Damn the Water! in Kamala Markandaya's The Coffer Dams

Abstract: Kamala Markandaya's The Coffer Dams (1969), embodies water a nurturing element and a source of devastation, highlighting the conflict between industrial aspirations and environmental balance. The narrative focuses on the building of coffer dams across a river in Karnataka, where water, once held sacred, by the local communities, is transformed into a commodity to be harnessed by British engineers for technological advancements, which further becomes a life snatcher. The present paper attempts to examine the role of water in Markandaya’s The Coffer Dams. Markandaya critiques the ecological repercussions of altering water’s natural flow, resulting in environmental harm, floods and calamities. By depicting water as both a source of life and a casualty, the novel emphasizes the risks associated with uncontrolled industrial growth and calls for a reevaluation of sustainable practices and consideration for nature. The Coffer Dams delivers a deep reflection on the delicate equilibrium between advancement and environmental conservation