Interweaving Personal and Ecological Histories: Eco-Feminism, Environmental Concerns, and the Impact of Political Upheavals in Anuradha Roy’s All the Lives We Never Lived

Abstract

Anuradha Roy’s All the Lives We Never Lived (2018) seamlessly intertwines personal histories with larger environmental and political upheavals, providing a rich canvas for exploring the eco-feminist dimensions of the narrative. This article delves into the intersections of gender, nature, and politics within the novel, where personal and ecological histories are tightly linked. The characters, particularly women, are depicted as both victims and stewards of the environment amidst colonial and post-colonial upheavals. Through an eco-feminist lens, this research investigates how political and ecological disruptions shape the characters’ lives and identities. Roy’s work highlights the enduring connection between human and environmental well-being, illustrating how the degradation of one reflects the deterioration of the other. A literature review of eco-feminist thought is integrated to provide a theoretical framework, while the narrative is examined in the context of historical political movements and ecological degradation. Roy’s novel encourages readers to rethink the human-environment relationship by demonstrating how women, as carriers of personal and cultural histories, also serve as custodians of the environment.