Eco-poetry is an emerging field of this postmodern world. We find that the poetry was taken as a piece of romantic enjoyment but the recent trends in research have changed its place in the literary canon and the new Eco-poetic genre is being created to make an academic atmosphere for the safeguard of the environment. In 1962 William Carson in his study Silent Spring wrote that the pesticides that American's use has a negative effect on the species as well as on human body. Carson's argument gave world a new eco consciousness and they made efforts to preserve the ecosystem. Human beings were in great slumber and they were not knowing which color there is of and it was with the maiden discovery of Apollo 11 which not only made its maiden landing on the moon but it kept human consciousness in zeal when it took the photographs of the earth and these photographs made us realize that the globe we are living in is green and has a variety of life and rest are lifeless objects.
Worldwide conferences are being held to have an environmental consciousness and millions of dollars are being spent in this or that way to bring the planet in its original shape but unfortunately we say a lot and do less. Therefore to give safeguard to this globe it is our prime duty to make ECO FRONTS from all sides including academic one so that globe could sustain its greenery in balance, as we know that this globe is full of colors and the poets have sung about these colorful aspects not to romanticize the things but to give an ecological consciousness. The present study is an eco-poetic dialogue based on Indian poetry from Tagore to present and this study has tried to highlight how poetry could be helpful to save the world and its colorful species from extinction. Thus the eco-poetic study has tried to reveal many truths about Indian ecology as how Indian poets whether here or in Diaspora see the present Indian ecology. India a growing economy on all fronts is going through a huge developmental changes.
The Word Ecocriticism though belongs to white race but has similar apprehension for the entire globe and the word was used by William Rueckert in Literature and Ecology: An Experiment in Ecocriticism in 1978 to highlight the ecological problems depicted through literature. Thus present study has tried to highlight some of the ecological problems which India is facing at present and to show all these problems effort has been made to show an eco-historical perspective.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Objectives & Themes
The work explores the critical intersection of ecocriticism and Indian poetry, examining how poets from the era of Rabindranath Tagore to the present have responded to environmental degradation. It aims to highlight the evolving ecological consciousness in Indian literature, analyzing how modern industrialization, capitalism, and environmental crises are reflected in poetic discourse, while also advocating for a more biocentric world-view.
- The role of ecocriticism as an analytical tool for Indian literature.
- The shift from traditional, nature-integrated societies to modern, consumer-driven urban landscapes.
- The impact of industrial development on Indian ecological history and biodiversity.
- The representation of natural elements and environmental threats in Indian English poetry.
- The necessity of fostering ethical and ecological awareness to ensure a sustainable future.
Excerpt from the book
Introduction
Nature has its own shape and value which we humans are not in a position to understand, so to be with or to read about green planet, nature and other natural creatures is something different which these postmodern industrial comforts hardly teach. Nature has a unique inspiration and that is why dwellers of the earth from past have been praising this natural phenomenon. To write about natural phenomenon is something different because it the thing which sustains us and if the natural phenomenon would not have been created by God it would have been difficult to have pleasing planet like earth. From last few decades there has been a regular deterioration and the things which hold this biosphere are vanishing at the alarming rate.
Our actions make our present, past and future. The way we live presently denotes that the world is going to extinct very soon as the good goes worse. So, to correct the worse we should maintain the ecological balance on this green planet. Indeed man i s i n n e e d t o h a v e development in every sense, b e c a us e he i s i n s p i r e d b y t h e p r e s e nt di s c o v e r i e s . He is a man of new thinking, new knowledge. He is in search of a second home to settle his progeny there and that is why he in a quick process is losing the hold of the planet. We should know that even a small insect has its significance in the ecological chain, if we lost one, we will lose the whole chain.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the essential role of ecocriticism in interpreting the ecological crisis within Indian literature, contrasting traditional, nature-conscious perspectives with the destructive effects of modern industrial capitalism.
Keywords
Ecocriticism, Indian Poetry, Environmental Degradation, Nature, Capitalism, Industrialization, Ecological Consciousness, Biocentric, Sustainability, Biodiversity, Anthropocentrism, Literary Science, Environmental History, Bio-colonization, Eco-aesthetics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work provides an ecocritical analysis of Indian poetry, examining the representation of the natural world and environmental issues from the era of Rabindranath Tagore to the contemporary period.
What are the key thematic fields covered in the book?
The book covers literary criticism, environmental history, the impact of rapid modernization and industrialization, the role of folklore in ecological conservation, and the philosophy of human-nature relationships.
What is the central research question?
The study explores how Indian poets have celebrated and mourned the natural world and seeks to determine what form of ecological consciousness is necessary to achieve a sustainable and balanced biosphere in the modern era.
Which scientific and critical methods are employed?
The author applies the framework of ecocriticism to perform a literary-cultural analysis, linking historical, religious, and political perspectives with the interpretation of literary texts through an "eco-lens."
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the evolution of the man-nature relationship in India, the impact of the Green Revolution, the role of specific poets like Rabindranath Tagore, Nissim Ezekiel, and Shiv K. Kumar, and the influence of environmental movements on literary themes.
What are the essential characteristics of the work?
The work is defined by its multidisciplinary approach, blending literary studies with environmental advocacy, a critique of anthropocentricism, and a focus on the specific ecological challenges facing the Indian subcontinent.
How does the author define the term "Eiffel Builders"?
The author uses this term to categorize large-scale developers and builders who prioritize grand industrial structures over ecological health, often ignoring the long-term environmental consequences of their actions.
What significance is attributed to the river Ganga in the analysis?
The Ganga is presented as a symbol of both spiritual sacredness and modern environmental collapse, highlighting how human pollution and industrial waste have transformed a lifeline into a hazardous waterway.
What is the significance of the "integrative oikos" concept?
The author uses this concept to describe the necessary process of understanding and protecting the distant, non-human habitat, which is crucial for maintaining overall human existence and ecological balance.
How is the "Green Revolution" viewed in the context of Indian ecology?
The author views the Green Revolution critically, arguing that its techno-political strategy led to severe environmental degradation, soil poisoning, and a breakdown of traditional ecological ethics in regions like Punjab.
- Quote paper
- Naseer Khan (Author), 2014, Ecocriticism. A New Response to Indian Poetry from Tagore to Present, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/283816
