In his latest collection of essays, Wild Fictions, Amitav Ghosh argues that fiction plays a vital role in revealing truths about humankind, nature, war, and more. The book explores not just the role of storytelling in understanding complex issues but also the act of storytelling itself as a crucial element in the search for truth. During the launch of Wild Fictions in Mumbai, Ghosh shared insights into the recurring themes in his work and how these ideas have evolved over his nearly four-decade-long writing career.
Science and Nature in Ghosh’s Work
A recurring motif in Ghosh’s writing is the role of science in understanding the world. From his debut novel The Circle of Reason, which explores phrenology, to The Hungry Tide, where geology, zoology, and botany play central roles, Ghosh integrates scientific exploration into his storytelling. His engagement with nature is particularly evident in his research on the Sundarbans, where he studied cetology and accompanied a researcher on dolphin surveys. For Ghosh, science is not just a form of knowledge but a way of seeing and interpreting the world.
“When I wrote The Hungry Tide, I became immersed in geology and zoology. The Sundarbans, in particular, drew me to geology – a region where islands can appear and disappear. This dynamic landscape fascinated me,” Ghosh explained.
Climate Change and Literature
Ghosh also addresses the complex relationship between literature and climate change. He criticizes how contemporary writers have adopted climate change as a fashionable theme, often detached from the local, organic connections to nature that older Indian writers like Shivarama Karanth and Kuvempu explored in their work. These writers, Ghosh notes, had a deep, empirical connection to nature, which modern writers often overlook in favor of broader global issues.
Ghosh contends that this shift occurred in the 1990s when global greenhouse gas emissions started rising significantly, coinciding with the rise of neoliberal globalization. This, he believes, profoundly impacted literature, particularly as writers began to focus on identity politics and sought international recognition.
Indigenous Knowledge vs. Western Science
A key theme in Ghosh’s work is the acknowledgment of indigenous knowledge, which he believes is often overlooked by Western scientific traditions. In The Calcutta Chromosome, Ghosh exposes how Western scientists, such as Ronald Ross, were influenced by native knowledge but failed to credit it. He argues that much of what is attributed to Western discovery was already known by local communities.
“Malaria, for example, was understood by the people in the Nilgiris long before it became a topic of Western medical research. These local communities had long known which mosquitoes were responsible for the disease,” Ghosh states.
Migration and Multiculturalism
In Wild Fictions, Ghosh also reflects on migration and its portrayal in Western societies. He criticizes the Western approach to multiculturalism, which, according to him, often involves supporting extreme elements within minority communities. He compares this to the situation in India, where migration patterns are different and more fluid.
Ghosh points out the phenomenon of circulatory migration in India, where migrants return to their homes regularly, unlike the more permanent migration seen in the West, which often leads to alienation. He believes that understanding the social dynamics of migration is essential for addressing contemporary issues in global discourse.
Technology, AI, and Writing
Ghosh also shares his perspective on the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on writing. While he views AI as a tool that can be useful, he expresses concern over how AI models are trained on authors’ intellectual property without proper compensation. He believes that writers should be involved in the conversation about how their work is used by AI companies.
“The Authors Guild and PEN have been suing AI companies for using our work without permission. It’s unethical. Writers deserve to be paid royalties for the use of their intellectual property,” Ghosh emphasizes.
Conclusion: The Power of Fiction
In Wild Fictions, Amitav Ghosh argues that fiction offers a unique lens through which we can understand and navigate complex truths. By intertwining empirical knowledge, indigenous wisdom, and the power of storytelling, Ghosh’s work challenges readers to rethink how we perceive and interpret the world around us. Fiction, according to Ghosh, is not just a form of entertainment—it is a powerful tool for uncovering deeper truths about society, nature, and the human experience.
