Here is my presentation which I presented in competition. It talks about how we as an individual can safeguard the environment.

What can We do about Climate Change? Our Roles from Jheel Barad

Here is the paper I presented in a research paper writing competition. Its title is ‘Envirocentric Approach to Hard Times by Charles Dickens and William Wordsworth's Selected Poems’

Here is my research paper on envirocentrism CLICK HERE to visit.

I hope this blog is useful. Thanks for visiting.

READ MY BLOG ON ANOTHER THEORY- FEMINISTIC THEORY

READ MY BLOG ON ANOTHER THEORY- MARXISM

READ MY BLOG ON ANOTHER THEORY- QUEER THEORY

Climate Change and Our Roles- Excel Expression

Hello visitors!

I Participated in Excel Expression Competition Organised by Sumitomo Chemical India Ltd. They have been organising this event since 25 years. In this event, various competitions were held in which I participated in PowerPoint Presentation Competition. Later the company organise a Winner's show in which the best performers, the one who secure first prize are given a opportunity to perform live in an auditorium. And this year I have Gold Medal in PowerPoint Presentation competition.

They live streamed their winner's Show To Watch full show CLICK HERE.

Watch my presentation on What can we do about Climate Change Our roles.  

These are slides of my Presentation.

What can We do about Climate Change? Our Roles from Jheel Barad

I hope this will be helpful to you. Thank you for visit.