Sea of Poppies

Author : Amitav Ghosh

Review:

 I took up this book based on my friend's recommendation. Set in the 1830s where Opium trade was prevalent in India, this is the first book of the Ibis Trilogy- Considered one of the best and ambitious works of Amitav Ghosh. The story is primarily centered around two backdrops . 1. Based on the popularity of Opium in China, the Gangetic plains were transformed into a hub for Opium cultivation by the British as the trading benefits were more owing to the proximity of the two countries. The Second backdrop is the abolition of Slavery in Africa around the same time, which caused the Britishers to run short of workers in Mauritius , which made them start using Indian convicts and labourers for the job. The pivot of the story is the ship Ibis, which sails from Europe and arrives in a battered shape to Calcutta. Ibis is then readied to transport the labourers to Mauritius .The multiple prominent characters all board Ibis- some seek Ibis as a refuge from their cursed lives, some are forced to board it because of circumstances. There is a widow of a Opium victim, who escapes from the Sati Pyre, a Raja whose zamindari is forcefully taken away, made a convict and harassed with brutal cruelty, a boatman who is thrilled to seek employment in the ship, a French lady who wants to escape the restricted contained life of a "Mem" and wants to be a free Botanist, a young committed second-mate of the ship whose world revolves around the Ibis, a man turned "GodWoman" who thinks he's found his God in the ship.The book traces the lives of each of these characters, the narration transitioning from one to another. And the point of convergence is when they all board the ship, leaving their past behind, having lost everything- their family and their wealth. The book is definitely a classic, the style of writing is quite unique, , there is a lot of Bhojpuri dialect used by the natives(Followed by English translation) and the rather peculiar language in which the Lashkars communicate with each other. The ship is so magnificently described ,sometimes as the savior and sometimes as a dark machine transporting the people into the Black waters. The book gives a detailed description of Opium cultivation and the hazards the drug can bring . Some of the sufferings,especially the Raja's, is so poignantly described and the author leaves no stone unturned describing the brutality which the Indians were subjected to. And you do feel, why we Indians had to be so servile, and why we had to stoop to such a level only to please the British,rather funny the chinese called them "Aliens". How the Parsis got into the Opium trade and made their fortunes, despite stiff competition and alienation from the British is also very nicely described. To summarize, the book is an epic. A brilliant piece of work from one of the ace story tellers of India, Amitav Ghosh tells you why he is one of the best- Take a bow !!!! Though a deep read, it gives you a lot of insight and a panoramic view of the geographical and the cultural outlook of 19th century India . Don't miss it.

Recommended : 👍👍

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