Page 53 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Unit 5: Amitav Ghosh: Shadow Lines: Theme of Nationalism

The Shadow Lines underlines the fact that human kind everywhere is the same. Characters Notes
intermingle not as members of distinct culture but as complex individuals in a world where
geographic boundaries have truly becomes the shadow Lines. These boundaries are like a mirror
that seem to reflect not their differences but their similarities. May Price falls in love with Tridib
and Nick marries Ila? The Prices are in good relationship with Dutta Choudary’s family and this
friendship spans over three generations. The British and the Indians remain locked for three
hundred years in ‘ruler and the ruled’ relationship. The cultural differences do exist but it is not
that cannot live in harmony.
The role of nationalism in the modern times has been under attack in the novel. While it served a
useful purpose in modern India in the first half of the previous century, the same cannot be said
of it in the second half. Tha’mma is projected as a staunch nationalist who would give up her life
to get freedom. The nationalist fervor in her is brimming. She worships strength and tells her
grandson that he cannot build a strong nation unless he has a strong body and makes him go for
a run everyday. It is because of this that she likes Robi for his big body and powerful muscles.
Nationalism is responsible for the great strides some countries have made. It distinguishes the
countries from mere geographical entities to living entities. Nationalism had been present in
embryonic sense as a feeling and a force in very early societies on earth. India and many other
colonies owe their freedom to the spirit of nationalism. But there is no denying the fact that
nationalism in the modern sense has emerged as a military force with imperialistic designs. In
derives its strength from the race, culture, language and few other things common to a community
progress and its identity so much so that it does not remain limited to a nationality but becomes
a nation. And this is the negative aspect of nationalism, which has also been the focus of study in
The Shadow Lines. To say ‘Nationalism creates nations where they don’t exist’ will not be all that
wrong.
Women are more powerful and active characters in the novel than their counterparts who are
passive with an exception to the Prices.
Removal of the boundaries or the borders so that the earth becomes but one country and mankind
its citizens or to talk in more practical terms, formation of a world Government or at least peaceful
co-existence without losing the cultural identity seems to be the message of The Shadow Lines.

5.1 Themes of The Shadow Lines

First and foremost theme of The Shadow Lines is that it is an attempt to draw the attention of the
world to do away with borders that divide the people. Humanity after all is the same everywhere
and any attempt to create differences is not only hazardous but also futile. There is nothing on
earth that can divide a memory. Many lines and borders may be drawn but it can never set people
free of their reminiscences, free of their associations, free of the love and the sense of belonging for
their place of birth. The second thing it considers is how many of these lines can be drawn or
divisions made. As Roby rightly pointed out, it is all a mirage. The world cannot be divided into
innumerable small states to satisfy the urge of the people to give their frantic sense of nationalism
a political entity and a name. If such a thing could give freedom then perhaps it was worth it but
as Roby himself is tediously familiar of the fact that it is not. Tridib’s death would have set him
free but in seventeen years of his demise Roby has not been able to either forget him or his manner
of death. Similarly in Indian context, first it was the creation of Pakistan then the demand arose for
Punjab, the North East and then Kashmir. Partition or secession is no solution. It may on the other
hand trigger the never-ending hostilities and violence. There can be no better example than India.
For a privileged section of society like Dutta Choudarys, the borders have already stopped existing.
They frequent from one country to another and are quite at home and comfortable in other states.
For Sahib and family India, London or Dhaka; it’s all the same. He is as comfortable there as he is
in India.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 47