Dualism of Ecofeminism and Anthropocentricism in Mahashweta Devi’s Draupadi

Abstract

Aims: The present paper attempts to explore the short story Draupadi written by Mahashweta Devi   from the perspective of ecofeminism. Ecofeminism is the way which finds the interconnection between exploitation and degradation of the natural world and the subordination and oppression of women. Feminism has always been considered as one of the movements like any other movement it gets a place in literature with all other theories it has come down to us gradually but the marginalized section of society is still fighting the same battle of repression and suppression the same mental and physical humiliation and the same trauma of being born as a woman.

Methodology and Approaches:  The present paper explores that self-interested, ego centric human action to save nature are distorted. Such action only aggravates the situation of nature and women. Anthropocentric ideas placing humans at the center as an authority are responsible for the degradation of nature these ideas have been so deeply rooted in the human culture that the humans consider everything found in the nature as property. The method and approach to explain the duality of ecofeminism and anthropocentricism is analytical and comparative.

Outcome: The paper offers what Eco feminist argues that privileging self over other also causes the rise of capitalism, feudalism, and colonialist practices. It also focusses that anthropocentricism is responsible for the exploitation of female and destruction of nature.

Conclusion and Suggestion: In the present story landlord took nature as their own property and has taken water into his control. Even the government (patron of human as well as nature) uses all forces available to them including kidnapping, murder, and rape. In today’s social structure disparities are deeply gendered. These all things proves that anthropocentric attitude should be changed as it will not only destruct the nature but also ruin the whole humanity. Ambivalence is what underlies relationship between women and nature.