Environmental History and Postcolonial Memory in Amitav Ghosh’s Novels
Keywords:
Environmental history, Postcolonial memory, Ecocriticism, Colonialism and ecology, Narraztive and environmentAbstract
This paper examines the intersection of environmental history and postcolonial memory in the novels of Amitav Ghosh, focusing on how literary narratives recover ecological pasts shaped by colonialism, displacement, and exploitation. It argues that Ghosh’s fiction functions as an alternative historical archive in which landscapes, rivers, forests, and oceans retain memories of imperial violence and environmental transformation. By foregrounding marginalised communities, oral histories, and non-human agencies, Ghosh challenges linear, anthropocentric historiography and exposes the ecological consequences of colonial modernity. His narrative strategies—fragmented temporality, polyphonic voices, and transnational settings—enable a reimagining of history that links environmental degradation with cultural amnesia and historical injustice. The study situates Ghosh’s work within postcolonial ecocriticism and environmental humanities, demonstrating that contemporary ecological crises cannot be understood without acknowledging their historical roots in empire and capitalism.
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