Page 52 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Indian Writings in Literature Digvijay Pandya, Lovely Professional University

Notes
Unit 5: Amitav Ghosh: Shadow Lines:
Theme of Nationality

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
5.1 Themes of Shadow The Lines
5.2 Summary
5.3 Key-Words
5.4 Review Questions
5.5 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this Unit students will be able to:
• Portray the novel ‘Shadow Lines.’
• Discuss themes of ‘Shadow Lines.’
Introduction

The Shadow Lines portray discreetly though casually the racial. Ila was often out by Nick Price in
school or on their way home, as he was ashamed of being seen in the company of an Indian. Ila
conjures up a story about Magda who was troubled and beaten by Denise, a strongly built girl.
Unconsciously she gives a vent to her trauma of prejudice, which she had faced.
Though the world is becoming a globe and lines across the nations are either being weakened or
removed totally still the differences persist at the same time. Many new nations are either being
divided or new ones are emerging after drawing these lines. These lines can be a source of
perpetual and terrifying violence. Though the author defies these lines, he has respect for one’s
culture and roots in his utopian word of harmony and peace without which the person would
only have a blank identity. Ila is a concrete example of this who respects neither territorial nor
culture frontiers.

One of the most important themes, which also becomes an important feature of
The Shadow Lines, is the inefficacy of the lines drawn as borders whom author calls
as shadow lines.

Another Important feature of The Shadow Lines is the havoc and the terror created by the riots,
which find a mention in the novel. Despite the orgy of violence, bloodshed and merciless killing,
they have a transient existence. They are washed out from the public memory before long. The
narrator is at a loss to know that his friend, Malik at Delhi does not remember anything about the
riots that took place in Calcutta and Dhaka almost the same time in which many were killed
including his role model Tridib and neither do the newspapers carry any significant report on it
or attach much importance. ‘Then what is all this violence for?’ he questions.

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