The Shadow Lines

• The novel is narrated by an unnamed Indian boy who travels through time and space using the memories and stories of his relatives—particularly his cosmopolitan cousin Tridib. Spanning decades and multiple cities, the story highlights how global politics, violence, and borders radically fragment ordinary human relationships.

Amitav Ghosh (born 1956) is a celebrated Indian author and essayist known for his English-language historical fiction. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from Oxford and has written numerous acclaimed works, including The Glass Palace, The Hungry Tide, and the Ibis Trilogy. He is a recipient of prestigious honors like the Sahitya Akademi Award.

The plot tracks the narrator's fascination with his uncle Tridib and his family's cross-border ties between India and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), alongside their interactions with an English family, the Prices. Moving back and forth through time—from the Swadeshi movement and World War II up to the communal riots of the 1960s—the story builds toward a tragic climax during a riot in Dhaka. Ultimately, the book reveals how political borders dictate violence, yet fail to conquer the emotional and psychological links shared across human lives.