Hello readers this blog is a part Fliped learning in which I'll be discussing some videos and then there are 2 worksheets as well. To know more about the task you can visit Teachers blog
1st Video
Here in the very first video, the novel opens with Dinanath also known as 'Deen' or 'Dino', who is the protagonist of the novel. In this novel, the readers will come across the myth of the gun merchant being explored. Dinanath is visiting Kolkata during November - December and migrates from America, here we can see migration as a main theme. His profession was a dealer in rare books, Asian anti critiques and was a book collector. Research work was on the folk floors during his thirties.
Later when he comes to India for research.During that time he meets kannai dutt, one of his cousins in a family gathering. Here in this novel we can find some of the characters from the novel 'The hungry tide' (2004). All these characters make fun of Dinanath apart from the fact that he was a well reputed person who came to India for research. They make fun office research folklore. Dinanath believes that folklore is only stories told to children. While moving further in the novel comes the reference of Nilama bows , and she is running a trust to help the poor people and runs an Ngo. Along with her Piyali, Roy, also known as 'Piya' Who comes occasionally from abroad to help her.
Piyali Roy is a teacher in Oregon/ Brooklyn, USA and her research is on marine biology. She visited Sunderban when she was young and her area of research was of dolphins. Then later Nilima Bose tells Dinanath about the story of a gun merchant , who is also known as banduki sadagar. Amitav Ghosh as a cultural historian, is much interested in how these mythical stories are all created and passed on to the generations. Nilima Bose, tells the story that there was one shrine and there was a cyclone in 1970, (Bhola cyclone) worst cyclone of kolkata ever experienced in sundarban till date. Amitav Ghosh wants to convey the surroundings and climate also plays a vital role.
Nilima, later says that during that cyclone, everything was damaged except one village that is because of the shrine of Mansa devi. Nilima is going with the Horen Naskar (is a boatman) with them there is also Moyna (who is a nurse) and his husband was Fokir (who already died in 'The Hunger Tide'). Moyna and Fokir have a son Tipu/Tutul. Fokir, a boatman, was helping Piyali Roy in his research and during an accident Fokir died, and Piyali took responsibility for Moyna and Tipu (they were Dalit).
Then there comes the reference of an old Muslim boatman who takes care of the shrine. This Muslim boat man says that he has come from Bangladesh. And there used to be the family of Hindu Gayans. Who used to take care of him and the shrine and now this Muslim boat man does take care of the shrine. There's also another merchant story i.e of Chand sadagar, and he also had one curse that he has to worship otherwise a snake will bite him and death will occur. When Lakindar (son of Chand Sagdar) marries, he gets a snake bite on the very 1st day after the marriage and we can see how Bholua (wife of lakinder) fought with Yamraj and brought her husband back alive.
When that gun merchant reached the home safely built a shrine of Bishnupur, the archetypal type of hindu and muglian design. Dinanath, after hearing the story goes back to his home and at that time a chance happens (a type of magic realism) and he just switches on his american mobile phone and there's suddenly a call from a code of Italy.
The call from Italy was of GiaCinta( the historian). She tells dianna nath that she was slightly worried for him and was going to read a paper in edenburg and she talks about her dream that she has gone to Kolkata. Through the call and discussion of the dream , Amitav Ghosh is trying to convey that not only western are non-believers , there are like Cinta who do believe apart from those like Dinanath.
And Dinanath starts recalling bagchi. What was she talking about? He can't recall it properly as it was a 20 years old episode. And then as he has a habit of writing, he opened his book and read the episode and got to know that there were a group of people and there was something like a show going on of mansa devi and people were gathered there. And after that incident, he felt like going to see the shrine where he refused to Nilima bose and went there with horan Naskar and others.
Later when Dinanath is standing And trying to study the symbol of the shrine, then there comes Rafi and Dinanath starts questioning that, where is the snake? There should be one as there's a symbol of snakes, and after hearing Rafi get bitten. Rafi gets a bit doubted about his beliefs, but then suddenly there comes a Cobra and when they shout. Tipu also comes in and Cobra, bits Tipu and to save him Rafi gets there. And Tipu starts saying that Rani is in danger. And when the story moves on we come to know that Rani is the name of Dolphin and she has passed away. Every time pili, Roy tries to come and explain it in a scientific way which seems mystical.And magical. Here in the novel we can find Piyali Roy, as the scientific one, Cinta as a believer and Dinanath somewhere between the both.
2nd Video
In this video, Dinanath has gone to Brooklyn and has normal chats through email and all with Chinta and piya, he then visits losAngeles for seminar, there was also Cinta as the speaker. And suddenly, he got an email from bandikui and banduki.com and he was using that ID. Tipu asks him, Do you believe in bhoot and then Dinanath replies, And then another question he asks is of possessions. Then comes Piya who also asks some questions and talks about the wildfires of Los Angeles and she says those fires only happen in poor countries like Sunderban and not in America, but later we can see wildlifes in Los angeles. Dinanath while travelling in an aeroplane, observes the fire and natural calamity is going on there. Then he observes 2 kites (birds) hunting a snake and then he gets afraid and starts shouting in the aeroplane snake snake and all such abnormal behaviour of him we can observe there.
Reaches the venue with a lot of mess on his way and in that seminar there were two speeches I.e an introductory speech given by a young person , talking about western and historical survey of the 17th century and calamities that happened during that time.
Now when Cinta and Dinanath are together, they talk about the episode of mansa devi and recall it saying that maybe this can be reality. Chinta is trying to explain some significant places I.e;
1. Land of palm sugar candy ( Taal Misrideh might be of Egypt)
2. Land of kerchieves ( Rumalian Desh, Rumelia is today's Turkey)
3. Island of chains( Shikol dwip, Sicily)
Now, this time Dinanath call from Gisa, and is a documentary maker in Italy. And was in relation with Emma.They both were lesbian and 2 refugee children were adopted by them.
In Italy, there are the group of Bangladeshi people living there, thye are; Lana Khala Alam, Palash, Bilal, Kabir.
3rd video
The novel is divided into 2 parts.The first one is the gun merchant and the second 1 is Venice. We discussed the gun merchant along with the titles that are Kolkata,Cinta, Tipu, Shrine visions, Rani, Brooklyn, wildfire, LosAngeles, gun island. Talking about the Part 2, i.e Venice, which have some topics like the Ghetto, Rafi stradings, friends, dreams, warnings, highwater, crossings, winds, the lucania, sightings, the Storm.
#. The Ghetto:-
There's a comparison with Varanasi and Venice. There's also the reference of Lucia and her big story deals mentions about the bindup ganga ghat which is seen in ghetto in Venice, it also recalls the goddess mansa devi or Medona they are like mediators, like because of them we are not that much aggressive and don't kill insects and animals because of their beliefs , spirits or divine power.
When Dianath is passing by suddenly listens, the voice Sabdan Sabdan (be careful) and something falls right above him and wanders in Venice, who's the Bangladeshi and there was the voice of Rafi there. There is a character named Lubna Khala, a lady working on that construction site and taking care of everybody there.
# Rafi:-
There's a sudden encounter of Rafi with a spider and that's lost somewhere after a while and sent the photo of the spider to Piya. And Piya sent these photos to Larry who studied spiders. And the main concern about the Tipu was what happened and all...
# Strandings:-
There's a sudden call at the sundarban. There would be a dozen of dolphins who'll suicide (beaching), in the very early in the morning.
# Friends:-
There's news that Rafi is being bitten up and is hospitalised and later on from Bilal we came to the things that happened there. And then there's another story within that I.e Bilal with Kabir. The theme of human trafficking slaves can be seen here and they became part of organ transplantation and all such activities. Through this, it is tried to portray the condition of the poor.
Then later, Bilal says that Rafi has taken a big amount of loan and couldn't pay it, that's why was bitten. Also gets to know the story of kabir and bilal , and how due to the family disputes , which shows the communal disharmony in bangladesh , hindu muslim riots. This story gives a human face to the people who are migrating.
#Dreams:-
Here comes Palash (was a university student in the Dadka university, he was a student of management). He was well settled and moved on for better opportunities. Quest for Tipu is also seen in this part.There's also the reference to the book and the exhibitions going on there.
# Warning:-
Here we can find the talk about possession, talk between Cinta, Dinanath and Piyali. Over here finds his own scientific expressions but Cinta wants to give mystical interpretations. Cinta is saying in a sense , possession means awakening debate is going on about their beliefs. Epidemic 1628 is referred to here the church of Medonas.
# High water:-
Then comes the reference of sheep warmth, which has been caused in wooden planks. Amitabh Ghosh is trying to convey that how within the story of climate change and how it again takes the shape towards another story.
# Crossings:-
Rafi meets Cinta in that hospital and their crossing happens and tells about all the things of Tipu to Dinanath, possibly Tipu might be in a blue boat. In this blue boat we can see a very tall. For Rafi she is like farishta (mystical character).
# Winds:-
There's a Hilstrom in Venice and then, now everybody is moving towards the blue boat. Cinta says to Dinanath that one more puzzle is being solved and that island is Sicily, and says that Gun merchant also might have been through this path.
On their way they came across a tornado and that fell on their way which may create delay in reaching to the boat and then suddenly someone comes jumping from that tree and suggests a short cut and when they turn back to thank them he has disappeared.
10 The Lucania:-
Now all of them reach Lucania and there's an opening of the backstory between the piya and Dinanath. Then over there Gisa comes says she is listening voice of someone, that was her daughter lucia.
# Sightings:-
Moving across they sight very beautiful scenery of nature. Also comes the reference of right wingers and are anti-blue boat and doesn't want people to come to Italy and then again comes the reference of Utopian women's far sighted.
# The Storm:-
The pirates attacked on the gun island the same way now the wingers are attacking the blue boat. And suddenly at the last moment there occurs bioluminescence (chatmkar). Then when Dinanath goes to meet Cinta, she is talking with her daughter who is already dead but then she says that now my time has come and dies of her own will. Amitav Ghosh has a concept of dying at their own will like we can also see in Dolphins as well.
4th Video
Here in this video there come the several themes in the novel;
1. The theme of Historification of myth and mythification of history.
2. The theme of climate change.
3. The theme of migration- human trafficking/ theme of illegal migration and refugee crisis.
4. The theme of Etymology/Etymological mystery in the novel.
Here the very first theme in the novel we'll discuss is;
#The Theme of Etymology mystery and also the discussion of the title:-
Linguistics like Ferdinand Saussure has said that language gives us a world view. So when words play with the world and are tried to be understood by people there can be many meanings/ interpretations, usually what we do is we go for the search of the meaning into its origin. In this narrative we can see that the meaning is in the sound rather than image.
The very 1st ex.over here is about the title of the novel;
There's the reference of the symbol which says, Dwipe Bhetory Dwip, which means island within island. In Venice the word Ghetto has nothing to do with Jews but it was the word in Venice dialect for foundry, which later on became the place for Jewish settlement. Then there comes the word Secondo me, which means ' according to me'. This novel works interestingly on etymology and also trying to use other European languages. Vocabolario of classical Arabic, and is linked with unrelated things I.e Hazelnut, bullet and guns. The Byzantine name for Venice, which was Banadiq, is the ancestor of German and Swedish ' Venedig' and then in Arabic al-bonduqia.
There's also the reference to words like; Bhoot (ghost) possession( demon/evil). This reference comes in the Brooklyn chapter and is in the context of talking in email. Bhoot comes from a basic but very complicated Sanskrit root that is boo, which means to be or to manifest, in that sense bhoot means a being or an existence presence.
5th video
In this video the theme of Historification of myth and mythification of history will be discussed. Here the symbol on the shrine is being discussed like how the various symbols stand for a specific symbol or myth. Here, we can see the entire myth is history. In the novel we can observe that there's not only the verbal interpretations of myth, but also the historical locations are mentioned and through various characters we can see the actual journey as well.
The protagonist is traveling through all these places in the novel with the history of a gun merchant, who also might have travelled and had happened with him also during the 17th century. Ghosh draws our attention to human trafficking were, large no.of human beings are in a way sold and purchased and life becomes terrible as slaves, can see it in the characters of Tipu, Rafi, Bilal, Kabir.
Later in the video we'll find the discussion of the tools for the study of mythology I.e 1. Functionalism: which comes from Bronislaw Kasper Malinoski.
2. Structuralism: By Claud- levi strauss.
3. Psychoanalysis:- By Freud
4. Myth and ritual:- By Emil Durkevin and Jame Harrison.
6th video
Here this video is the continuation of the 5th video discussing about the tools.
1. Myth and ritual:
Myth and ritual serve as a way for individuals in a society to come together and feel a sense of unity and social cohesion. Harrison has also talked about in his work that, understand the function of rituals in ancient Greek society, the beliefs and the practices that underline them. Then through collective effervescence is trying to explain the euphoria of the group of people about a particular thing or ritual.
Ritual is provocative: Here from the very first, we can see that from the shrine story begins and ends up visiting various places I.e we can consider it a pilgrimage worshiped by both Hindu and Muslim i.e the holy place.
Myth is a mixture of human and nature. Also talks about how this story's help in building community or culture. It also legitimises certain norms that they hold. They are also there to explain some sort of universal structure of the cosmos.
There are some questions like what function does the Myth of Mansa devi and Chand Sadgar serve in the novel and what is the purpose of retelling it in our time?
Critical time: this make us
recall about the pandemic and the climate change things are getting Critical as well.
Building culture/ community: Here we can see the relation between the nature and human
Legitimising certain kinds of cultural norms: Here we can see scared grooves and the cultural norms. It's not just for entertaining but story's hive the versions or teach us about the sort of universal structure of the cosmos.
2. Structuralism:-
Here comes some ideas about the threat and also apart from having binary oppositions, how things fall in a manner as a tool to read. They tried to read Myth and get rid of the narrative arc. It's a challenge for the structuralists that how would they bring those multiple categories that they can fit well in those stories/ Myth etc...
This structuralist reading of gun island can be seen in two parts ie.
● West or Occident: which have rational, logical, analytical, superior, scientific, Eurocentric perspective, monotheist, anthropometric
● East or Orient: which have qualities like intuitional, magical, illogical or comprehensive, inferior, superstitious, holistic perspective, polytheism.
7th video
The video begins about talking the colonial mindset, in this we get to know that how they were influenced and feels oneself superior even someone is called by their short name I.e felt by Dinanath when he was called as 'Deen' as there use to be a trend that in foreign they call them by their short name such as Deen as some of the indian names they found it difficult. Here through the character of Nilima Bose we can see the binary I.e when somebody is telling a story about shrine or Dham, it doesn't mean these are irrational or superstitious people they can be logical, rational, intelligent people, which we are trying to look into this binary.
When someone is telling a story which seems to be superstitious story or magic realism are not the ones always coming from uneducated groups because, when it comes from highly educated mass then we have to give that serious consideration. Here we can see the triangle of Cinta, Piyali and Dinanath and how history is connected with it. Wecsn also see the mystical movement of animals like serpent and spider.
These three characters have a holistic perspective of looking at the comprehensiveness of the narrative. Here we can see the meeting point between East and west. When this binary syncs together it leads us to a better understanding of the world. The binary's are challenged into the narratives and the characters Canberra categorised only as either Eastern or the Western. Here, we can see that in the West you'll have believers and in the East you have scientific temperament. This is very dangerous when we stereotype.
Climate change:-
Amitav Ghosh is trying to reinterpret the myth of Eastern culture and retail it in context of today's culture and problems I.e Climate change and goes to the scientific inquiry, like what do the scientist have to do for it. Here we can see the conflict that when Dinanath is slightly turning to become superstitious then Cinta will give historical in this way when Piyali says something there would be some logical conclusion a this is how East and West have to look and comes to an solution or better understanding of the Climate change crisis happening because of the human intervention.
Psychoanalytic study:-
Freud's idea in " The Interpretation of Dreams"( 1900). The psyche is made of two parts with repression barriers I.e the unconscious and the conscious mind. ' Myths are the dreams of an entire culture' . According to Freud's observation, each of us is engaged always in a process of myth making through our dreams, our culture, in a way dreaming as they write their Myths. According to him myths are interpretable to the large scheme. Our conscious self is controlled by something constantly which finds its outlet in dreams or collectively in myths.
Looking at the forbidden desires can be at the center of a story like sexuality which we see in the biblical story of Adum and Eve. Here there are several examples through which we can see that dress to go beyond imagination I.e seen in;
● Chand - bandikui
● Palash - Deen
● Rafi - Tipu
● Lubna Khala - Munil
Now we'll discuss the role of the mythographer. Eg: Dinanath as a mythographer is trying to reread the myth of a Mansa devi, Chand Sadgar and us trying to uncover the naturalization of particular convictions and values. And the things which were naturalised were the relation between nature and humans.
Historification:-
Bertlot Brecht used this term 'Historification'. Here, one will go into the past and connect it with contemporary events. From the audience detachment and a thinking response is expected. When people talk about their ongoing life, incident, fight, for a job, sweet and bitter conversation, man and his women this is called Historification in the poems. This things we don't see as historical rather we look upon as the daily routine things. In literature all these small events are very important and the lived life is storified.
8th video
Looking at the theme of climate change, when talk about the Climate change what kind of work can be written, which is promo displacing the theme of climate change, then gun island is direct answer to that, so Ghosh is telling that with the help of past and have to study present and think of future. And to go to the past the best way is to go to myths and try to understand myths and find that were there any symbols, signs in a rather uncanny, unreasonable, mystical, magical way.
That's why he narrates the myth of gun island and Mansa devi, which is quite popular among the localities of Sunderban. Theme of climate change is 'The Great Derangement' by Amitav Ghosh.
Here, we'll see the Corpus or the list of words which speak about climate change. Capitalist also plays a role in damaging climate and it also talks about imperialism. The video is also through example; the movie Sherni is trying to explain the climate and nature and how it plays its role. There are some list of words which talk about the Climate change and related things so let's go through it;
Floods, cyclones, Strom, calamilities, drought, weather alerts, wildfires, tsunamis, green house, earthquake, smoke, plague, air quality, coal, fossil fuel etc....so far as religious beliefs are concerned they will all agree with the concept of climate change.
9th video
Theme of Migration - Human trafficking/ Theme of illegal migration and refugee crises:-
Here while discussing this theme the very first thing that comes is being a human we don't care of the humans on the earth as of today, all such crises we face are of today's time. Through various examples of poor countries like Syria and the other poor villages which have got affected due to the war and have to migrate to other places and in the Arabic world we can see more of migration happening. Looking at the novel it focuses on the two localities I.e Sundarban and Venice and both these sites are sinking sites. Surviving in Sundarban and how their land is collapsed and eaten away by the ocean and are forced to migrate from their places. Venice is made on the wooden plank so, even they are getting eroded and this wooden plank is getting warm. Looking at the reality of today's society the reasons for migration are;
Calamities, communal violence, poverty, socio - economic conditions. In the novel we can see that Lubna Khala is facing such a problem of migration, that we can come to know in the conversation of Dinanath and Lubna Khala.
Colonial violence can be seen in the story of Kabir who came from Faridpur district. A few years ago there was a dispute in the family over land and one of his uncles was mixed up in politics and his sons were the local muscle man of the building party. Coming to the poverty Rafi and Tipu are migrating through Kafista (dalal). Socio - economic condition which we can see in the Palash. Over here, Dinanath is also giving reason that there are mobile phones and photographs which is giving us dream and desire to go to this beautiful world. While looking from Dinanath's perspective the curiosity was there within Dinanath but during his time there were no photographs but there used to be through novels. Tipu after his uncanny migration, stuck by cobra/snake he got seizures, voices and visions, so Tipu wanted to move away from this land and can be seen as a very uncanny reason for the migration.
Worksheet-1 on ‘Gun Island’ – Amitav Ghosh
Q.1 Is Shakespeare mentioned in the novel? Or are his plays referred to in the novel?
Yes, The Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh contains references to Shakespeare. In the novel, the character Cinta draws parallels between the Bengali myth of the Gun Merchant and Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. She suggests that the name "Bonduki Sadagar" (Gun Merchant) can be translated from Arabic as "the Merchant who visited Venice," thereby linking the Bengali legend to Shakespeare's play.
Additionally, the novel discusses how myths and legends often intertwine the real and the imaginary. For instance, it mentions the prophecy in Shakespeare's Macbeth where Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill, highlighting the blend of the supernatural with everyday life. These references illustrate how Ghosh weaves Shakespearean elements into his narrative, enriching the novel's exploration of interconnectedness across cultures and histories.
Q.2 What is the role of Nakhuda Ilyas in the legend of the Gun Merchant.
[Nakhuda means _________________________________
Role of Nakhuda Ilyas in the Legend of the Gun Merchant
The legend revolves around a merchant named Bonduki Sadagar (Gun Merchant), who offends Manasa Devi, the goddess of snakes. To escape her wrath, he undertakes a perilous journey. In this journey, he encounters Nakhuda Ilyas, a seafarer or ship captain, who helps him travel across the seas. Nakhuda Ilyas represents the historical connection between South Asia and the wider maritime trade networks, particularly the Indian Ocean trade. His role in the legend highlights the movement of people, goods, and myths across different regions, reinforcing the novel’s themes of migration and interconnected histories.
Meaning of "Nakhuda"
Nakhuda means "ship captain" or "master of a vessel" in Persian and Arabic, commonly used in historical contexts to refer to maritime traders and sailors.
Q.3 Make a table: write names of important characters in one column and their profession in another.
Q.4 Fill the table. Write the name of relevant character:
Q.5 What sort of comparison between the book and the mobile is presented at the end of the
novel?
The book represents tradition, history, and deep intellectual engagement. It requires patience and effort to extract meaning, much like Deen’s scholarly approach to understanding the world. However, as the novel progresses, the limitations of relying solely on books become evident. They are static, rooted in the past, and, to some extent, disconnected from the fast-changing realities of migration and climate crises.
On the other hand, the mobile phone symbolizes modernity, speed, and adaptability. It allows instant communication, real-time navigation, and access to vast amounts of information. Tipu, who represents a younger generation, values the mobile phone more than books because it is directly useful for survival, especially for migrants navigating unfamiliar territories. The mobile becomes a tool for connection, opportunity, and resilience in an unpredictable world.
Through this comparison, Ghosh highlights how the old ways of knowing (books) are being replaced by new, digital forms of knowledge (mobile phones). The novel suggests that while books are valuable, they are no longer the primary source of survival in a world shaped by migration, climate change, and rapid technological advancements.
Q.6 Tell me something about Amitav Ghosh’s novel Gun Island in 100 words.
Amitav Ghosh’s The Gun Island (2019) explores the intersection of climate change, migration, and mythology through the journey of Deen, a rare book dealer, who is drawn into a centuries-old legend of the "Gun Merchant" while traveling between India, Italy, and the U.S. The novel blends historical narratives with contemporary concerns, particularly focusing on the impact of environmental disasters and human trafficking. Ghosh incorporates folklore, such as the myth of Manasa Devi, while critiquing modern technology’s role in global connections. Through its cross-cultural and multi-layered storytelling, the novel addresses themes of displacement, survival, and the changing world order.
Q.7 What is the central theme of Amitav Ghosh’s novel ‘Gun Island’?
The central theme of *Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island revolves around the intricate relationship between migration, climate change, and myth. Ghosh weaves a narrative that connects contemporary global crises with ancient stories, particularly through the myth of the "Gun Merchant." As the protagonist, Deen, travels across continents, he encounters displaced people, environmental destruction, and the haunting presence of folklore.
The novel critiques the effects of globalization, highlighting how technology and migration shape modern lives while also reflecting on the historical patterns of human movement. Through this blend of past and present, Ghosh explores the invisibility of the human impact on nature and the interconnectedness of the world, where natural disasters and human actions blur the lines between myth and reality. It underscores the idea that the modern world is facing a crisis, not just of ecology, but of identity, history, and survival, where ancient myths and contemporary struggles converge in a fight for existence.
Worksheet-2
Q. 1 Write 10-12 words about climate change in the novel. Mention the number of times they recur.
Q.2 Explain the title of the novel. [Key words: venedig, hazelnut]
The "Gun" in the title refers to the "Gun Merchant" (Bonduki Sadagar), a figure from Bengali mythology whose story serves as the backdrop for much of the novel’s action. This myth, intertwined with historical maritime trade routes, symbolizes the intersection of past and present, myth and reality.
The "Island" refers to the Venetian island of Venice (Venedig in German), which plays a central role in the novel. Venice represents a place of historical trade and cultural exchange, as well as a site of modern displacement and loss. This reference to Venice, where Deen (the protagonist) explores both personal and professional realms, ties into the broader theme of migration.
Hazelnuts appear as a motif within the novel, symbolizing the unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated elements. They also reference Deen’s journey in both the literal and symbolic sense, highlighting how even small, seemingly insignificant details can hold deeper meaning in the narrative, much like the hazelnut's presence in the novel’s fabric.
Q.3 Match the characters with the reasons for migration.
Q.4 Match the theorist with the theoretical approach to study mythology
Towards a post (colonial) human culture: Revisiting Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island as a fall of Eurocentric humanism by Saikat Chakraborty.
The essay explores the postcolonial critique of Eurocentric humanism, using *Amitav Ghosh’s The Gun Island as a key text. It argues that humanism has roots in Eurocentrism and that post-Cartesian ideas of animality and rationality relegated non-Western cultures to the status of the "other" through a mechanistic view of animals. This binary elevated Europe as the model of human perfection, marginalizing native traditions as "primitive" and "naïve."
The essay connects this critique to posthumanism—a rejection of humanistic ideals—in the context of postcolonial literature. It suggests that native myths like the Gun Merchant (from the novel) can act as a site of resistance, challenging Western rationality and reconnecting with indigenous, subjugated knowledge. Ghosh’s portrayal of Deen (the narrator) traveling to the Sundarbans exemplifies the return to native, embodied experience, breaking from colonial rationalism. Rafi, a native boy, serves as a bridge to understanding the native myths, disrupting colonial knowledge systems.
The novel’s setting in the Sundarbans, a "heterotopia" (a counter-space), represents a posthuman community where these local practices can rupture the hierarchical power structures, providing "negative emancipation"—a critique of both colonialism and modernity's rationalistic knowledge. Through this framework, the essay suggests that Ghosh's novel offers a space for posthuman imagination, embracing non-Western worldviews as a form of resistance against the imposition of Eurocentric norms.
Q.6 Suggest research possibilities in Amitav Ghosh’s novel ‘Gun Island’
The Role of Myth in Postcolonial Resistance.
Narrative of Climate Change and Environmental Crisis.
Myth and History in Postcolonial Texts.
The Role of the Supernatural and the Uncanny in Postcolonial Identity
Technological Displacement vs. Indigenous Knowledge
Q.7 Generate a sonnet on Amitav Ghosh’s novel Gun Island
In Gun Island’s waters, where tales unfold,
A merchant’s shrine calls forth the whispered lore,
Beneath the Sundarbans, the stories bold,
Of ancient myths and legends at the core.
The gun of history, its weight still felt,
Through migration’s tide, the world does drift,
From past to present, where the fates are dealt,
And global winds stir up the human rift.
Yet in the murk, a deeper truth remains,
Beyond the clash of worlds and reason’s pride,
The wild heart beats, the sacred knowledge reigns,
In nature’s pulse, where all our dreams collide.
Apostles of the earth, we search and find,
That Ghosh’s voice unearths the ties that bind.
Q. 8 Write Multiple Choice Questions on Amitav Ghosh’s novel Gun Island. Underline correct
answer. Write any two from the response.
Which of the following characters in Gun Island is most directly involved with the theme of cultural revival?
a) Dinanath Datta
b) Lubna Khala
c) Kanai Dutt
d) Rafi
Answer: d) Rafi
Which of the following best describes the relationship between Deen and Rafi in Gun Island?
a) Deen sees Rafi as a representation of urban modernity.
b) Rafi serves as Deen's guide, providing insight into native traditions and myths.
c) Rafi dismisses Deen's scientific rationalism in favor of formal education.
d) Deen and Rafi work together to decode Western scientific texts.
Answer: b) Rafi serves as Deen's guide, providing insight into native traditions and myths.
Q.9 With the help of Google Translate, write Hindi & English translation of 5 Italian words from the novel
1. Realta= actually
2. tantissimi=so many
3. che peccato=what a pity
4. davvero=Really
5. sono sicura=I'm sure
- Brad, Dilip. “Flipped Learning Activity Instructions: Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh.” ResearchGate, Jan. 2025, www.researchgate.net/publication/388143893_Flipped_Learning_Activity_Instructions_Gun_Island_by_Amitav_Ghosh.
- Baraiya, Latta. “Gun Island Group Presentation.” SlideShare, 17 Jan. 2022, www.slideshare.net/slideshow/gun-island-group-presentation/251006318.
- Clark, Alex. “Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh Review – Climate and Culture in Crisis.” The Guardian, 5 June 2019, www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/05/gun-island-amitav-ghosh-review.
- DoE-MKBU. “Characters and Summary - 1 | Sundarbans | Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 17 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn70pnUIK1Y.
- “Characters and Summary - 2 | USA | Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 17 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiYLTn7cWm8.
- “Climate Change | the Great Derangement | Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 21 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_3tD4voebA.
- “Etymological Mystery | Title of the Novel | Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 19 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yg5RmjBlTk.
- “Migration | Human Trafficking | Refugee Crisis | Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 21 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLeskjjZRzI.
- “Part I - Historification of Myth and Mythification of History | Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 21 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLsFEKLGd0.
- “Part II | Historification of Myth and Mythification of History | Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 23 Jan. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP2HerbJ5-g.
- “Part III - Historification of Myth and Mythification of History | Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 23 Jan. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVLqxT_mUCg.
- “Summary - 3 | Venice | Part 2 of Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh.” YouTube, 18 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F3n_rrRG9M.
- Ghosh, Amitav. Gun Island: A Novel. 2019.
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