Abstract
The study proposes an
ecocritical framework that reinterprets classical Sanskrit literature beyond
its conventional aesthetic understanding. Rather than approaching nature as
decorative imagery alone, the study interprets ecological space as a dynamic
cultural and ethical presence embedded within narrative structure, emotional
experience, and environmental consciousness. This interpretive shift allows
Abhijnanasakuntalam to be read not simply as a classical dramatic text but as
an early literary articulation of ecological relationality and coexistence. One
of the major gaps this study addresses is the insufficient dialogue between
Sanskrit literary studies and recent debates within environmental humanities.
Despite the growing importance of ecological criticism, classical Sanskrit
literature has rarely been examined through contemporary environmental
frameworks. Existing interpretations often privilege poetics, rasa, and
mythology while paying comparatively less attention to ecological meaning,
environmental ethics, and human–nature interdependence. By bringing ecocritical
theory into conversation with classical Indian literary traditions, the paper
opens a more interdisciplinary and culturally grounded mode of environmental
interpretation.
Methodologically, the study
adopts a qualitative and interpretive approach rooted in close textual
analysis, contextual reading, and conceptual engagement with ecocritical
scholarship. The argument unfolds through environmental imagery, symbolic
landscapes, seasonal movement, and spatial imagination instead of relying upon
externally imposed theoretical rigidity. Such an approach becomes particularly
important because ecological meaning in classical literature frequently appears
through suggestion, atmosphere, and symbolic continuity instead of direct environmental
assertion. The paper argues that Kalidasa’s literary imagination reflects
ecological concerns that remain relevant within contemporary environmental
thought. Although rooted in a classical framework, Abhijnanasakuntalam presents
nature as an active ethical and cultural presence shaping human experience and
moral understanding. By connecting Sanskrit literature with ecocritical and
environmental humanities discourse, the study highlights the continuing
relevance of Indian literary traditions in present discussions on ecology,
sustainability, and environmental ethics.