Ecocriticism at the Crossroads in India with special reference to Gita Mehta’s A River Sutra

Gita Mehta has written fiction and non-fiction, juxtaposing both tradition and modernity, fact and fiction, East and West, that often expose the reality as she synthesizes the roots of Indian culture, tradition and peoples’ aspirations of contemporary India through the thesis and antithesis of various dimensions of Indian Socio-cultural Paradigm. The present paper endeavours to look into India’s social and cultural values and its dilution or deterioration in modern time. It critiques patriarchal structures that devalue both, arguing for an integrated approach to justice that respects ecological balance and gender equity. In the Indian context, ecology takes a unique dimension due to the country's deep spiritual ties to nature, colonial histories, and persistent gender inequalities. Gita Mehta’s A River Sutra provides fertile ground for exploring these intersections. This paper explores how it functions as a narrative space where Ecocritical analysis converges. It identifies how the novel reflects and critiques the contradictions inherent in contemporary Indian society. It also depicts the tension between ecological preservation and economic development, the marginalization of women and nature with the dissonance between ancient spiritual traditions and modern material aspirations. Ultimately, it serves as a powerful literary expression of ecocriticism at a cultural and spiritual crossroads.