Author Amitav Ghosh recently criticized the current state of Delhi University, describing it as a “tragedy” compared to its intellectual vibrancy in the 1970s and 80s. Ghosh made these statements on Monday evening in New Delhi, during the first worldwide official launch of his new novel, “Ghost-Eye.”
Delhi University: A Decline
Ghosh, who studied at Delhi University before attending Oxford in 1978, recalled the institution as intellectually superior. “Delhi University in the 1970s and 1980s… was as good as any university in the world,” he stated. He added that while he “loved Oxford,” Delhi University was “far more exciting intellectually.”
He now views the university’s condition with dismay. “To see the university now being literally destroyed in this way feels like a tragedy,” Ghosh said. He warned that institutions take long to build but “can be destroyed almost overnight,” a process he believes is currently visible at DU.
“Ghost-Eye” Novel Launch
The launch event took place at the Ambassador hotel, a location holding memories from Ghosh’s decade in Delhi. Ghosh, 69, spoke in conversation with writer Keshava Guha. “Ghost-Eye” is Ghosh’s 11th novel, published by HarperCollins India.
The book addresses themes of loss, memory, and the planet’s fragility amidst climate change. These themes resonate with his earlier non-fiction works, including “The Great Derangement” (2016) and “The Nutmeg’s Curse” (2021). Ghosh also described “Ghost-Eye” as a “love letter” to Calcutta, his childhood home.
Influences and Narrative Craft
Ghosh explained Calcutta taught him skepticism toward modernity. He noted Calcutta’s unique identity, often moving “in the opposite direction from the rest of the world.”
He discussed the quiet globalization of the Bengali language, traditionally seen as a “language of intimacy.” Ghosh cited hearing Bengali spoken unexpectedly in places like Venice and Brooklyn. “If I open my study window in Brooklyn, I hear Bengali,” he shared.
Ghosh employs a “Bengali storytelling voice” in his craft. He recalled Bengali writer Sunil Gangopadhyay stating, “I write Bangla novels in English.” This approach helps Ghosh overcome writer’s block.
Food also plays a significant role in the novel. Ghosh emphasizes food’s essential connection between humans and the earth. He suggested its neglect in serious literature often stems from its historical association with “marginalised women’s” work.
“Ghost-Eye” Synopsis
The novel centers on Varsha Gupta, a three-year-old child whose vegetarian family faces her insistent demand for fish. Varsha claims to recall a past life where she ate fish by a river. This prompts her family to consult psychiatrist Dr. Shoma Bose, whose scientific worldview is challenged.
Decades later, the case resurfaces, drawing Shoma’s nephew Dinu into an investigation. His search uncovers hidden memories and connections. Moving between 1960s Calcutta and modern Brooklyn, the narrative explores reincarnation, memory, family, and humanity’s environmental ties. Ghosh noted the novel’s concept was shaped by extensive research into children recalling past lives and their “haunting” desires from those lives.
Upcoming Engagements
Ghosh will promote “Ghost-Eye” across India. Planned stops include Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata in the coming weeks.