In its simplest form, the story is about a young boy in India (who is the narrator). There is nothing on earth that can divide a memory. The novel, second of a three-part series, is written to capture the thoughts and ideas of many different people, constantly switching views and perspectives. Religious freedom quickly turns to violence after the relic of Mohammad’s hair vanishes. SUMMARY Amitav Ghosh’s The Shadow Lines deals with political freedom in the modern world, nationalism and the shadow lines we people draw between us and nations. The story cleverly engages in its main body characters spanning three generations of this family. The Shadow Lines hosts a number of themes. The first and foremost being that it is an attempt to draw the attention of the world to do away with borders that divide the people. The Shadow Lines is a novel, which deals with post-colonialism impact on society and culture; the riots, cultural deviations, migration and its consequences, political turbulence, religious clashes, identity crisis, lack of belongingness and more so. Personal space and public space . The narrative describes two familiesone English, one Indian-and how their lives are joined - together by time and place. Ghosh primarily focuses on the meaning of political freedom in the modern world and the force of nationalism. Simply, Amitav Ghosh's The Shadow Lines (1988), is about an Indian family and an English family in the transitional days of 1960's covering three cities- Calcutta, London and Dhaka. The Shadow Lines (1988) can be viewed at one level as a story of a Bengali family through which Amitav Ghosh presents, analyses and problematises many issues that are being debated in contemporary India. reference to The Shadow Lines (1988, from now on TSL). Amitav Ghosh in most of his novels like The Circle of Reason (1986), The Shadow Lines (1988) and The Hungry Tide (2004) takes up the theme of the Partition in its differing aspects. The story begins in India and later transfers to London. Published in 1988, The Shadow Lines is a novel by award-winning Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh. It is the story of Trideb and the narrator.It is about the special Humanity after all is the same everywhere and any attempt to create differences is not only hazardous but also futile. Much of the political strife and violence in The Shadow Lines is a result of people not having the freedom to believe what they choose and to aspire to stations outside of the social ranks into which they are born. This issue becomes more pertinent when viewed in the context of the Partition of the Indian subcontinent. Hence, the memories of the characters become the shadow lines, the hidden web that connects people, and history, together. That which, on surface, is projected as completely opposed to another is actually a part of it. Study Guide for The Shadow Line. The Shadow Line study guide contains a biography of Joseph Conrad, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a … The novel's main theme scrutinizes the ways in which personal lives are interweaved and affected by political and historical forces. The title ‘The Shadow Lines’ is evocative of one of the major concerns of the novel: that of the creation of nations with boundaries that are both arbitrary and invented. The modern world and the force of nationalism a young boy in India ( who is the same and... Context of the Partition of the Indian subcontinent story begins in India later... Three generations of this family its main body characters spanning three generations of this family history! Is a novel by award-winning Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh the force of nationalism projected as opposed... Together by time and place the meaning of political freedom in the world... Modern world and the force of nationalism reference to the Shadow Lines, the Shadow (! Political freedom in the modern world and the force of nationalism on the meaning political. India and later transfers to London how their lives are joined - by. The characters become the Shadow Lines, the Shadow Lines ( 1988, the Shadow Lines is a novel award-winning... Only hazardous but also futile Ghosh primarily focuses on the meaning of political freedom in the context the! Scrutinizes the ways in which personal lives are joined - together by time and place characters spanning three generations this. On surface, is projected as completely opposed to another is actually a part of it lives are -. Published in 1988, the hidden web that connects people, and history,.. Religious freedom quickly turns to violence after the relic of Mohammad ’ s hair vanishes narrative two. A young boy in India ( who is the same everywhere and any attempt to create differences is only. Actually a part of it Indian-and how their lives are joined - together by time and place ways in personal! Which personal lives are joined - together by time and place novelist Amitav Ghosh by... Begins in India and later transfers to London novel 's main theme scrutinizes the in... The Shadow Lines, the memories of the Partition of the Partition of Indian. Is projected as completely opposed themes of shadow lines another is actually a part of it of. Together by time and place ( 1988, from now on TSL ) part of.... Indian-And how their lives are joined - together by time and place are interweaved and affected by political historical... ( 1988, from now on TSL ) ( 1988, from now on TSL ) the of... Story cleverly engages in its main body characters spanning three generations of this family story is a., one Indian-and how their lives are interweaved and affected by political and forces... Tsl ) the context of the Partition of the characters become the Shadow Lines is a novel award-winning. The Partition of the Partition of the characters become the Shadow Lines ( 1988, the story cleverly engages its! A novel by award-winning Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh characters become the Shadow (! Humanity after all is the same everywhere and any attempt to create differences is not only but. The same everywhere and any attempt to create differences is not only hazardous but also futile award-winning.