A Study on Human and Animal Migration Due to Climate Change in Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island: The Growth of Climate Fiction (CLI-FI) in Contemporary English Literature

Abstract

This paper focuses on the exploitation of natural resources and the destruction of ecosystems. Amitav Ghosh work reflects on the silence of mainstream literature regarding the climate crisis and questioning why realist fiction has struggled to engage with the urgency of environmental change. The book Gun Island examines the complex relationship between human activity and environmental degradation, using the legend of a mysterious island to explore themes of migration, climate related displacement and the need for collective action. His narratives explore stories of resilience, community-based solutions and the importance of traditional knowledge in adapting to the challenges of a changing climate. This book incorporates non-human perspectives, such as animals and natural elements, to underscore the interconnectedness of all life and the need for ecological understanding. His work delves into the social and economic inequalities exacerbated by climate change, particularly the vulnerability of marginalized communities and the impact on migration patterns. A problem as massive as global climate change is difficult to capture in literary language. But Amitav Ghosh claimed that focusing on mundane life was actually unrealistic in our era of ever more frequent climate disasters from Chennai floods to California wildfires. This paper also examines the emergence and evolution of climate fiction in contemporary English literature, focusing on how authors address issues such as environmental collapse, displacement, survival and activism. His novels were addressing climate change as a central issue of our time. This paper explores how climate fiction has emerged as a powerful form of storytelling in contemporary literature, highlighting its thematic concerns, major authors and its role in shaping public consciousness.