Date of Award
17-4-2024
Document Type
Thesis
School
School of Arts, Sciences, Humanities & Education
Programme
Ph.D.-Doctoral of Philosophy
Keywords
British Rule, Culture, Cultural Exchange, Humanity, Global Culture
Abstract
The present study aims at analysing three sequential novels written by Amitav Ghosh. The novels are set in the backdrop of colonized India, so the research begins by examining the imperial anarchy that leads to cultural exchange and cultural sabotage. Amitav Ghosh is an Indian born writer, famous for both his fictions and non-fictions.
Most of his works are based on colonization and its aftermath. The major focus of the novels selected for the research is also colonization especially the opium production in India. The author portrays the opium production and its evil effects on people and environment. The three sequential novels include Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke and Flood of Fire.
The novels start with the opium production in India and it ends with the opium war in China. Opium forms the predominant theme of all three novels. Many research articles published on Ibis Trilogy are collected and it is evident that most of the articles deal with opium’s influence on flora and fauna, condition of Diasporas and language of Ghosh. No work of meritable length has been published on Cultural exchange that occurs in Trilogy. Hence the research tries to fill the gap.
Chapter 1 : Deals with the introduction. It includes introduction to Indian English Literature, author, and the sequential novel Ibis Trilogy. A short introduction on the works of Amitav Ghosh is also included. Literature survey has been done on various aspects related to the research that includes Ibis Trilogy and other novels of Ghosh, British Imperialism, Culture and opium. Based on the survey, the research gap is identified.
Chapter 2 : Deals with history of colonized India and opium production during 18th century. This helps in better understanding the novel. The chapter also explains the theory of cultural exchange. So the basic elements for understanding British imperialism, cultural exchange and cultural sabotage are included in this chapter.
Chapter 3 : Includes the views of historians and critics on the British rule, and Ghosh’s opinion on colonisation. The brutal rule of Britain as narrated by the novel, is also included in this chapter.
Chapter 4 : Talks about the cultural exchange that takes place in the novel. It includes the cultural exchange between Britain and India in colonized India and Britain, China and India during the time of opium war. The reason behind the cultural exchange and the results and impacts of cultural exchange are included.
Chapter 5 : Focuses on the sabotage of culture due to the greed for money. An insight on the true cultural values is included. The way the cultural essence is spoiled is analysed.
Chapter 6 : The conclusion traces the work beyond its writing. It ends with a note of optimism though the climax of the novel seems negative.
Recommended Citation
M, Siva Vidhya Ms, "Imperial Anarchy, Cultural Exchange and Cultural Sabotage in Amitav Ghosh’s Ibis Trilogy" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 109.
https://knowledgeconnect.sastra.edu/theses/109