Bookclub: The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh

Summary:

The Calcutta Chromosome (1995) by Amitav Ghosh is a medical thriller and speculative fiction novel that weaves together multiple timelines, from near-future New York to late 19th-century colonial India, centered on a mysterious "Calcutta Chromosome" related to malaria research. The story follows Antar, a computer programmer who discovers an old ID card, leading him into a complex conspiracy involving a man obsessed with the real-life malaria discovery by Ronald Ross, and a secret history of fever therapy. The novel blends science, history, and conspiracy, exploring themes of power, control, and the nature of discovery.