ECOLOGICAL CONCERN
IN THE NOVELS OF ARUP KUMAR DUTTA
Prose writing in English from
India’s North-East is a powerful genre. Identity is the main theme of the
novelists of this region. They have been also dealing with the ‘Ecology’ of
this region. An Ecological concern is Inherent in most of their writings.
Arup Kumar Dutta is one of the
best known writers of this region. One of Dutta’s main aim of writing is to
create an Ecological awareness, in his young readers. Through his short stories he has tried to
convey the importance of the Interrelationship between human, nature and
animals. His books cover a wide range of subjects that Include poaching,
elephant-trapping, cave-exploration, Mountain-climbing and drug-trafficking. He
also acquaints the readers with the life and different cultures of his region.
His Juvenile fiction takes us to
the Kaziranga sanctuary. His first work of Fiction a conservation oriented
novel titled, “The Kaziranga Trail”, considered as one of the classics In
Indian children’s Literature. It focuses on environmental Issues and conservation
of wild-life, the Kaziranga plain, it’s flora and fauna were mentioned vividly
by the author. Through his
thought-provoking book, ‘The Brahmaputra’ the reader comes to know about the
profile river Brahmaputra and the society which evolved on its banks, and the
highlights of civilization it attained.
Dutta introduces the element of
Realism to describe the relationship between individual and the society. He
constructs the plots that reflect the social or personal events and Issues of
contemporary life. They are portrayed from the people of his observation.
Through his characters he wants to tell the life-style of the people, their
Intimacy with the nature, their sympathy towards animals. His ecological Ideas
depict the Inner self of the character.
Dutta’s Involvement with nature
and wild life can be seen throughout his writings. His characters describe the
humanity’s Failure to the environmental damage and act to prevent it. He gives
a strong message that our Irresponsible actions cause irreparable damage to the
Nature.
ELIZABETH KRAPA
Research Scholar,
Dept. of English, Sri Padmavati Mahila University,
Tirupati.
Andhra Pradesh.
