The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri, meaning benevolent mountains, stretches along the western coast of the Indian peninsula, spanning six States: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Known as one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, the Western Ghats were once celebrated for their breathtaking natural beauty — cascading waterfalls, lush greenery, and a dazzling array of flora and fauna. Today, however, this idyllic landscape faces a stark transformation. Climate change, deforestation, the decline of traditional livelihoods, land encroachment, and the displacement of tribal communities have left the region in peril.
For years, writers in various regional languages have sought to capture and preserve the narrative of these alarming changes, believing in the transformative power of words. What was once a symphony of chirping birds is now being gradually replaced by the relentless roar of heavy machinery in many places.
The novella, Chronicle of an Hour and a Half, by Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari, which was shortlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature 2024, explores powerful themes such as the effects of rumours, mob mentality, social media — and nature, especially, relentless rain — hinting that something ominous awaits. Set against a fictional village in the foothills of the Western Ghats, the novella, which begins as a harmless exchange between two individuals, spirals into chaos through social media. Within an hour, the community descends into mass hysteria. In the background, nature reflects the emotions of the community, mirroring the escalating tension and chaos.
The inter-personal relationship between humans and nature is poignantly highlighted in Kuvempu’s Malegalalli Madumagalu (1967), translated by Vanamala Viswanatha as Bride of the Hills (2024). Set in the Malnad region in the Western Ghats, where people are closely tied to the land, relying on its fertile soil, forests, and rivers for their livelihood, nature is revered not only for its practical role in sustenance but also for its spiritual significance, with rituals and local deities tied to agricultural cycles. Yet the novel reflects the growing tension between traditional harmony with nature and the pressures of modernisation and exploitation.
An exploitative cycle
Development, coupled with human greed, makes the lives of tribal communities difficult. In Kocharethi: The Araya Woman written by Narayan in Malayalam, which won the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award in 1998 and was translated into English by Catherine Thankamma in 2011, the theme of exploitation and marginalisation is vividly portrayed through the struggles of the Adivasi community. As industrial development, moneylenders, and land grabbers encroach on their ancestral territories, people are pushed into deeper poverty and displacement. The novel focuses on how outside forces often exploit the land’s natural resources, disregarding the community’s cultural and spiritual connection to it.
In Ringaan, written in Marathi by Krushnat Khot, who won the Sahitya Academy Award in Marathi in 2023, and translated into English by Maya Pandit, the protagonist, uprooted from his village, returns home to rescue a buffalo. He reminisces about his childhood and the harmonious life he once lived. The book highlights important aspects of migration, struggles of displaced victims when large-scale development projects are carried out, and the persistent man-animal conflict.
Loss of traditional occupations
Rampant quarrying, deforestation, illegal mining, and poorly planned construction projects have destabilised the fragile ecosystem. Through meticulous reporting, accounts from affected individuals, interviews, and a critical examination of policies, B. Viju’s Flood and Fury: Ecological Devastation in the Western Ghats (2019) connects these activities to increased occurrences of landslides, floods, and soil erosion. The book delves into the historical and cultural significance of the Western Ghats while critiquing the apathy of governments, corporations, and society toward environmental conservation.
The Nilgiri Hills — A Kaleidoscope of People, Culture and Nature (2023) by Paul Hockings brings together stories and articles from writers, scholars, such as ecologists, filmmakers, local writers, etc to highlight various aspects of the Western Ghats. The book sheds light on several topics such as ancient metallurgy, music, the making of honey, and the degradation of the ecosystem.
Resistance and resilience
When livelihood, land, culture, and identity are at stake, resistance, and resilience are the only means of safeguarding them. In Valli, written by Sheela Tomy in Malayalam in 2019 and translated into English in 2022 by Jayashree Kalathil, we learn of a tribal community’s deep connection to the forest, which sustains them both physically and spiritually. As outsiders encroach upon their land, Valli’s family and others in the community resist, clinging to their heritage and traditions. At the same time, Valli grapples with her personal growth, relationships, and changing social dynamics. The novel highlights the strength and perseverance of the Adivasi people as they navigate the complexities of modern life while fighting to preserve their heritage and connection to the land.
Through old and contemporary works on the Western Ghats, authors have stressed that the Ghats are more than just a landscape — they are a living archive of culture, memory, and resilience. Yet, this fragile ecosystem is scarred by encroachment, where tribal people are uprooted, natural resources are destroyed, and policies fail to protect what matters most. To save the Ghats is to do more than preserve their beauty; it is to respect the land and the lives entwined with it, to stand against their erasure, and to recognise that in their survival lies something far greater than us.
Published – February 06, 2025 08:30 am IST