Posthumanist Critique of Anthropocentrism in Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide and A. K. Ramanujan’s “A Flowering Tree: A Woman’s Tale”

Posthumanism has emerged as a crucial conceptual framework in the field of literature. While the future remains uncertain, humanity's innate curiosity about its relationship with nature, animals and non-living entities has always been a core topic of discussion. The ethical principles put forth by posthumanism are significant in today’s rapidly evolving world, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all beings, whether or not people acknowledge this bond. The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh uses the theory of posthumanism to critique anthropocentrism and explores ecological criticism by giving power to the marginalized category of non-humans. “A Flowering Tree: A Woman’s Tale” by A. K. Ramanuja is a short story that smoothly blends folktale with the concept of identity and anthropomorphic transformation. The story establishes the link between femininity and ecology. This paper aims to explore the concepts of posthumanism, anthropocentrism and ecological criticism, examining how these ideas manifest in contemporary works of Indian English Literature.