ECOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN MAMANG DAI'S POETRY

Abstract [English]

The intimate and intricate relationship between the indigenous communities of the Northeast and the natural world especially in the wake of modernity has often been a core concern in the poetry of almost all the North-Eastern poets, and Mamang Dai, an influential poet, novelist, and environmentalist from Arunachal Pradesh, India, is a no exception in this regard. Her lyrical, vivid and evocative portrayals of nature infuse an ecological consciousness that underscores harmony between human beings and the environment of the land. It is this ecological consciousness in Mamang Dai’s poetry that this paper intends to explore, analyzing how her work reflects a deep sense of place, cultural identity, and environmental activism. By examining her key poems, the paper argues that Dai's poetry offers an alternative ecological vision rooted in indigenous knowledge systems, spirituality, and the profound interconnectedness of all living beings. In doing so, Mamang Dai’s poetry not only contributes to the discourse of environmentalism but also challenges the anthropocentric narratives that often dominate contemporary ecological thought.