summery of the ghat of the only world
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Answer:
The Ghat of the only World by Amitav Ghosh is a story about Agha Shahid who was a friend of the writer. The writer knew that his friend won't live long therefore, Shahid asks his friend to write about him when he will be dead. The author ought to keep his promise towards Shahid. Both the writer and Shahid studied in the same university that is in Delhi University. As Shahid belonged to Kashmir, in 1975 he moved to America and later Shahid's two sisters also joined later. The writer was impressed by the poems that were written by Shahid. Since then writer never met Shahid. Later from 1998 to 1999 they had frequent conversations and met sometimes. Suddenly one fine day in February 2000 Shahid faces a blackout. The reason of blackout was suggested to be due to cancer. Later in order to be close to his sisters, Shahid moved to Brooklyn and so writer also lived in Brooklyn few blocks away. In April the writer calls Shahid and reminds him about the lunch invitation they had from a friend.
Shahid spoke to the writer about his death that was approaching and asks the writer to write about him when he will be no more. Since then the writer kept track of all calls, meetings, and talks he had with Shahid. Shahid was admitted to hospital on 21 May 2001.
He became very weak and could hardly stand. The writer met Shahid last on 27 October and Shahid died on 8 December 2001. The writer feels the void without Shahid. While the writer walks into the living room he feels Shahid's presence.
Answer:
There are two characters in this chapter. Both are Amitava Ghosh and Aga Shahid Ali. Amitava Ghosh is the author of the essay and he wrote the essay about Aga Shahid Ali, his friend. Agha Shahid Ali, a young and dynamic person, suffers from an incurable disease of a malignant brain tumour and knows that death will anytime knock his door. Being aware that he is dying very soon, Again Shahid asks the author to write something about him when he dies. At first Amitav Ghosh can’t think of the words he can answer, but at last, he promises him that he will do his best to write about him. From that very day on, the author begins to recollect all the memories of his beloved friend’s in order to fulfill his promise. When Shahid Ali dies at the age of 52, Amitabh Gosh writes this wonderful essay about him which he names “The Ghat of The Only World.”
The Ghat of the One World is originally the name of a famous poem written in the collection of his poems Rooms Are Never Finished by Aga Shahid Ali. The poet recalls all his loved ones who died and were alienated from another world in this poem. The poem is thus written in response to the realization by the poet that his death is approaching. He feels that his loved ones call him from the other side of the Ghat.
Tag: The Ghat of The Only World
Ghat is a Kashmiri word, also used in Urdu. It means the spot on a bank of the river from where the boats leave to another side. The ghat of the only world means that after a person finishes his journey in this world he feels at the point of the world. It is therefore used as a metaphor for death. It means the point from where a man departs to another world, which is called hereafter in common parlance. Agha Shahid used to say that he would meet his mother in the hereafter if there was hereafter. He dreamed that he had finished his journey of life and stood at the door of another world “The Ghat of the Only World”.
Now let’s explain the text of the essay.
Amitav writes that on 25 April 2001, he had a routine conversation with Shahid. During the conversation, Aga Shahid Ali first time expressed before him about his approaching death. Although he had been under treatment for fourteen months, Shahid was still on his feet. Aga Shahid told him in the quizzical voice that he wants him to write about him when he dies. To quote the actual words, “When it happens I hope you’ll write something about him “. On hearing these words of Shahid, he was shocked. At first, he is unable to say anything but after a few moments, he managed to say to him that he would be alright and he had to be strong.
Shahid was living some eight blocks away from his Study. Earlier he had been living in Manhattan. But after tests revealed that he had a malignant brain tumour, he moved to Brooklyn to be close to his youngest sister Sameera. The author says when he reassured him that he would be fine, Shahid began to laugh. He realized that he was dead serious. He understood that Shahid was firmly entrusting him a specific charge which he should not ignore. However, he was unable to search the words in which one promises friends that he will write to him after he dies. Finally, he told him, “Shahid, I will. I’ll do the best I can”. That said, the author picked up his pen and noted everything about the conversation. He continued this process for the next few months. It is this record that made him able to fulfill his promise that he had made with Shahid that day.
The author writes that he knew about Shahid’s work much time before he actually met him. Shahid’s famous collection, “The Country Without a Post Office” published in 1997 had a strong impact on him. The author also mentions that Shahid was a great poet and unique in many ways. The author adds that in 1998, he mentioned a line from The Country Without a Post Office in an article that touched briefly on Kashmir. That time he only knew that Shahid was from Srinagar and had studied in Delhi. He too had studied at Delhi University that time but had never met.
The author further said that they had many common friends and one of them put him in connection to Shahid. After that, they had several conversations and even they met each other number of times. When they come to know each other they found that they had many things in common. Both had a big list of common friends in India, America and elsewhere. Both loved the music of Roshanara Baigum and Kishore Kumar. Both also had an equal passion rogan josh and other foods. Both disliked cricket and both were fond of Bollywood films. Shahid was fanatic of meals and festivity. He loved gatherings. It gave him a real joy. He often invited people for lunch mostly for friendly conversation. Even his fatal disease did not impede him from doing and enjoying things.