Amitav Ghosh receives Special Lattes Grinzane Prize

Indian author and anthropologist Amitav Ghosh has been awarded the Special Lattes Grinzane Prize. During his lecture at the Fondazione Bottari Lattes in Monforte d’Alba, Ghosh discussed the interconnected nature of modern global challenges, which he refers to as a ‘polycrisis.’

Ghosh highlighted how climate change, biodiversity loss, species extinction, and political instability are deeply intertwined. He used the historical example of the nutmeg trade in the Banda Islands to illustrate the ‘resource curse,’ noting how the pursuit of valuable commodities led to colonial violence and the destruction of local communities. He argued that colonialism and capitalism have historically transformed natural gifts into resources detached from their original contexts.

Reflecting on the role of literature, Ghosh stated that while he does not consider himself an activist, he believes writers have a responsibility to represent the reality of a world shaped by these overlapping crises, including the geopolitical tensions surrounding fossil fuels.