For many, migration itself is a form of climate adaptation: Amitav Ghosh

Writer Amitav Ghosh’s latest book - Wild Fictions - explores themes of climate change, migration, the forces of empire and greed of commercial developers. He speaks to The Migration Story about the growing vulnerability of migrants, the dangers of climate reductionism and where energy transition policies lack

Urvashi Sarkar

MUMBAI: Amitav Ghosh’s latest book Wild Fictions is a sprawling read. Part literary memoir, part historical chronicle and part political philosophy. It is impossible not to feel intimidated by Ghosh’s range as he writes with authority over climate change, language, migration, empire and capitalism. The work is a collection of his blog writings and talks delivered over several years.

What are the themes and threads that bind the work together? In Ghosh’s words these are “bearing witness to a rupture in time, of chronicling the passing of an era that began 300 years, in the eighteenth century.”

Climate change is a recurring theme in Ghosh’s writing, both in fiction and non-fiction. At least two of his books Gun Island (2019) and The Great Climate Derangement (2016) speak to the subject at length. Gun Island talks about various themes of displacement with climate change looming large. The latter addresses the failure of literature, history, and politics to delve into climate change.

Migration and various reasons for the movement of human beings preoccupy the author. He minutely dwells on the various forces which cause people to undertake arduous journeys fraught with risk only to drift into poverty and exploitation. A key question that Ghosh explores is how migration has evolved alongside the forces of empire, globalization and capitalisation, and the all-engulfing smartphone?

“Migrant workers, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds, often have little choice in how they adapt to climate change. For many, migration itself is a form of adaptation—a desperate attempt to escape environmental degradation and economic hardship”, he also said.

The answers are not as straightforward as one would expect, Ghosh suggests. Neither should all migration be explained from the prism of climate change, he cautions. The book also serves as a reminder about the greed of commercial developers and the disaster unleashed on Sundarbans and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Sundarbans is a recurring theme in Ghosh’s work. The effects of rising sea levels and commercial development in this ecologically fragile area are highlighted here too. While big themes like empire and history are looked at it in depth, the writer’s concern for ecologically fragile islands and small powerless territories also shows through.

Wild Fictions straddles vast geographies like Burma, Libya, Mauritius, Egypt and several other locations which the author has traversed or which appear in his books. We get a glimpse behind the scenes of some of his works like In an Antique Land (1992) and The Glass Palace (2000). In an Antique Land is based in Egypt and originated when the author was at Oxford. A slice of Ghosh’s tryst with digging into the history of Burma and creating compelling characters form the chapter on The Glass Palace.

The book offers answers to followers of Ghosh’s work who are curious about his literary influences, friendships and sources of inspiration. Along the pages, one finds insights into his craft and the settings in which the ideas for his books germinate, sometimes in universities, during travel or while chancing upon to rare literature.

Some chapters trace hard to find correspondence of Indian soldiers who fought in various wars on behalf of the British empire. Searching for such correspondence and then placing it in the public for the world’s eyes is akin to an act of excavation. The reader begins to ponder about the writing and making of history and why these questions matter.

The devastation caused by disasters like tsunamis is made evident through the suffering of larger than life characters. Ghosh is evidently interested in processes and phenomenon but also in the human condition and its complex motivations.

Reality often exceeds fiction in its improbability is the overarching message of the book.

In this interview with The Migration Story, Ghosh speaks about the forces that drive migration, implicit tensions within energy transitions and the dangers of climate reductionism.

1. Beyond climate change and economic necessity Wild Fictions also identifies mimesis as a factor that propels migration. Are there tensions between these factors that play out in migration in the country?

A. Migration is a complex phenomenon driven by multiple, often overlapping factors such as climate change, economic necessity, communications technologies and mimesis (the imitation of others’ actions). These factors often interact with each other in complex ways – for example, while climate change may create conditions where people are forced to leave their homes, their choice of destination may be influenced by the actions of others. So mimesis adds another layer of complexity —people migrate because they see others doing so, often without fully understanding the risks or realities of their destination.

2. Your book speaks of how smaller territories like Andaman and Nicobar suffered during the 2004 tsunami because of neglect by the government. Can you cite some present-day examples?

A. Smaller and marginalized territories continue to suffer disproportionately during disasters due to systemic neglect. For example, during Cyclone Amphan in 2020, the Sundarbans region—home to some of the most vulnerable communities in India—faced catastrophic damage. Similarly, the recent floods in Kerala and Assam have exposed how marginalized communities, particularly in ecologically fragile areas, bear the brunt of climate-induced disasters.

3. A lot of your work and writing has been about the Sundarbans. In recent years, it has been hit by a series of cyclones. What kind of migration patterns has it thrown up? Do you see more female migrants from the Sundarbans? How do you think the West Bengal government has reacted?

A. The Sundarbans, a climate hotspot, has seen significant out-migration due to repeated cyclones like Aila, Amphan, and Yaas. These disasters have destroyed livelihoods, particularly in fishing and agriculture, forcing people to move to urban centers like Kolkata or to other states for work. There has been a noticeable increase in female migrants because women are seen as more employable in domestic or informal sectors. However, this migration often exposes women to exploitation and unsafe working conditions.

4. How are migrant workers adapting to climate change or is that not a choice that they can afford?

A. Migrant workers, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds, often have little choice in how they adapt to climate change. For many, migration itself is a form of adaptation—a desperate attempt to escape environmental degradation and economic hardship. However, this “adaptation” comes at a high cost. Migrant workers frequently face exploitative labor conditions, inadequate housing, and social exclusion in their new environments. Their precarious status leaves them with little power to demand better conditions or access resources that could help them adapt more effectively.

5. Governments are increasingly stressing on energy transition to reduce carbon emissions. Do these policies factor in the effects on vulnerable communities with little access to energy resources? What are the trade-offs for them?

A. Energy transition policies often fail to adequately consider the needs of vulnerable communities. For example, large-scale renewable energy projects, such as solar farms or wind turbines, can displace local populations or disrupt traditional livelihoods. In India, the push for renewable energy has sometimes led to land acquisition conflicts, particularly in rural and tribal areas. These communities, which already have limited access to energy resources, are often further marginalized in the name of progress. The trade-offs are significant. While an energy transition is essential to combat climate change, it must be implemented in a way that is just and inclusive. This means ensuring that vulnerable communities have a voice in decision-making, that their livelihoods are protected, and that they benefit directly from the transition.

6. You also talk about climate reductionism and the tendency to attribute contemporary migration solely to climate change. Why might this tendency have caught on and with what consequences?

A. Climate reductionism—the tendency to attribute complex phenomena like migration solely to climate change—has gained traction because it simplifies narratives and aligns with the urgency of the climate crisis. However, this oversimplification ignores the interplay of historical, economic, and political factors that shape migration. For instance, colonial legacies, economic globalization, and unequal resource distribution have all contributed to the vulnerabilities that climate change exacerbates. The consequences of climate reductionism are significant. It can lead to misguided policies that focus narrowly on climate adaptation while ignoring underlying structural issues. It also risks absolving governments and corporations of their responsibility to address inequalities and historical injustices. By framing migration as solely a climate issue, we risk overlooking the human stories and systemic factors that drive people to move.

7. What according to you has been the effect of capital and empire on climate change?

A. Capital and empire have played a central role in driving climate change. The extractive practices of colonialism laid the groundwork for the exploitation of natural resources on an industrial scale, while the rise of global capitalism has accelerated environmental degradation. The pursuit of profit has often come at the expense of ecological balance, with corporations and wealthy nations externalizing the costs of environmental damage onto poorer communities and countries. Empire, in both its historical and modern forms, has also shaped the unequal distribution of climate impacts. Former colonies and developing nations, which have contributed the least to global emissions, are often the most vulnerable to climate change. Meanwhile, wealthy nations and corporations continue to prioritize economic growth over sustainability, perpetuating a system that benefits the few at the expense of the many.

Urvashi Sarkar is an independent journalist based in Mumbai. She writes on international affairs, atomic energy and corporate influence. She has also reported extensively from the Sundarbans in West Bengal.