Eco-Criticism in
Selected Indian English Literature
Dr. Chetana
Parmar,
Assistant
Professor,
UPL University
of Sustainable Technology,
Vataria, Bharuch,
Gujarat, India.
Abstract: Eco
criticism is the recent branch of literary criticism and theory that deals with
the relationship between environment and literature. The eco-critics evaluate
and interpret the texts from the ecological point of view and reveal the
environmental issue through the setting, plots and characters. It is the
demonstration of ecology and natural objects. Literary critics study the
literary text in association of the environment. It first started in the 1970’s
but reached at the peak in 1990’s. The eco critics reveal nature as a living
entity like human beings. It did not remain confined to natural or
environmental science but made its way to literature and literature became an
important tool for critics to highlight environmental issues. It was William
Ruckert who first coined the term in his essay Literature and Ecology: An
Experiment in Eco-criticism in 1978. Rachel Carson is known as one of the
forerunners of environmental studies. She first time highlighted the issues of
environmental decay through the use of chemicals like DDT. Ecocriticism existed
since the Romantic period, though it came into limelight in the second half of
the 20th century. In the contemporary era, the critics focus on
nature and society. So Ecocriticism become a new field for research and
researcher scholars have begun to highlight environmental problems and
imbalances through the interpretation of different texts. In India, it came a
bit late but Indian authors took it very enthusiastically and began to write on
it. They use nature as a background in their works and portray the characters
who directly or indirectly influence ecology. Authors like Amitav Ghosh, R. K. Narayan,
Raja Rao, Kamla Markandaya, Anita Desai, and Kiran Desai has mentioned the
issue in the present time.
Key Words: Man – Nature Relationship, Indian Novels,
Earth Centered and Ecocriticism.
Introduction
Ecocriticism is
a new branch of literature that deals with the relation between environment and
literature. It a new platform for writers, critics, and researcher to explore
this particular field and protect environment with modernity. Ecocritical
movement started in the late 19th century in the United States and
spread gradually in the other parts of the world. It begins in United Kingdom
in early nineties as Green studies. Researchers and Scholars study the field
and considered them marginal till the existence of Association for the studies
of literature and environment commonly known as ASLE. The journal was
established in 1993 to give a ray of hope to this movement. It is not confined
to a particular subject, but covers almost all other subjects with different
names. It caught the global attention and evoked the interest among researchers
across the globe. In different places it assumes different titles like Eco-
poetics, Green Culture and environmental literary criticism. Eco-criticism is
not only the application of Ecology and its principles but also the study of
literature and theoretical approach to the interrelation of nature, culture and
sometimes even super-natural elements in nature. It attempts to explore the
expressions of environment in literary texts and theoretical discourses. It is
also a study of language through which literature is expressed.
Indian Authors
Indian Writing
writers showed a great concern towards nature and natural objects. They remain
very conscious about nature and depicted nature very well. Authors like Amitav
Ghosh, R.K. Narayan, Manohar Malgonkar, Raja Rao, Kamla Markanday, and Anita
Desai have portrayed nature and its centered elements for expressing their
thoughts on the social environment. Narayan is one of the noted authors in
Indian Writing in English who created fictitious works like Malgudi in his
short stories. He is one of the most outstanding literary figure and a regional
novelist who highlight the natural village atmosphere in his work. His
imaginative world Malgudi became the backdrop of almost all his short stories.
His novel centers on Malgudi and portray through setting in his work. His noted
Works are Malgudi days, Man eater of Malgudi, The English Teacher and the
Guide.
"The Hungry
Tide" penned by Amitav Ghosh is set within the unique expanse of the
Sundarbans, a mangrove forest region, and profoundly delves into the ecological
quandaries experienced by both human and non-human inhabitants. Ghosh deftly
intertwines environmental concerns with human narratives, accentuating the
ramifications of climate change, political conflicts, and the struggle for
survival within this fragile ecosystem (25- 29). Another remarkable text worthy
of note is "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy. While
primarily renowned for exploring socio-cultural issues, this novel also plunges
into the intricacies of the human-nature relationship. Roy adeptly portrays the
consequences of industrialization on the natural panorama of Kerala, thereby
exposing the dire aftermath of unsustainable practices on both the environment
and the local communities (128- 131). The works of Mahasweta Devi also make
substantial contributions to Indian ecocriticism. Devi, celebrated for her
unwavering focus on marginalized communities, highlights the exploitation of
land and resources endured by indigenous tribes and other vulnerable groups.
Her magnum opus "Draupadi" sheds luminescence upon the devastation of
natural habitats and the erosion of traditional ecological wisdom (87-91).
Ecocriticism in
Indian literary works has attained prominence by delving into ecological
awareness and the intricate interdependencies between human beings and the
environment. Works such as "The Hungry Tide," "The God of Small
Things," and the writings of Mahasweta Devi present intellectually
stimulating narratives that underscore the environmental challenges confronting
India. The critical perspectives offered by ecofeminism, coupled with the
influence of Indian philosophical traditions, further enrich this field of
study. Ultimately, the corpus of literature focusing on ecocriticism in Indian
fiction contributes to a deeper comprehension of environmental concerns, fosters
sustainable practices, and nurtures a profound sense of responsibility toward
the natural world. The methodology employed in the examination of ecocriticism
in Indian fiction, particularly in the context of environmental consciousness
and the nature-human relationship, typically entails a fusion of literary
analysis, cultural studies, and interdisciplinary approaches. In pursuit of
these objectives, this research paper adopts an all-encompassing analysis of
various works by Indian authors that embody ecocritical concerns. A textual
analysis methodology is employed to scrutinize India's ecocritical writings. A
selection of literary works by Indian authors such as Amitav Ghosh, Arundhati
Roy, and Mahasweta Devi will be subjected to analysis utilizing an ecocritical
framework, with a specific focus on the representation of nature, ecological
themes, and the interplay between humans and the natural environment.
Comparative analysis will also be employed to elucidate the interconnections
among these Indian fiction writers.
Roy in her novel
The God of Small Things deals with the deterioration of the fictional village
and draws parallel to the moral corruption of her characters especially that of
the members of the Ipe family. Pollution of the Meenachal River is used as a
motif to depict the ecological abuse and the gender and caste discrimination of
Ammu and Velutha. This parallel is also drawn in the character of Baby
Kochamma. She is depicted as a strict disciplinarian especially with respect to
the enforcement of love laws and social norms. She is portrayed as an
ornamental gardener. But after her love affair with the priest ends, her garden
is in shambles and she starts living life vicariously through television.
Another prominent ecofeminist writer who has written from an ecofeminist
perspective is Indira Goswami. Like her other novels, The Blue Necked God can
also be studied from a feminine perspective. Incidents showcasing nature and
women becoming synonymous is very common throughout the novel. The height of Goswami’s
ecofeminist consciousness is evident in the treatment of the life of the
widowed Radhashyamijis in the novel. These widows of Braj are compared with
nature. The widows of Brindavan are exploited which is also suggestive of the
exploitation of nature.
The widows of
Brindavan are left to fend for themselves. This can be seen from the
perspective of exploitation by the male dominated society, in the same way in
which ecological destruction is brought about. These poor Radhjashyamjis were
forced to strip down before young men for food and shelter. This silent
suffocation by the Radhashyamjis is similar to the exploitation meted out to
nature which silently endures everything. Nature like women manifests diverse
roles such as a mother who loves and protects us. Thus Goswami portrays her
love and concern for nature through women who act as the representative of
nature. Even before the success of
India is a
nation that worships nature. Hence the worship of the sun, moon, planets, river
etc. Even in India the patriarchal society has marginalized nature and women
for the selfish fulfillment of their needs. A prominent positive movement
towards the conservation of nature was the Chipko Movement. Women who were
champions of environmental issues are Medha Patkar, Mahashweta Devi, Arundhati
Roy, and C.K Janu. There are writers like Anita Desai who use nature concerning
women characters. Other prominent works were The God of Small Things by
Arundhati Roy and Hullabaloo by Kiran Desai.
In Arundhati
Roy’s novels, writers like Kamala Markandaya and Anita Desai have voiced their
concerns about nature's degradation through the novels' characters. She deals
equally with the imbalances among the working-class women and environments he
also portrays women’s strong ties with nature and the exploitation of this
nature by patriarchal zamindars and capitalists. Hence, she portrays Rukhmani,
the protagonist Ira, and nature as oppressed beings. Rukhmani is completely
dependent on the garden where she works, reflecting her important link with
nature. This is evident when she says When the sun shines on you and the fields
are green and beautiful to the eye and your Husband sees beauty in you which no
one has seen before and you have a good store of grain laid away for hard times
a roof over you and a sweet string in your body, what more can a woman ask for.
Mountain Fire on the Mountains by Anita Desai is a good example of an
ecocritical novel dealing with the problem of animal slaughter, population
increase, and moral degeneration of man all of which pose a threat to the
environment and are symbolized by periodic fire in the forest. Nature, as a
motif in all popular forms of culture, is unavoidable sometime down the road.
Nature has been exalted and revered at times, but it has also been ignored.
Literature abounds with works that depict the natural environment, such as
mountains, rivers, hills, meadows, and landscapes. The most popular form of
culture, literature, has never been untouched by this essential issue of man
and his physical surroundings, human and non-human connections. Writers
methodically reflect the settings of location, atmosphere, and general mood in
their works of literature to get the desired impact. Ecocriticism began as a philosophy
with the primary goal of providing a microscopic analysis of cultural work
about its trade with nature. Only seldom
has ecocriticism been applied to Indian writing in English. Anita Desai’s work
Fire on the Mountain (1977), which received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1977,
is firmly rooted in the Kasauli environment. The tale chronicles the slow
degradation of the Kasauli Hills’ environment and its final annihilation by a
massive forest fire. Interestingly, the novel’s
characterization parallels this slow desiccation. The nature of Nanda Kaul
reflects the aridity of the Kasauli highlands. The abuse and death of Ila Das
are analogous to a forest fire inferno. The novel Fire on the Mountain by Anita
Desai deals with the dilemma of animal slaughter and man’s moral deterioration
all of which pose a threat to the environment, symbolized by frequent forest
fires. Juri Bordoloi, “Representation of Manand Nature: An Ecocritical Reading of Anita Desai’s Fire
on the Mountain” (2020) examines how nature affects humans and how the
industrial revolution and urbanization affect nature. The environmental issues
including climate change, deforestation, and global warming, and their effects
on the entire human race have developed as a topic of international
significance. “Nature Human Interface: An Ecocritical Study of Anita Desai’s
Fire on the Mountain” (2013) to explore how human developmental methods
(industrialization)pollute and destroy the environment, as well as how nature
plays a fundamental role in altering and restructuring human life. Poulami
Ganguly, “An Ecocritical Approach to Anita Desai’s Fire on the Mountain” (2017)
to study the connections between nature and people. Anita Konwar,
“Environmental Degradation in Kasauli: An Ecocritical Reading of Anita Desai’s
Fire on the Mountain” (2020) focuses on how the environmental degradation in
Kasauli is demonstrated to be caused by both natural and man-made sources. Ruchi Tomar, “Eco-Criticism: A Literary
Approach to Nature” (2021) focuses on Anita Desai’s “Fire on the Mountain,
issues like animal cruelty, human-caused environmental damage, population
growth, and moral decay in society. These issues all pose threats to the ecological
system and cause frequent forest fires.
Conclusion
As it is
reflected through the analyzed works it is mandatory to protect nature and
maintain the balance between the human and the non-human world. It is not only
the responsibility of authors who highlight these ecological in their works but
readers must take recognition of everything related to nature. It is the
primary responsibility of every single person to protect and guard the
environment. Environmental imageries have been used by many writers to express
the desires, shortcomings, and emotions of their characters.
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