Summary of Amitav Ghosh's The Iman and I

The Iman and I

Amitav Ghosh

Amitav Ghosh is an important contemporary writer of Indian English literature. This extract is taken from his autobiographical work In an Antique Land, which is based on Ghosh’s travel to Egypt for his anthropological work. His experience with the local community is narrated in this extract which acts as a combination of history, travelogue, proud of civilisation and fiction.

In Egypt, Ghosh had a friend named Khamees. Of late Khamees was haunted by his childlessness which had an impact on his behaviour. Once on a cold winter day Ghosh visited Khamees’ house and met Khamees and his father. Though the old man was huddled in a blanket, he was shivering due to the cold climate. He invited Ghosh affectionately to sit beside him. The old man worked as a labourer in Alexandria during the World War II and befriended many Indian soldiers that created deep impression in his mind about the Indians. As a result he accepted Ghosh as an intimate member in the family.  The old man by examining the quality of Ghosh’s sweater reminded of the Indian soldiers. The Egyptians were afraid of the Indian soldiers as they were tall and dark. Though the soldiers appeared rough, they were the most generous people. The old man contradicted the generous nature of the Indian soldiers with his children. He complained that his children did not even buy him a better sweater to survive in the winter. Khamees got upset by this complaint and left the room in anger.

The old man happened to be a man of moods. First he complained about his son for not being considerate about the aged father and immediately expressed his concern for his children. He lamented that his daughter was facing hardship in life by taking care of her two sons alone and Khamees suffered due to his childlessness. The old man blames himself for the sufferings of Khamees. Kahmees was married early as the old man wanted to see his grandchildren. This incident enables the writer to know about Khamees trauma due to childlessness.

Later once in a spring season, Ghosh was walking with Khamees across fields and they spotted Imam Ibrahim sitting on the steps of the mosque. Ghosh and Imam used to be friendly earlier but after a feast at Yasir’s house, Imam started neglecting Ghosh’s gesture of friendship. Khamees who was ignorant of the incident requested Ghosh to invite Iman to treat his wife. As Khamees and Iman were not in talking terms, he asked Ghosh to invite Iman. Ghosh was cynical about Iman’s treatment as he used blunt needles and recommending others. But Khamees convinced that Iman would react well as Ghosh was a foreigner.  Iman was talking with an old man. Ghosh greeted Iman and Iman responded for the greeting but turned immediately to the old man. Shocked old man invited Ghosh and introduced Ghosh to Iman as a student of the University of Alexandria from India.

Iman had a difference of opinion about the Indians; due to it he started avoiding Ghosh. He assumed that Indian languages and English were the easiest languages. To express his disapproval of Ghosh being in Egypt, Iman questioned why Ghosh was studying in Egypt without the knowledge of Arabic language. He looked at the cultural practices of Indians as primitive. He expressed his anger by asking why do the Indians worship cow and why do they burn the dead? He states that the Europeans were advanced in science and technology, they did not practice such customs and why the Indians were doing. As Ghosh has travelled Europe, Iman asked him to raise his voice against such primitive practices in his homeland. Ghosh replied that even the Europeans burn the dead in electronic furnaces and like the Europeans the Indians were also advanced in education. Indian had a nuclear explosion too.

As the argument was going on, many people gathered to see the argument.  By understanding the situation Khamees took Ghosh home.

Ghosh looked at their conversation as a claim to the technology of modern violence. He understood that though they both belong to different countries, they both were travelling towards the west and for everyone west meant science and guns and bombs. Both their civilizations are older and they are known for their rich culture and tradition which gave importance for humanity. Contradictorily now they both are fighting to establish their superiority in terms of violence. He felt upset about their controversy as they both broke the harmony people had once in spite of differences. Both of them looked at the west as developed in terms of weapons.

Later at Khamees house, Ghosh considered himself as a conspirator in the betrayal of history. Khamees took him home and comforted him by stating that he would like to visit India later but he concluded with a request of burying him than burning if he dies in India.

This essay presents the transformation of ideology in the course of time. Earlier development meant something related to characteristics and humanity whereas at present advance/development is seen in association with weapons.