Amitav Ghosh: 'Gun Island' deals with the slow violence that our world is experiencing right now
The new Jnanpith awardee said the book is his attempt at an answer to questions posed in 'The Great Derangement'.
By PTI | Updated:
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Ghosh said the kind of violence that humankind was currently staring at was the kind that crept into people's lives stealthily, and destroying them gradually over a period of time.
NEW DELHI: In his last book, 'The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable', writer Amitav Ghosh had questioned contemporary fiction's failure to address climate change and other environmental issues, realising soon after that he had not done it in his eight novels spanning over a three decade long literary career.
'Gun Island', Ghosh's latest, is his attempt at an answer to all those questions.
"It certainly is my attempt at an answer. When I finished writing 'The Great Derangement', I said to myself, 'What the hell have I done?' Look at this book questioning how fiction approaches these subjects and now I have to think of an answer," the author said.
Ghosh was speaking at the launch of 'Gun Island' on Thursday at the India Habitat Centre here. He was in conversation with journalist and writer Raghu Karnad. 'Gun Island' has been published by Penguin. The book revolves around the life of a Brooklyn-based book dealer, who, on a visit to his birthplace, Kolkata, finds his life becoming unexpectedly entangled with an ancient legend about the goddess of snakes, Manasa Devi.
In what is, according to Karnad, a pacy book, Ghosh takes his readers back to the familiar marshy lands of Sunderbans in Bengal, and also on new journeys to Los Angeles and Venice, as he tells the story about a world in which creatures and beings of every kind have been torn loose from their accustomed homes by the catastrophic processes of displacement that are now unfolding across the Earth, at an ever-increasing pace.
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In the hour long spoiler-free discussion, Ghosh said while the thought of climate change did hover over his mind as he penned the book, his thoughts took him beyond the singular issue, because there existed no "prescription" to execute the act of writing a novel perfectly.
"You can't write a novel through prescription. You have to go with where your mind takes you. So these questions were in my mind, they did weigh very heavily on me.
"And, I suppose I was working my way towards finding some sort of a way to deal... I wouldn't say it's climate change, it's not just that, it's something much more complicated. It's the reality that we live in. The reality that we live in is so fractured," the brand new Jnanpith awardee, said. Amitav Ghosh (L) receives the Jnanpith Award from former diplomat and WB Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi. Ghosh, who has dealt with different kinds of violence including civil, communal and more in his books as well as essays, said the kind of violence the humankind was currently staring at was the kind that crept into people's lives stealthily, and destroying them gradually over a period of time. It is this kind of violence that 'Gun Island' explores.
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"In this book I am dealing with the violence of a completely different kind which is slow violence, because that's what we are actually experiencing at the moment.
"If you think of a drought... this prolonged drought that we have in central India and in parts of Maharashtra, it is displacing hundreds of thousands, may be millions of people, but the way that it unfolds is not in the sudden violence of, say, a riot. It is the slow violence which eats into people's lives. That is the issue at hand," he said.
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'Gun Island' has been published by Penguin.
Father's Day Gift(s) For the Bibliophile Dad: Books From Biz Leaders' Reading Lists
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If you have a bibliophile dad, or a career-driven one, wrap up a good book and you've got yourself a winner of a present. But while the idea of gifting a book may qualify as a no-brainer, picking the right book isn't an easy task.
Which is why, we turned to the experts.
What are business leaders - who've made a mark and inspired millions across the globe - inspired by? We followed their reading lists and recommendations to hand-pick titles (across genres) that are sure to be a hit with your dad.
If you have a bibliophile dad, or a career-driven one, wrap up a good book and you've got yourself a winner of a present. But while the idea of gifting a book may qualify as a no-brainer, picking t..
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The world's second richest man shares his reading list as a habit on his blog, gatesnotes, and the list comes with details about each book, along with why he recommends it. While his this year's summer list features books ranging across various genres, they have the idea of disruption as a common theme.
With capitalism a hot topic in today's world, the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist recommends picking up Paul Collier's 'The Future of Capitalism'. Gates says Collier's 'background as a development economist gives him a smart perspective on where capitalism is headed', and the book is a 'thought-provoking look' at the topic.
For added measure, you can borrow the book after your old man is done reading it, and then engage in some deep, insightful conversation on the topic.
If you want other suggestions off Gates's list, read this.
The world's second richest man shares his reading list as a habit on his blog, gatesnotes, and the list comes with details about each book, along with why he recommends it. While his this year's summ..
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The book, penned by Microsoft boss Satya Nadella, is recommended not just by one of India's pioneer IT boss, but several others including Kishore Biyani and Manu Kumar Jain.
The former Wipro boss counts it among the books that impacted and changed his life. Premji said that the 'very powerful book' gave him a 'completely different perspective vis-a-vis the priorities of an extremely successful business leader and his sensitivity to the environment, to relationships and to bringing up his children'.
Future Group CEO Kishore Biyani also rates the book high on his list, saying it 'explains how a culture can be reset in a large company, how culture can bring belief, growth and innovation and build a lasting organisation'.
Meanwhile the book compelled Xiaomi India VP & MD, Manu Kumar Jain, to keep his schedule aside and finish reading. According to this boss, the book 'is a refreshing mix of empathy, ideas and inspiring transformations.
So if your dad is awed by exciting ideas, you know you can't go wrong with Nadella.
The book, penned by Microsoft boss Satya Nadella, is recommended not just by one of India's pioneer IT boss, but several others including Kishore Biyani and Manu Kumar Jain. The former Wipro boss cou..
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The RPG Enterprises chairman's recommendations deals with a topic we could all do with more of - happiness. Penned by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar - who also taught a course on Positive Psychology (read: how to be happy) at Harvard University in 2006, the book traces the secret to 'daily joy and lasting fulfillment'.
The book's many philosophies - 'living with emotions, healthy relationships, expressing gratitude, positive regimen, living in the present' - are simple yet effect ways that create an impact.
Ben-Shahar is considered the 'foremost guru of happiness', and while the book isn't a business read - it definietly is on something that impacts the way you conduct business.
The RPG Enterprises chairman's recommendations deals with a topic we could all do with more of - happiness. Penned by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar - who also taught a course on Positive Psychology (read: how t..
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While Nadella's book has been recommended by several top bosses, the Microsoft CEO has a recommendation of his own. Nadella has credited Carol Dweck's book as the inspiration for his company’s culture change.
In the book, the Stanford psychologist propogates the value of cultivating a growth mindset. The author says that 'individuals who believe their talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and inputs from others (i.e., a growth mindset) tend to achieve more than those who believe their talents are innate gifts with finite development potential'.
While Nadella's book has been recommended by several top bosses, the Microsoft CEO has a recommendation of his own. Nadella has credited Carol Dweck's book as the inspiration for his company’s cultur..
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John Carreyrou's book reveals the darker side of biotech start-up, Theranos, founded by Elizabeth Holmes - often referred to as the female Steve Jobs.
If your dad is fascinated by startup tales, the Biocon CMD recommends the book as a great read. Shaw says, the book led her 'to believe that we function in a sinister ecosystem where fortunes are built and destroyed at the whims of influential VCs and investors who hardly do any due diligence'.
John Carreyrou's book reveals the darker side of biotech start-up, Theranos, founded by Elizabeth Holmes - often referred to as the female Steve Jobs.If your dad is fascinated by startup tales, the B..
