Ecology of the margins: Human and non-human entanglements in Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide

The research paper explores Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide through the lens of ecocriticism, emphasizing the intricate interconnections between human and non-human entities in the fragile ecosystem of the Sundarbans. The novel foregrounds the complexities of life at the margins geographical, cultural, and ecological by weaving together the stories of displaced communities, endangered species, and an ever-changing landscape. Ghosh’s narrative resists anthropocentric representations and instead presents nature not as a passive backdrop but as an active participant in shaping human destiny. The Sundarbans, with its tidal rivers, mangrove forests, and elusive tigers, is portrayed as a space where survival demands negotiation between the natural and human worlds. The novel critiques the dichotomy between progress and preservation by juxtaposing the scientific and spiritual approaches to environmental understanding epitomized in the characters of Piyali, the marine biologist, and Fokir, the illiterate fisherman. Their evolving relationship serves as a metaphor for cross-species empathy and the importance of local ecological knowledge. Ghosh’s novel challenges readers to reconceptualize the environment as a living, dynamic force that must be engaged with ethically and responsibly. By examining themes of displacement, environmental justice, and the representation of non-human agency, the paper argues that The Hungry Tide offers a model for postcolonial ecological thought. It underscores the need to recognize the voices of both marginalized humans and non-human entities in ecological discourse.