NARRATIVES OF ECOLOGY AND IDENTITY: A POST-COLONIAL ECOCRITICAL EXPLORATION OF AMITAV GHOSH’S THE HUNGRY TIDE

Abstract

Amitav Ghosh's "The Hungry Tide" mingles postcolonial critique with ecological concerns. This paper delves into this connection, exploring how the novel challenges Western conservation practices and their effect on marginalized societies in the Sundarbans. By examining the accounts of Piya, a marine biologist studying the threatened Ganges dolphin, and Fokir, a villager living in a perilous relationship with the Bengal tigers, the paper revealed the limitations of a top-down, Western-centric scheme to environmental protection. It argues that Ghosh critiques the shift and marginalization of local inhabitants often associated with such conservation exertions. Furthermore, the paper examines how the novel portrays the Sundarbans as a complex ecosystem with its own agency, highlighting the interconnectedness of human and non-human worlds. Ultimately, "The Hungry Tide" promotes for a more nuanced understanding of environmental issues in postcolonial contexts, urging a collaborative lens that mixes local knowledge and respects the rights of those who call these feeble ecosystems home.