Reconnoitering Amitav Ghosh’s <i>The Living Mountain</i> for a Symbiocene Ethos: A Feminist Bioethical Critique

Amitav Ghosh’s narrative of “Mahaparbat” in his fictional work The Living Mountain: A Fable of Our Times is a moving chronicle of the Anthropocene. In addition, the nub of the fable is an invocation to look beyond the Anthropocene and acknowledge and embrace the Symbiocene. This article draws on the notions of feminist bioethics—embodiment, care, vulnerability, and dependence—to show the deep ancient and congenial association humans enjoyed with nature and how nature was an integral part of human prayers, celebrations for expressing gratitude, and other rituals. The narrative reinforces the urgency of responsible human–nature interaction for the symbiotic and harmonious relationship with nature and advancing toward climate justice by adopting a non-dualist approach reflected by many Indigenous communities.