Smoke and ashes amitav ghosh pdf: When Amitav Ghosh embarked on his research for the Ibis Trilogy two decades ago, he was taken aback by the realization that the lives of the nineteenth-century sailors and soldiers he was writing about were not solely influenced by the currents of the Indian Ocean but also by a valuable commodity that traversed those currents in vast quantities: opium.
To his astonishment, Ghosh discovered that his own identity and family history were entangled in this narrative.
Smoke and ashes amitav ghosh pdf
“Smoke and Ashes” weaves together elements of travelogue, memoir, and historical exploration, delving into the economic and cultural impact of the opium trade on Britain, India, China, and the world at large.
Facilitated by the British Empire, which exported opium from India to sell in China, this trade and its profits were crucial for the Empire’s survival.
Ghosh delves deeper to uncover the presence of opium at the origins of major corporations, influential American families and institutions, and even the foundations of contemporary globalism. In India, the long-term consequences of this trade were particularly profound.
Nimbly navigating horticultural histories, the mythologies of capitalism, and the social and cultural aftermath of colonialism, “Smoke and Ashes” illuminates the pivotal role played by this humble plant in shaping the world as we know it—a world that now stands on the precipice of catastrophe.
Smoke and ashes amitav ghosh free pdf
“In contemplating the historical significance of the opium poppy, it becomes difficult to ignore the sense of a discernible intelligence at work.
The most striking evidence of this lies in the poppy’s capacity to engender cycles of repetition, where similar phenomena echo across time. It is clear that the opium poppy’s actions are not random; it constructs symmetries that resonate with one another.
Crucially, we must acknowledge that these cycles will persist, as the opium poppy shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon. For instance, despite concerted eradication efforts in Mexico, the acreage under poppy cultivation continues to expand. In fact, there is more opium being produced in the world today than ever before.
Only by acknowledging the power and intelligence inherent in the opium poppy can we hope to establish some form of reconciliation with it.”
About smoke and ashes amitav ghosh download
| Book Name | Smoke and Ashes: A Writer’s Journey through Opium’s Hidden Histories |
| Format | |
| Size | mb |
| Pages | 408 |
| Language | English |
| Author | Fourth Estate India |