The Hungry Tide

The Hungry Tide

by

Amitav Ghosh

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Bhotbhoti Term Analysis

A large boat with a diesel engine. Horen's bhotbhoti, the Megha, has several cabins, multiple levels, and is powerful enough to tow Fokir's sixteen-foot rowboat.
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Bhotbhoti Term Timeline in The Hungry Tide

The timeline below shows where the term Bhotbhoti appears in The Hungry Tide. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2: Negotiations
Language Theme Icon
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
...Moyna gasps and Fokir agrees to arrange for Horen to go with them with his bhotbhoti. Piya agrees. (full context)
Part 2: A Sunset
Language Theme Icon
...moment but are interrupted by Fokir down below. Kanai translates that Horen will bring the bhotbhoti tomorrow, and they can leave the day after. Piya excitedly rushes away to gather her... (full context)
Part 2: The Megha
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
...Horen gestures to his grandson, Nogen, who will accompany them. Horen leads Piya to the bhotbhoti, which is called the Megha. Horen extols the boat's virtues and reliability. Piya is willing... (full context)
Language Theme Icon
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
The Human Cost of Environmental Conservation Theme Icon
Idealism and Theory vs. Practicality and Action Theme Icon
...one in 50 years and doesn't want to, and she says that being on a bhotbhoti won't help—tigers regularly attack boats midstream and can swim eight miles nonstop. Kanai insists he... (full context)
Part 2: Besieged
Language Theme Icon
The Human Cost of Environmental Conservation Theme Icon
...Nirmal to go with them to Morichjhãpi to see if they can help. As their bhotbhoti gets close, they see smoke and patrol boats circling. They approach a neighboring island and... (full context)
The Human Cost of Environmental Conservation Theme Icon
Idealism and Theory vs. Practicality and Action Theme Icon
...the passengers into the water. Nirmal and the schoolmasters try to pull people onto their bhotbhoti, and one man tells Nirmal that Kusum and Fokir weren't on the boat. When the... (full context)
Part 2: Horizons
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
The Human Cost of Environmental Conservation Theme Icon
...won't make it back to Lusibari. Kanai protests, but Horen says they'll go down with bhotbhoti if they stay. He motions to the island and says there's no shelter and it'll... (full context)
Part 2: Losses
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
...of Lusibari and sends Kanai back upstairs to work out how he's getting off the bhotbhoti. Horen gives Kanai a plastic bag in which to put Nirmal's notebook and then explains... (full context)