An ongoing, daunting research on reincarnation, refugees seeking solace in an unknown city, the never-ending battle between predatory capitalists and nature's inhabitants, and an other world which can be seen and felt by a few — those who possess a ghost eye.

Stories are meant to open up new worlds for their readers. A middle class boy from Meerut can find himself atop a broom, gliding across the air towards Hogwarts (Harry Potter). An east European teen could find himself in a boat with Raha and Estha, floating on a river in Ayemenem (The God of Small Things). A skeptic like me was also opened up to the other-worldly story of birth, death and rebirth. Amitav Ghosh's latest work, Ghost Eye, puts us in the bylanes of 1960s Calcutta and the Covid-struck Brooklyn of 2020. Connection? A three-year-old Marwari girl's clamour for eating fish.

What works for me is the sheer belief Amitav brings to his world. He does put in characters who doubt. But when doubt exceeds belief, the line between rationality and superstition blurs. I am a skeptic, but seldom do I come across works that make me want to believe in magic and another world — in spirits who watch over everything.

Amitav also paints a vivid picture of 1960s Calcutta, which feels almost like a memory of his own. The aroma of freshly cooked Doi Mach in a dabba will make one crave even a single bite. The modern-day timeline did not excite me as much. Interestingly, a majority of it is just characters reminiscing the Calcutta of 1960s and 1970s. Another aspect that fascinated me was the question: who is a genius? A kid who can solve endless math equations, or someone who can differentiate between thousands of fish just by tasting them? It really does make one think.

Where the story underwhelms me is the very part that piqued my interest initially. All difficult problems can be solved with aid from the other world — and that, I feel, weakens the story and the built-up conflicts. 

But maybe that is fine. 

A world that throws itself into the darkest of dungeons every day might need some help from the other world. When the light fades out, magic and faith become a flickering flame to light one’s way out. Sadly, for me, the flame did not last long.

Ghost Eye Review: A magic trick for the skeptics