THE GHAT OF THE ONLY WORLD

AMITAV GHOSHBy: Sakshi ChopraTGT, Bluebells School International, New Delhi

ANALYSIS OF THE TITLE

ONLY

WORLD

GHAT

GHAT In our culture, the term

Ghat is extremely significant and has multiple poignant meanings.

Civilisations started on the banks of rivers.

Journeys begin from Ghats

Journeys end on Ghats The ultimate journey

called life ends on Ghats- in Hindu tradition the dead body is supposed to be cremated on the banks/Ghat of a holy river.

PONDER UPON IT:

Why did Ghosh retain the Hindi word Ghat and not translate it into English-Bank?

What is he trying to achieve?

AGHA SHAHID ALIAGHA SHAHID ALI Feb 4, 1949, Feb 4, 1949, 

New Delhi, IndiaNew Delhi, India - 8  - 8 Dec 2001, Dec 2001, Amherst, MassachusetAmherst, Massachusettsts

held teaching positions held teaching positions at nine universities and at nine universities and colleges in India and colleges in India and the United Statesthe United States

widely credited for widely credited for helping to popularize helping to popularize the ghazal form as a the ghazal form as a poetic genre in English poetic genre in English today. today.

AMITAV GHOSHAMITAV GHOSH born July 11,1956, is an born July 11,1956, is an

Indian-Indian-BengaliBengali author  author known for his work in the known for his work in the English language.English language.

lives in lives in New YorkNew York and is a and is a senior editor at senior editor at Little, Brown and CompanLittle, Brown and Companyy

In 2009 he was elected a In 2009 he was elected a Fellow of the Fellow of the Royal Society of LiteraturRoyal Society of Literaturee

Their world…Their world…

THEMESTHEMES Diasporic existence - Diasporic existence - I always move in my heart I always move in my heart

between sad countries… / The joys they share. between sad countries… / The joys they share. A little world of friends getting together at an A little world of friends getting together at an adda. Love for homeland never goes away and adda. Love for homeland never goes away and yet there is no going back.yet there is no going back.

Influence of other writers – Influence of other writers – Suketu Mehta, Suketu Mehta, James Merill, Emily Dickinson, Garcia Lorca. James Merill, Emily Dickinson, Garcia Lorca. Writers who wrote a revolution…Writers who wrote a revolution…

Battle with death – Battle with death – Gregarious attitude, a Gregarious attitude, a never say die attitude, being happy even in the never say die attitude, being happy even in the face of adversity…face of adversity…

THEMESTHEMES Play on his name – A martyr or a mere Play on his name – A martyr or a mere witness. How he was both and yet neither.witness. How he was both and yet neither.Religious Amity – He followed it in his own Religious Amity – He followed it in his own life from a very early age. Offered prayers to life from a very early age. Offered prayers to idols; against the central tenet of his idols; against the central tenet of his religion.religion.Nation v\s National – poetry should not be Nation v\s National – poetry should not be restrictive.restrictive.Only world – A plea for peace and amity Only world – A plea for peace and amity best exemplified by the Manhattan Skyline- best exemplified by the Manhattan Skyline- the the GhatGhat of his life… and the valley he lost of his life… and the valley he lost forever… Kashmir, the most beautiful forever… Kashmir, the most beautiful ghatighati, , a paradise. a paradise.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE-the ghat of MANHATTAN SKYLINE-the ghat of the only worldthe only world

Kashmir GhatiKashmir Ghati

I dream that I am at the I dream that I am at the Ghat of the Only World…Ghat of the Only World…