Description
Power for many decades was decoded with configurations of hard shells, aggressive and masculine tendencies. Who knew that its nature and maneuverings would change and can actually cultivate a new way and refinement with interface of gender and ecology?
In a subaltern societal and cultural experience of a country like India, environment/ecology became a catalyst for women to unravel and mainstream the multitudes of oppression and vertical discrimination that they are subjected to. Parallel to this gave birth to eco-centred activism which highlighted the rampant degradation of nature by mankind. Movements like Chipko Andolan, Narmada Bachao etc re located the system of power from the prism of realist structure and placed it in a softer, nurturing face of nature and ecology.
Can non-traditional units like ecology strengthen women to speak up? Can gender and environment change the perception of power in post-colonial countries like India? What significance does eco-feminism hold in movements in India? My paper will attempt to understand and analyze some of these questions through convergences gender, ecology and power.
