CHARACTERISTICS OF ECO-FEMINISM IN GENERAL WITH A SPECIAL REFERENCE TO INDIA

Abstract

„Eco-feminism‟ is a new and under developing critical theory which studies the correlations between women and nature. It is one of the many branches of eco-criticism which studies and critically analyzes the relations between humans and nature. As „Encyclopedia Britannica‟ puts it, “„Eco-feminism‟, which is also called „ecological feminism‟, is a branch of feminism that studies the connections and relations between women and nature.” Eco-feminism depicts movements and school of thoughts that connects feminism with eco system in one or other way. Eco-feminism describes human being‟s exploitation of nature and human being‟s unnecessary interruption over ecology in the name of so called „urbanization‟, „globalization‟ and „development‟. Eco-feminism works on the belief that there is commonness between the exploitation of nature and the exploitation of women by the same phallocentric society. In the present scenario prevailing in the world, it has become essential to preserve the mother earth and the Mother Nature. Eco-feminism also puts stress upon preserving the nature. Especially the plight of the whole world due to Covid-19 is an eye opener for all of us. During this lockdown period, when most of the human activities which takes place in the name of so called „globalization‟ and „development‟ and which are dangerous for the Mother Nature are restricted; it can be observed that the Mother Nature has bloomed at its best. This observation or fact is enough to indicate how human race is exploiting and harming the Mother Nature for their selfish purposes.
If we observe from Indian perspectives, India is enormously blessed by nature and the worshipping of nature and natural elements has remained an integral part of every Indian‟s life since ancient times. In this research paper an endeavor has been made to throw light on the characteristics and emergence of eco-feminism in the context of the world in general and in the context of India in particular. The present paper will help into get acquainted with the theory, emergence and characteristics of eco-feminism.