The document summarizes the characters and themes in the novel The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh. It discusses the main characters - the Narrator, Tridib, Grandmother, Ila, May, and Nick. The document also notes that the novel focuses on the meaning of political freedom in the modern world and the force of nationalism, exploring these themes through the lens of Bangladesh and India, which were previously part of the Indian subcontinent and share a common culture, economic and political history.