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Digvijay Pandya, Lovely Professional University Unit 1: Amitav Ghosh; Shadow Lines: Introduction to the Text

Unit 1: Amitav Ghosh; Shadow Lines: Notes
Introduction to the Text

CONTENTS
Objectives

Introduction
1.1 The Shadow Line—An Introduction
1.2 Characters
1.3 Amitav Ghosh’s Works: A Critical Sketch
1.4 Critical Appreciation of the Novel
1.5 Important Aspects of the Novel
1.6 Summary
1.7 Key-Words
1.8 Review Questions
1.9 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this Unit students will be able to:
• Know about an Indian Bengali writer Amitav Ghosh.
• Discuss the Plot Summary.

Introduction

The Shadow Lines (1988) is a Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novel by Indian-Bengali writer

Amitav Ghosh. It is a book that captures perspective of time and events, of lines that bring people
together and hold them apart, lines that are clearly visible from one perspective and nonexistent
from another. Lines that exist in the memory of one, and therefore in another’s imagination. A
narrative built out of an intricate, constantly crisscrossing web of memories of many people, it
never pretends to tell a story. Rather it invites the reader to invent one, out of the memories of
those involved, memories that hold mirrors of differing shades to the same experience. The novel
is set against the backdrop of historical events like Swadeshi movement, Second World War,
Partition of India and Communal riots of 1963-64 in Dhaka and Calcutta. The novel brought its
author the 1989 Sahitya Akademi Award for English, by the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National
Academy of Letters.

1.1 The Shadow Line—An Introduction

A young, inexperienced, but competent seaman suddenly gives up his successful position as mate
on a steamship. Whilst he is on shore in Singapore an older and experienced sea captain recommends
him to the harbour master, as a result of which he is given command of a sailing ship whose
captain has died at sea. He travels to Bangkok to take charge of the ship and feels that he is joining
an illustrious brotherhood of distinguished former commanders. However, he learns from the
chief mate that the previous captain was dissolute and neglected his duties, The chief mate was
forced to take charge of the ship, and the captain cursed the ship and all its crew before dying.
The new young captain is delayed in Bangkok by a combination of official procedures and the
chief mate’s illness. He seeks medical advice, but impatient to be underway with his new

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 1