Eco-Precarity and the Subaltern in Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide

Author(s)	Mr. Mathan M
Country	India
Abstract	This paper examines the intersection of ecological vulnerability and postcolonial marginalization in Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide. Set in the volatile Sundarbans of the Bengal delta, the novel highlights the tension between Western conservationist paradigms and the survival of indigenous populations. By employing the theoretical frameworks of postcolonial Eco criticism and subaltern studies, this paper argues that Ghosh portrays the Sundarbans not merely as an exotic backdrop, but as an active agent of “eco-precarity.” This precarity disproportionately affects the subaltern characters—specifically the local fisherfolk and refugees—who face systemic violence from both a hostile environment and a neo-colonial state apparatus that prioritizes the conservation of megafauna over human life. Ultimately, the paper demonstrates how Ghosh challenges dominant epistemologies, advocating for a synthesis of indigenous ecological knowledge and modern science.
Keywords	Climate Vulnerability, Eco-Precarity, Indigenous Knowledge, Postcolonial Eco criticism, Subaltern Studies
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 6, November-December 2026
Published On	2026-11-03

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