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The Shadow Lines- by Amitav Ghosh -as an eloquent critique of colonial hangover

In the novel The Shadow Lines, post-repercussions colonialism's on society and culture are discussed, along with riots, cultural aberrations, migration and its effects, political unrest, religious conflicts, identity crises, a sense of belonging, and more. The Swadeshi movement, World War I, the partition of India, and the communal riots in Dhaka and Calcutta in 1963–1964 were all mentioned in the novel's historical backdrop. The narrative centres on a Bengali family.

Ghosh illustrates the suffering and difficulties faced by people in the midst of intercommunal conflict and migration as a result of India's Bengal split through his fictional characters.

This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. The author openly tracks postcolonial concepts throughout the book to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in a time after freedom.

The post-colonial period is known as a "Shadow" of colonialism, which explains why England's influence may be seen throughout India. The author of The Shadow Lines tries to demonstrate how a "Line" is drawn by one occurrence, brought on by the shadow of another, in the story. This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book. The unidentified narrator tells the tale. Tridib, one of the primary characters, is the narrator's uncle. With the development of the events that take place in India, particularly Calcutta, the plot moves forward. The narrator's personal event and the major characters' personal happenings both occur in the "shadow" of political events.

This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book.
 
The characters serve as a general representation of the events that will be covered in the book. To highlight the Bengal partition issue and to highlight the full concept of "nation, nationalism, and nationhood," Ghosh purposefully constructed the prominent figure Thamma, the narrator's grandmother. The eight-year-old narrator begins the tale by describing how his grandmother values time and dislikes those who just sit around. This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book.

He introduces the viewer to the families of Thamma and her sister Mayadebi. Mayadebi's family is wealthy because her husband holds a senior position in the diplomatic services.

Jatin, a market analyst for the UN, Robi, a government worker, and Tridib, the only unproductive child, are the family's beneficiaries. He lacks a permanent place to live and is unemployed.

This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book.

The narrator gets his uncle Tridib to provide him accurate information. Narrator is chastised by Thamma for spending time with Tridib. The novel undergoes substantial alterations as a result of Thamma's interpretation of historical events and her thoughts regarding nationalism. The world Thamma creates is an illusion, and her perspective is misleading. The fictitious realm completely contrasts with the real world in which she lives.

This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book.

The narrator gets his uncle Tridib to provide him accurate information. Narrator is chastised by Thamma for spending time with Tridib. The novel undergoes substantial alterations as a result of Thamma's interpretation of historical events and her thoughts regarding nationalism.
The world Thamma creates is an illusion, and her perspective is misleading. The fictitious realm completely contrasts with the real world in which she lives. This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book.

The book depicts a diverse population with a diverse mentality that struggles to adjust to a new way of life. The psychology of the colonial people is still colonised, but they are freed by the rules of peace and justice. After India gained autonomy, there was a political upheaval and an underlying transformation that manifested itself in brutality and insurrection. This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience.

The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book. Post-impact imperialism's is more deeply rooted in people's perceptions that it is challenging to survive and perceive the truth.

The novel's depiction of nationalism and national identity serves as a metaphor for the reader's own personal identity. The theme of public persona shifts to the question of personal identity. This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book.

Thamma intends to travel to Dhaka and bring back her elderly uncle Jethamoshai when she learns that Dhaka is currently not a part of India but rather falls under the freshly formed country of Bangladesh, after the region of Bengal. She is therefore astonished by the nation to which she has been assigned. When Thamma's youngster asks for information to substitute for the plane ticket, she is dumbfounded. This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book."They want your nationality, your birth date, birthplace, and stuff like that... " She answered, shaking her head, "Nothing." Nothing whatsoever.

This book sheds attention on the oppression that victims of oppression experience. The novel pretty well captures the misery they experienced. In order to demonstrate his interest in presenting the effects of colonisation, particularly in an era after, the author openly follows postcolonial principles throughout the entire book.

Tridib's death, which was also a result of colonisation, is finally resolved in the novel's conclusion. Amitav Ghosh refers to Robi as a poster child for the post-frontier Indian character who has been inspired by witnessing and then becoming associated with Tridib's demise. Tridib represents Indian consciousness because of his involvement in the Bangladesh riot that led to his death.Given that the entire story is told from the perspective of the narrator and his perceptions of the past and present, the author's portrayal of the narrator as an example of postcolonial hangover is quite nuanced.


By-
Sriparna Mukherjee
Amity University, Kolkata


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