The Calcutta chromosome by Amitav Ghosh

"The Calcutta chromosome" by Amitav Ghosh. This edition of the book is published by Harper Perennial in 2001 and has 320 pages.

The book starts in some undetermined time in the future. Antar's computer stumbles across a half burned identity card. It belongs to Murugan, an employee who disappeared in 1990s in Calcutta. Murugan was self proclaimed expert on Ronald Ross, who discovered how malaria is transferred from mosquito to humans, in India, during British Raj.

Murugan has a conspiracy theory that a secret group in India nudged Ross in a particular direction very intelligently. This group was headed by two people, Mangala and Laakhan. Wagner-Jauregg had showed that artificially induced malaria often cured, or already mitigated, syphilitic paresis. Mangala used this property of malaria for something else. Something much more advanced for any scientist of the time or much more advanced for any scientist, even today. She exploited it for cross over of personality traits from malaria donor to recipient. The personality trait will be in an item that is different, non standard & unique; dubbed as Calcutta chromosome. This chromosome is not symmetrically paired and not transmitted from generation to generation because it only exists in brain. This process can allow person to change bodies and gain virtual immortality.

Is Murugan right or is he hallucinating? Is he a meticulous person with monumental self belief or is he a crack pot? Does Calcutta chromosome exist? What does Antar do? Are Mangala and Laakhan real or are they figment of Murugan's imagination?

The story takes place in USA and India. It's a science fiction set in history and in future, however most of the story happens in 1990s.

Murugan is the central character. He is a typical genius who is not recognized by his contemporaries because he is ahead of his time. Urmila, Sonali, Romen all play their part in helping or guiding Murugan towards the discovery.

Author has been able to create the mystique atmosphere. The book is very interesting in the beginning but the same level of interest is not maintained till the end. The end, which should take the story to crescendo, seems abrupt. I thought that author could have made the last section of the book more interesting. Sometimes author has chosen to keep things complicated rather than simplifying them for the readers.

You have to read the book carefully and with attention so as not to miss important tid-bit. At the end it remains unclear why Antar, who is nearing retirement, is chosen as torch bearer rather than another young man.

An OK book. Read if you have time.