Amitav Ghosh
- Born:
- July 11, 1956, Calcutta, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Author, Essayist
Early Life and Education
- Ghosh received his early education in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
- He obtained a B.A. from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University.
- He completed a Master of Arts in Social Anthropology at the Delhi School of Economics.
- He earned a D.Phil. in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford.
Career and Major Achievements
- Ghosh is known for his novels that explore themes of colonialism, migration, and environmental issues.
- He has taught at various universities, including the University of Delhi, Columbia University, and Harvard University.
- He received the Jnanpith Award in 2018, India's highest literary honor.
- His work often blends historical research with fictional narratives.
Notable Works
- The Circle of Reason (1986)
- The Shadow Lines (1988)
- In An Antique Land (1992)
- The Calcutta Chromosome (1995)
- The Glass Palace (2000)
- The Hungry Tide (2004)
- Sea of Poppies (2008)
- River of Smoke (2011)
- Flood of Fire (2015)
- Gun Island (2019)
- The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis (2021)
Legacy and Impact
Amitav Ghosh is a prominent figure in contemporary literature, recognized for his insightful exploration of historical events, cultural identities, and environmental concerns. His works have contributed significantly to postcolonial literature and environmental humanities. Some have interpreted the search for the historical figure that inspired Gandhi as part of an larger project of writing what might be called an amitav ghosh biography of mahatma, indirectly, through the figures that shaped him.