A Sensitive Portrayal of the Conflict Between Man and Nature: An Eco-Critical Reading of Na D’Souza’s Novella Dweepa

Abstract

The escalating precarity of Earth's ecological balance in recent decades constitutes a paramount global concern, impacting all nations and the very existence of humankind.   Eco-criticism investigates ecological and environmental issues through cultural, sociological, historical, and political lenses.  This paper focuses on the severe ecological damages in India, caused by rapid but lopsided economic development over the past half-century.  Through an eco-critical reading of Dweepa, a novella by Norbert D'Souza, it throws light on the profound human sufferings caused by the construction of Linganamakki Dam built on Sharavathi River in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka.  Accredited as the first displacement novel in Kannada, it poignantly portrays the devastating ramifications of dam construction leading to submerging of about two hundred villages.  The author laments the submersion of lush fields, hillocks covered by verdant vegetation and loss of rich flora and fauna as well as the traditional peaceful lives of the displaced villagers.   This paper examines the intricate relationship between humans and nature and the far reaching consequences of selfish anthropocentric exploitation of the natural sources.  Furthermore, it highlights the irreversible damage to ecosystem resulting from large scale developmental projects in the form of inundation of numerous hills and vast evergreen forests  and alteration of a river course.  It draws critical attention of the society to the detrimental impact of development on the human population and wild life of surrounding area as well.   Thousands of people were forced to relocate and struggle desperately to survive in a new hostile environment.  It seeks to find an alternate approaches to implementation of such projects which would prioritizes the well being  of the marginalised communities and protection of the environment