Neoliberalism and Neocolonialism: A Reading of Indra Sinha's Animal's People

Based on the Bhopal industrial disaster of 1984, Indra Sinha’s Animal’s People portrays the terrifying aftermath of one of the worst industrial catastrophes and the subsequent struggle of its inhabitants. The novel captures the intense trauma and enduring loss experienced by the victims, the majority of whom continue to suffer from the physical, emotional, and socio-economic consequences even after nineteen years of the disaster. The novel also delves into the modern forms of colonialism, where powerful corporations exert control over the weaker, leading to exploitation, environmental disaster, and socio-political decay. This paper mainly highlights on the neocolonial power dynamics that play a pivotal role in creating the dystopic Bhopal, where politically fabricated toxicity is more harmful than the literal chemical toxicity caused by the disaster. Additionally, this paper also explores the corporate interests and neoliberal policies that reinforce the neocolonial power structure to create an intensified apparatus of domination and marginalization of vulnerable communities. In brief, this paper brings to the fore how Sinha aims to criticise systemic oppression of the foreign organisation and its dystopian vision of a world where hope remains elusive.