Article Abstract index5

Ecological consciousness has emerged as a pivotal theme in contemporary English literature, reflecting growing anxieties about environmental degradation and the urgent need for sustainable living. This article examines how literary narratives articulate environmental perspectives and propose sustainable solutions, with special focus on Anuradha Roy’s novel All the Lives We Never Lived (2018). Rooted in ecocritical theory, the study explores Roy’s deployment of deep ecological principles that foreground the inherent value of non-human life and advocate harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. Roy’s narrative intertwines personal histories with ecological and political upheavals, demonstrating how environmental degradation mirrors the deterioration of human well-being. Through eco-feminist dimensions, the novel depicts women as both victims and stewards of the environment, emphasizing their role as custodians who preserve ecological balance amidst colonial and post-colonial disruptions. The text critiques excessive human interference and exploitative attitudes that deplete natural resources, aligning with Arne Naess’s deep ecology framework that promotes ecological consciousness among the human community. The article identifies sustainable solutions embedded in Roy’s fiction: recognizing the richness and diversity of life forms, utilizing nature only to satisfy vital needs, and reducing population pressure to allow non-human life to flourish. These transformative changes accentuate environmental responsibility as essential for sustainable living. Furthermore, Roy’s eco spiritual narratives reveal the emotional toll of ecological degradation, illustrating the enduring connection between personal and ecological histories. This study demonstrates that English literature, particularly Roy’s work, serves as a powerful medium for shaping environmental consciousness, urging readers to reimagine the human-environment relationship and embrace practices that ensure ecological sustainability for future generations.
Keywords: Ecological consciousness, deep ecology, eco-feminism, sustainable futures, ecocriticism, bioregionalism