Navigating the Ecosphere: Ecological Awareness in Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide and Gun Island

Abstract

The study focuses on eco-awareness in Amitav Ghosh's novels The Hungry Tide and Gun Island and its significance in eco-literature. Using rich storytelling and the relationships of myth, history and science, Ghosh tackles environmental challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity and human-nature conflict. Focusing on the Sundarbans in The Hungry Tide, the paper explores its configuration of ecological fragility and environmental cohabitation, and goes on to discuss how this is globalised in Gun Island, calling structured attention to the connections between environmental crises and human migrations.  Utilizing ecocritical paradigms that range from postcolonial ecocriticism to the Anthropocene discourse, this study scrutinizes Ghosh's war against anthropocentrism and his plea for a reconciliation with nature. The folktale elements, animism, and environmental realities present in these narratives speak to literature's power to cultivate a sense of ecological empathy and resilience. The paper further argues for the continued significance of Ghosh's work in modern day ecological discourse, arguing for literature as a means to encourage sustainable living and broadened environmental policy. The study highlights eco-literature’s ability to promote change, which, as the author explains, makes it an effective tool to bridge the gap in the way that humans view their responsibility to care for the planet. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of narrative in shaping environmental consciousness and promoting responsible stewardship of the Earth. This study also shows the significance of incorporating different perspectives, including marginalized voices and indigenous knowledge, into environmental discourse.