38th Annual Student Research Conference
Environmental Conservation versus the Destitute: The Ethical Dilemma in Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide
Lauren E. Munns
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Focusing on the Sundarbans, a vast mangrove forest and saltwater swamp in West Bengal, India, The Hungry Tide (2004) illuminates the story of the lower caste and Untouchable refugees who fell victim to the 1979 Morichjhapi Massacre. Nirmal, an advocate for the refugees, documents the events of the Massacre in his notebook which his nephew reads two decades later. The inclusion of this notebook acts as a device that brings to light the first-hand experiences of those who witnessed the Massacre. This paper examines the ways in which Ghosh creates an ambiguous space, juxtaposing social justice with environmental protectionism.
Keywords: Amitav Ghosh, The Hungry Tide, Sundarbans, Morichjhapi Massacre, Social Justice, Environmentalism, Refugees, Conservation
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 204-1
Location: SUB Georgian A
Time: 10:15