The Calcutta Chromosome

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-21

Chapters 22-27

Chapters 28-31

Chapters 32-36

Chapters 37-39

Chapters 40-45

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Themes

Silence Has Its Own Voice

In The Calcutta Chromosome, the demiurge of Silence is significant to the unfolding of the story. Beneath the din and cacophony of Calcutta it thrives in the most secret of places, weaving its web of creation, mutating and adapting to ensure its sustenance. Silence has its voice and speaks only through its mistress, Mangala. Silence selects only those individuals it deems worthy, while manipulating others to serve its purpose. The theme of silence suggests that lives are malleable and that individual stories are created elsewhere—that no person's life is truly their own.

Reincarnation

Reincarnation is another underlying theme driving the story. Ghosh extends the idea that personality traits can be transmitted from one body to another by way of the malaria parasite. Mangala is the first to see the implications when she administers the malaria virus as a cure for syphilis; she sees it as means to gaining immortality. This culminates in Antar's crossover/reincarnation at the end of the novel. In fact, throughout the story, reincarnation fuels the actions and decisions of a number of characters. Phulboni publicly appeals to the mistress of Silence to not forget him and to let him make the cross-over.