AN ECO-CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PESSIMISTIC COLLISION OF OPIUM PASTORALISM ON PREMORDIAL ENTITIES IN SEA OF POPPIES OF AMITAV GHOSH

Abstract

"Man is a part of nature, but he has taken advantage of it for his benefit. Previously, man had been a part of nature; today, he was the exploiter of nature... Man and nature are two things, and man is the master." (White 8)

 As a result of environmental degradation and its negative influence on animals, plants, and humans, environmental studies began in 1960 and are now widely discussed in all corners of the globe. Ecocriticism is an essential topic in all fields of study, including philosophy, literature, science, and the arts. The book chosen for this article emphasizes environmental deterioration and shows human intervention, technological advancement, and conflict as causes of environmental damage. Ecological imperialism is backed by the British, who believe in anthropocentric thinking, described as the deliberate abuse and modification of nature for business purposes. In his novel, Sea of Poppies, Amitav Ghosh emphasizes how environmental degradation has occurred due to excessive exploitation of nature by the British, who profit from the illegal cultivation of opium. Economic, social, physical, political, and environmental changes occurred among the aboriginal inhabitants throughout imperial control, resulting in changes in their traditional occupation and habitat. Under British rule, wheat, beans, and other food supplies were utilised for opium cultivation. It swept through large regions of India, causing crop cycles to be disrupted. This hurts natural land use and life. In Sea of Poppies, a study has been proposed to sketch the crash of imperialism on both the people and the atmosphere, looking at the negative consequences of imperialism on indigenous people, flora, and wildlife. In addition, the nexus of ecocriticism and postcolonial theory in Sea of Poppies is addressed, with a focus on Huggan and Tiffin's theoretical frameworks to emphasize that colonialism in India not only impoverished the original people but also adversely devastated the ecology.