Time as a Literary Device in the Calcutta Chromosome

Author(s): Dr. Sofia Nalwaya

Abstract:

The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh extends from 1895 (the Ross Research) through 1995 (Murugan's quest) and ultimately into a timeless future with Antar in New York. The novel through its theme of the quest for the malarial parasite has various undertones of occult and mystery spread over the past, present and future dexterously strewn together by the masterly use of time. In this novel Ghosh confronts science with counter science, juxtapositions the conventional science (the name Murugan gives to scientific knowledge) represented by Ronald Ross against the ingenious knowledge with the method of uneducated Indians represented by Mangala. Ross is manipulated by Mangala and her team into the discovery of the malaria-parasite. It is as if it was to divert Ross’s attention from something and evidently it's Mangala's occult experimentation. This experimentation needs scientific equipment. So as a sort of favour as well as to keep Ross engaged Mangala with help of Lutchman leads Ross into the discovery of malarial parasite. Mangala's pre-eminence pervades the entire book and in front of her enigmatic knowledge the white skinned scientists appear dud and naïve. Mangala who is the upholder of the cult of secrecy controls with this weapon Ross, Farley, Grigson, Cunningham and all others who claim superiority over the coloured folks. The narrative oscillates to and fro into the past and present woven into a tightly gripped narrative with a palpable mystery element. The time travel is through the fragments of memories, bits of stories and the experiences of the characters, hallucinations embedded throughout the story. The quest for the malaria parasite is what strews the story in one whole. The mystery element is retained dexterously throughout the narrative and has a unifying impact on the novel. This paper is an attempt to trace the pattern of time utilized by Gosh in The Calcutta Chromosome.

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Pages: 27-30     |    2 View     |    0 Download