DefinePK hosts the largest index of Pakistani journals, research articles, news headlines, and videos. It also offers chapter-level book search.
Title: Environmental Degradation in Manian’s The Coloured Curtain: An Ecocritical Study
Authors: Muhammad Afzal, Kaneez Fatima Syeda
Journal: Pakistan Research Journal of Social Sciences (PRJSS)
Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Research and Development SMC pvt ltd
Country: Pakistan
Year: 2024
Volume: 3
Issue: 2
Language: English
Keywords: UrbanizationIndustrializationEcocriticismManianThe Coloured CurtainEnvironmental crisisAnthropocentric ideology
Environment, which is a basic necessity of life, is in state of decline in the fast changing society. Environmental crisis has become a hot topic of discussion and debate in the literary field since the birth of Ecocriticism (Literary Theory) in the English speaking world. It has become a ubiquitous issue globally. The writers from non-English speaking world, too, touch upon environmental issues. Hence, the present study aims to examine and assess the treatment of environmental crisis in Manian’s English translated novel, Chayathirai (The Coloured Curtain), employing Ecocriticism as a theoretical framework. The study employs qualitative research methodology: relevant data is taken from the selected text, and is examined and interpreted in the light of Ecocritical theory. Ecocriticism is a theoretical tool to analyze a literary text with a view to exploring man-environment interaction, environmental degradation, and propagating eco-awareness.  The findings of the study reveal that environmental crisis is one of the most alarming issues around the globe, and man is one and only factor behind environment crisis. Dominated by anthropocentric ideology and appetite for economic progress, man blindly overuses natural resources resulting in environmental crisis. Projects in the name of development, by overusing the natural resources, jeopardize environmental sustainability. Urbanization, commercialization, and industrialization are the forces behind environmental collapse, as depicted in the novel, The Coloured Curtain. Future researchers will surely benefit from the present research, when conducting research on environmental crisis. On the basis of the findings of the present study, it can be recommended that similar research could be conducted on other genres of literature of any language. 
To examine and assess the treatment of environmental crisis in Manian's English translated novel, The Coloured Curtain, employing Ecocriticism as a theoretical framework.
Qualitative research methodology involving a close reading of the text to identify and interpret instances of environmental themes, using Ecocriticism as the theoretical framework.
graph TD;
A["Identify Novel and Theoretical Framework"] --> B["Select Text: The Coloured Curtain"];
B --> C["Apply Ecocriticism as Theoretical Lens"];
C --> D["Conduct Close Reading of the Text"];
D --> E["Analyze Environmental Themes and Issues"];
E --> F["Interpret Findings in Light of Ecocriticism"];
F --> G["Formulate Conclusions and Recommendations"];
The study argues that environmental crisis is a significant global issue driven by human activities, particularly industrialization. Ecocriticism provides a valuable lens to analyze how literature reflects and critiques the man-environment interaction and its detrimental consequences. The novel "The Coloured Curtain" serves as a powerful illustration of these issues, focusing on water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, water scarcity, soil erosion, and the destruction of the natural environment in the town of Tirupur due to the textile industry.
Man's anthropocentric ideology and pursuit of economic progress lead to the overuse of natural resources, resulting in environmental degradation. Urbanization, commercialization, and industrialization are identified as primary drivers of environmental collapse, as depicted in the novel.
Manian's "The Coloured Curtain" effectively portrays the severe environmental degradation caused by industrial pollution, impacting both humans and the natural world. The novel serves as a critique of the anthropocentric approach and the neglect of environmental preservation, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable practices and eco-awareness.
- The novel "The Coloured Curtain" is an English translation of Subrabharathi Manian's Tamil novel "Chayathirai" by P. Raja.
- The study identifies the textile industry in Tirupur as a major source of water pollution in the novel, contaminating the river Noiel.
- Ecocriticism as a literary theory originated in the USA in the late 1980s and in the UK in the early 1990s.
Loading PDF...
Loading Statistics...