Colonial Imposition and Ecological Menace in Fire on the Mountain and The Living Mountain

Abstract

This paper critically explores and analyses anthropocentric hubris and ecological destruction in Anita Desai’s Fire on the Mountain (1997) and Amitav Ghosh’s The Living Mountain (2022) by applying ecocritical perspective in general and environmental apocalypticism in particular. To do so, I have applied environmental apocalyptic insights envisioned by Lyn White Jr. in “Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis” Lawrence Buell’s “Environmental Apocalypticism’ and Val Plumwood’s “Blind Spots of Centrism and Human Self-enclosure” as theoretical parameters to analyse the primary texts under scrutiny in this paper. By foregrounding the concept of ecological vulnerability, the study argues that the mountains in these works are not merely physical landscapes but also represent the cultural and environmental consequences of colonialism. Ultimately, this comparative study demonstrates that both Desai and Ghosh use mountains not only as powerful critiques of the lasting impact of colonialism on both nature and society but also advocate for a deeper understanding of ecological sustainability. It further contributes to the discourse on environmental literature by emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to ecological issues that considers historical injustices and the voices of marginalized communities.