Amitav Ghosh recalled Delhi University’s rich intellectual life in the 1970s–80s, lamented its current decline, and discussed his new book Ghost-Eye, reflecting on climate change and Calcutta’s uniquely contrarian identity.

The revered author, Amitav Ghosh, recently remarked that

“Delhi University in the 1970s and 1980s… was as good as any university in the world. I went from Delhi University to Oxford in 1978, and while I loved Oxford — it was a wonderful place — intellectually speaking, Delhi University was far more exciting. We had read more and engaged much more deeply with our subjects. 

He further added, “To see the university now being literally destroyed in this way feels like a tragedy. What we see in the US and elsewhere is that institutions take a very long time to build, but they can be destroyed almost overnight — and that is exactly what we are witnessing.” 

He made the statement at an event in conversation with writer Keshava Guha at the Ambassador hotel, discussing his recently launched, 11th book “Ghost-Eye”. The book includes a poignant perspective on the repercussions of climate change. 

The book also pays homage to the city of Calcutta in which he grew up, “Calcutta continues to go in the opposite direction from the rest of the world. It’s a very unique kind of identity: whatever everyone else is doing, Calcutta is exactly the opposite,” he said on Monday at his book’s official launch. 

He further stated the omnipresence of the Bengali voice in him wherever he goes “If I open my study window in Brooklyn, I hear Bengali, coming up from the streets. It’s a strange thing. But still in the minds of Bengalis, Bengali continues to be a language of intimacy rather than a language, an international language as such. So there are always these strange sorts of experiences,” he said.

Read Also: This Time Holding The Grip Tighter Than Ever: Du Gets Ready For 2026

Image Credits- The Wire 

Divyanshi Dusad

[email protected]