Ecological Consciousness and Ecosophical Participation in Ki. Rajanarayanan's Pinjugal
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Abstract
Ecocriticism, as an interdisciplinary field, seeks to understand the intricate connections between humankind and the biosphere as represented in literature and other cultural artifacts. It ultimately calls for a shift from human-centric lifestyles toward ecological harmony. Rooted in textual analysis and theoretical synthesis, the present study draws on insights from ecocriticism and its allied fields – ecosophy and ecofeminism – to examine the ecological consciousness expressed in Pinjugal (1979), a Tamil children’s novella by the acclaimed writer Ki. Rajanarayanan. The analysis interprets the value of nonhuman entities—particularly the rural landscape and its life-forms—that gradually guide the young protagonist Venkatesu (a dropout schoolboy) toward active ecological participation and ultimately towards eco-wisdom. The study also explores the eco-ethics held by the characters (though marked by inherent contradictions) that demonstrate their heightened awareness of the natural world. Pinjugal is thus posed as a testament to the potential of indigenous children’s literature to instill eco-ethics and sustainable living.
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