"Embodies Streams: Nature, Gender, And The Sacred In Gita Mehta's A River Sutra"

Gita Mehta’s A River Sutra intricately weaves mythology, human relationships, and spirituality against the sacred backdrop of the Narmada River. This paper investigates the symbolic and thematic parallels between the river’s feminine essence and the complex narratives unfolding along its banks. Far from being a passive setting, the Narmada emerges as a sentient, dynamic force—a spiritual and existential thread that unifies the diverse stories. The river becomes a metaphorical embodiment of resilience, grace, and burden, echoing the lived experiences of the female characters who, like the river, are made to bear the weight of societal sins. Through an ecofeminist lens, this study critiques patriarchal structures that commodify both women and nature, revealing how cultural and spiritual narratives uphold systems of exploitation. In doing so, it situates A River Sutra within broader global ecofeminist discourses, while anchoring its insights in Indian cultural and ecological consciousness.