Critique of Western Modernity: A Study of Amitav Ghosh’s In an Antique Land

Abstract

Amitav Ghosh, in In an Antique Land critiques Western modernity on the ground of rationalism, individualism, exclusive nationalism, colonialism and slavery exhibiting its blind spots--exclusiveness and Eurocentric monolithic vision--and at the same time advocates alternative modernities for the need of the revival of pre-modern ethical and moral values--communitarianism, decolonization, inclusive nationalism, hospitality, cosmopolitanism, as well as co-existence among the different races, castes, and people with different religious identities and from different geographical locations. Ghosh, for the purpose, blends many genres within a single text exposing with European’s interferences upon the Geniza documents of Masr, and in the Indian Ocean trade cultures, the effects of colonial legacy through Imam’s and Effendie’s behaviours. He shows the ethical co-existence and cosmopolitanism of Indian ocean world in Ben Yiju’s time, valorization of non-western cultures and civilizations with his experience that he gets from Egyptian villages and from the Geniza documents, providing the suitable space for marginal groups and victims.