The Ghat of the Only World Summary Class 11 English

Summary of the Ghat of the Only World

The Ghat of the Only World is by the author Amitav Ghosh. The Ghat of the Only World summary deals with the fulfilment of a promise by a friend. It is a tribute to the Kashmiri poet Agha Shahid Ali. Shahid made the author promise to write about him after death overtakes him. Furthermore, this was before Shahid suffered from a brain tumour and ultimately succumbed to it.  It is a story about friendship and commitment. Moreover, the author fulfils his promise he made to his friend who is no longer alive.  The lesson focuses on Shahid, what were his likes and what was his way of living life. This was like a celebration even his diagnosis. The Ghat of the Only World discusses Shahid’s love for Kashmir. It also talks about his interest in music, food, literature, and art.  The author also discusses his views on life.

The Ghat of the Only World Summary in English

Shahid Ali was a friend of the author. Furthermore, he was a poet by profession. Shahid was a talented poet who gave liberty to life to embrace death with his amazing choice of words. Furthermore, Shahid was well aware that the time he had at hand was not much. Ali gave a nostalgia experience to the author Amitav Ghosh with his treasure-trove of enormous life force.

His words reveal the political problems during his stay in Kashmir. The period of friendship between the author and Shahid was short. However, even in this short period, Shahid left some skilful brushstrokes of a Kashmir that was different. Furthermore, Shahid was a firm believer in the separation of religion and politics. Moreover, Shahid set apart all the negativities that had made this beautiful region into a lost paradise.

Shahid had a wish he made to his parents in his childhood. This wish was his desire to have a small Hindu temple in his room. Shahid was not pharisaic. Gradually with time, his mother brought idols and other trappings. Furthermore, the innermost part of his house became a holy temple. Consequently, the house became a religious confluence of both Islam and Hinduism.

Shahid had a great love for food. He was able to enjoy food even during the last stage of cancer. Shahid had an interest in talking about food even during this last stage of cancer. Shahid was always present at a party that was around him. One cannot say whether that was to enjoy food or to please his companions.

Shahid didn’t take cancer seriously. For him, it was nothing more than a joke. There was never acceptance of defeat from Shahid to cancer. Even to the very end, Shahid was a lively man. There was a display of his interest in laughter, food, and poetry even in the last stage of his disease. Furthermore, his celebration of life was such that anyone would think that he was defeating death every day. However, in spite of such liveliness, the fact was that he was nearing his death. His words were really moving when he could see no more.

The author Amitav Ghosh certainly kept his promise. He threw light on the painful and sweet memories with a display of his writing skill. The way of writing was such that the pain was hidden even from the author. Agha Shahid Ali was everything which the author lost and the Ghat of the Only World is an attempt to reincarnate him.

Conclusion of the Ghat of the Only World

The Ghat of the only World summary shows the commitment of a man towards his friend who had exceptional admirable qualities of being loving, secular, and lively.