Mapping Migration in Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island

Abstract

This paper will focus on how climate changes drive both human beings and animals to migrate from their birth places to a new land. Migration has become an everyday phenomenon because of war, racism, political crisis, climate change and self-interest. But migration for climate change is pathetic for a living being because without being a direct part of this man-made catastrophe, one has to leave one’s birthplace. Set against the backdrop of contemporary global challenges, Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island (2019) explores the journey of the protagonist, Deen, who seems to navigate the fluid landscapes of identity, belonging, and ecological crisis. Here Ghosh’s craftsmanship lies in weaving the plot of how human identities get interconnected through the interlaces of historical events, environmental concerns, and ancient folklore. He actually presents the complex intersections of displacement, both physical and metaphysical, on individuals or community through the portrayals of Tipu, Rafi, Piya and other aquatics. Following a qualitative approach, this paper will apply the philosophical underpinnings of Rueckert and Buell to show how climate change and migration are interconnected. The findings of the study will suggest that the nature of migration is changing with the changes of climate change. Besides, it will show how the displacement of people and animals, due to the loss of their habitat and livelihood, instigates the increase in crime and proliferation of unregulated industries that poison the environment. In other words, this study will map the variegated natures of migration presented in the Gun Island.