Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar, student of MK Bhavnagar University. This blog i have written as a response to Thinking Activity, Which is a Part of my academic Work. Which we get after each unit. In this blog, i am going to discuss some question related Amitav Ghosh's novel 'Gun Island'.
About Amitav Ghosh
How does Amitav Ghosh make use of 'etymology' of common words to sustain mystery and suspense in the narrative? (Gun, Gun Merchant, Bhut, Possession, Shikul dwip, Rumali desh, Taal-misri desh)
Amitav Ghosh often employs the technique of etymology in his writing to sustain mystery and suspense by giving uncommon or obscure meanings to common words, creating a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty.
The title of the novel is 'Gun Island'. But the novel has nothing to do with Guns or Bonduk. Also the story is not about any particular Island. Here Gun Island has a different meaning. In the novel the word 'Gun' stands for 'Venice'. Here are some original lines that stands for the statement.
'And through Arabic the name if Venice has travelled far afield, to Persia and parts of India, where to this day guns are known as Bundook - Which is, Of course, none other than 'Venice' or 'Venetian'.
Similarly the word 'Gun Merchant' of course has different meaning. 'Gun Merchant' or 'Bonduki Sadagar' in novel means 'A merchant who visited Venice'.
Was it possible that I had completely misunderstood the name ‘Bonduki Sadagar’? Could it be that its meaning was not ‘The Gun Merchant’, as I had thought, but rather, ‘The Merchant who went to Venice’?
There are many other works that has different meanings in novel, different than it's actual meaning. People often thinks that the word 'Ghetto' is related to Jews somehow. But in novel 'Gun Island' the word Ghetto has nothing to do with Jews but the word in Venetian dialect for foundry. That are state in 'Island within an Island'. So the word 'Ghetto' here stands for 'Island within an Island'.
'The old ghetto is an island within an island, as you can see.’
The island that was allotted to the Jews, she said, had previously been a foundry where armaments, including bullets, were cast. The word for foundry in the old Venetian dialect was getto and this had become the name of the city’s Jewish settlement. Not only would this settlement become a great centre of Jewish learning, it would also lead to the coining of certain words, of which ghetto was only one.
The word 'Bhoot' actually means 'Ghost'. But in 'Gun Island' Amitav Ghosh use the word in different meaning. In the novel 'Bhoot' means 'Past state of being'. It also stands for memory.
‘All I can tell you is that the Bangla word “bhoot” or “bhuta” comes from a basic but very complicated Sanskrit root, “bhu”, meaning “to be”, or “to manifest”. So in that sense “bhuta” simply means “a being” or “an existing presence”.'
‘Because “bhuta” also refers to the past, in the sense of “a past state of being”. Like when we say “bhuta-kala” or “times past”.’
The word possession also comes with different meaning in novel. There is a line in novel that indicating meaning of possession, ‘Possession is when someone is taken over by a demon.’ but in actual possession is just a metaphor for greed. Here is the line from original text of Gun Island.
‘It’s nothing. Just a metaphor for greed. An imaginary thing.’
In a chapter titled as 'Warning' cinta said that the word 'Possession' is not demonic or negative. But real meaning of the word is 'Awakening'. The person who claims that he/she is possessed are awakening new life, new personality, new understanding and vision.
Some names of places are also symbolically used by Amitav Ghosh. Such as 1) The Land of palm sugar candy stands for Egypt, 2) Land of Kerchieves (Rumali Desh) is Turkey, 3) The Island of chains (Shilok dwip) is Sicily.
What are your views on the use of myth and history in the novel 'Gun Island' to draw attention of the reader towards contemporary issues like climate change and migration?
In "Gun Island," Amitav Ghosh uses myth and history to add depth and context to the themes of the novel, including climate change and migration. By incorporating elements of Bengali folklore and historical events, Ghosh creates a complex narrative that connects the past and present and highlights the interconnectedness of various cultural, social, and environmental issues. The use of myth, in particular, serves to emphasize the cultural roots of these issues and the ways in which they have been present and relevant throughout history. By blending myth, history, and contemporary events, Ghosh creates a vivid and impactful portrayal of the challenges facing the world today and the need for collective action to address them.
There are so many myths and names of places are mentioned in the novel that also existing in real world. Like, Sundarban, Venice, Gito, Sicily etc. Three symbols mentioned in the novel also has significant role in novel. The symbols shown in shrine of Manasa Devi. All these three symbols are related with myth of Ilyas. It looks like this.
The very first symbol is looked like hooked Snake and Gun, but it is a first alphabet in Hebrew language and which span stands for Ilias’s identity in the novel.
The second picture seems like it is of Island within an Island, but it's historical location is ghetto.which has foundry and also residences of Jews.
The third image is looks like spider, but in actual it must be arms. The image might for foundry also.
As per ghosh the Myth is history, not an imaginary thing.And the novel is might talking about 17th century because it has a references of plague, fire and ‘Bonduki Sadagar’.that all were happened during 17th century. This how Ghosh mythicized history in the novel.
In present time world is facing problem of human trafficking which was well captured by Amitav Ghosh in the novel.Gun Merchant trapped by pirates and sold in slave market that indicate human trafficking in present time. Along with that Journey of Tipu and Rafi and the journey of Bilal and Kabir comes as an example of slave trades in present time but in different way.
In conclusion, We can say that myth is not myth but a history that we are living in 21st century.Concern of myth in novel is historical truth, not universal truth.
Generate fan literature with the help of ChatGPT. (Promt: Generate micro fiction on Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island; Generate poem on Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island etc)
Micro fiction
The sound of gunfire echoed across the island, as Deen searches for the source of the weapons. He had heard rumors of a mystical place where firearms rained from the sky, and he was determined to find it. As he journeyed deeper into the heart of the island, Deen encountered strange creatures and encountered fierce battles. But he refused to give up, driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to uncover the truth behind the legends of Gun Island. Finally, after many trials and tribulations, Deen reached the fabled place, where he gazed in wonder at the endless shower of firearms. And in that moment, he realized the true power and danger of the island, and the weight of the responsibility that came with it.
poem
In Gun Island, a tale unfolds
Of firearms raining from the sky, so bold
Deen sets out on a quest, so true
To uncover the secrets and the myths, anew
Through strange creatures and battles fierce
He journeys on, with a thirst to pierce
The veil of mystery that surrounds this place
Determined to uncover the truth, with grace
And as he reaches the fabled site
He beholds the endless rain of firearms, so bright
He realizes the power, and the danger too
And the weight of the responsibility, that he must ensue.
For in Gun Island lies a lesson to learn
Of the dangers of firearms, and their deadly burn
And so Deen sets out, with a newfound purpose
To spread the word, and prevent future suffering, from surplus.
sonnet
In Gun Island, Amitav Ghosh doth spin
A tale of mystery, of firearms rain
Of a quest, by Deen, to delve within
The legends and the secrets, to obtain
Through trials and tribulations, he fought
With creatures strange and battles fierce, untold
But his thirst for knowledge, could not be bought
And in his heart, the truth was what he sought
And when he reached the fabled site so bright
Where firearms rained without end in sight
He realized the power, and the plight
Of the island and its weapons, day and night
For in its lessons, a warning clear
Of the dangers of firearms, so near
And Deen, with purpose, sets out anew
To spread the word, and prevent suffering, anew.
short story
Deen had always been fascinated by the legends of Gun Island. It was said to be a place where firearms rained from the sky, and he had always been curious about the truth behind the tales. So, one day, he decided to set out on a journey to the island, to uncover its secrets for himself.
As he made his way through the dense forests and rugged terrain of the island, Deen encountered many strange creatures and encountered fierce battles. But he refused to give up, driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to uncover the truth behind the legends.
Finally, after many trials and tribulations, Deen reached the heart of the island, where he found the fabled place where firearms rained from the sky. He gazed in wonder at the endless shower of weapons, and in that moment, he realized the true power and danger of the island.
Deen understood that with great power came great responsibility. He knew that the firearms that rained from the sky had the potential to cause immense harm, and he felt a sense of duty to use his newfound knowledge to prevent that from happening.
So, with a newfound purpose, Deen set out to spread the word about the dangers of firearms and the importance of responsible gun ownership. He traveled far and wide, sharing his knowledge and insights with others, and soon, his message began to take hold.
Years went by, and Gun Island became a place of pilgrimage for those who sought to learn more about firearms and the dangers they posed. And Deen, who had once set out on a journey to uncover the truth, had become a beacon of wisdom and hope, a symbol of the power of knowledge and the importance of using that knowledge for the greater good.
References
Luebering, J.E.. "Amitav Ghosh". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Jul. 2022,https://www.britannica.com/biography/Amitav-Ghosh.
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