Women as Custodians of Ecological Knowledge: An Ecofeminist Perspective on Kavery Nambisan’s Selected Novels

Abstract

 Ecofeminism offers a critical framework for examining the interconnected relationships between the exploitation of nature and the marginalization of women. Within this framework, ecological knowledge becomes an important area of inquiry, particularly when it is preserved through everyday practices, cultural traditions, agricultural labour, and community relationships. Kavery Nambisan's fiction provides opportunities to explore the relationship between gender, environment, and social transformation in contemporary Indian society. This paper examines the representation of women as custodians of ecological knowledge in selected novels, namely The Scent of Pepper, The Hills of Angheri, and A Town Like Ours. It focuses on women's relationships with land, natural resources, traditional practices, and environmental responsibility. Drawing upon the theoretical perspectives of Vandana Shiva, Karen J. Warren, and Val Plumwood, the study investigates how ecological knowledge is connected to gendered experiences and social structures. The paper argues that women's environmental relationships can be understood not merely as expressions of care but also as forms of practical knowledge, agency, and cultural continuity. Through an ecofeminist reading, Nambisan's fiction invites reconsideration of the value of local knowledge and the need to recognize women's contributions to ecological sustainability.