Authors: Dr L Sangeetha
Abstract: This study investigates the dynamic and evolving relationship between literature and the environment through the interdisciplinary lens of ecocriticism and environmental humanities. In the context of accelerating climate change and ecological degradation, literary texts have emerged as vital cultural sites for articulating environmental concerns and reimagining human–nature relationships. Focusing on contemporary postcolonial literature, this article examines how narratives engage with the material and psychological realities of the Anthropocene, particularly through representations of eco-anxiety, climate crisis, and environmental loss. The study foregrounds the interconnected issues of environmental justice, eco-trauma, and displacement, emphasizing how ecological degradation disproportionately affects marginalized and Indigenous communities. These narratives not only document environmental suffering but also reveal the socio-political structures that perpetuate inequality and ecological exploitation. By analyzing representations of land, water, and ecological memory, the article demonstrates how literature encodes experiences of dispossession, cultural erasure, and resistance. Furthermore, the research highlights the significance of Indigenous ecological knowledge systems, which offer alternative frameworks for understanding sustainability, interdependence, and coexistence. In contrast to dominant Western anthropocentric paradigms, these perspectives challenge exploitative models of development and propose more ethical and sustainable modes of living with the environment. Through a combination of theoretical inquiry and textual analysis, this study argues that literature plays a transformative role in shaping ecological consciousness and fostering ethical engagement with environmental crises. It positions literary narratives as powerful tools for both critique and imagination, capable of addressing the complexities of the Anthropocene while envisioning more just and sustainable futures. Ultimately, this research contributes to the expanding field of environmental humanities by underscoring the critical role of storytelling in confronting global ecological challenges.
