Resonating eco-legacies: unravelling colonial tapestries in Amitav Ghosh’s The Great Derangement and The Nutmeg’s Curse

In colonialism, land emerges as a bespoke possession, woven intricately into the very fabric of power structures. It epitomizes the quintessence of colonial machinations—whether exploited for its bountiful resources or subjected to the imposition of sovereign dominion over carefully delineated realms. This pursuit extends beyond the mere physical conquest and occupation of land; it encompasses a nuanced ideological metamorphosis, a cultural alchemy that integrates the land into a colonial dreamscape, superimposing settler value systems upon indigenous landscapes. A Faustian restlessness has pervaded these epochs of colonial dominance, prompting an overdue aeon of introspection. As we navigate the tumultuous currents of a climate crisis and witness the relentless erosion of our environmental heritage, a clarion call resonates—a call to confront the entrenched aggression of colonial legacies. Through this article, the author unfurls a literary tapestry, to examine the profound realms encapsulated by Amitav Ghosh’s works, The Great Derangement and The Nutmeg’s Curse. In this intellectual exploration, the researcher wields the evocative concepts of “dewilding” and “decolonizing” as interpretative lens, crafting tools that intricately carve through the textured narratives of Ghosh. Through the prism of these contrasting ideas, the author endeavours to illuminate the ecological reverberations of colonialism, painting a vivid tableau of how the tendrils of imperialism have woven their influence into the very fabric of nature. In the realm of diverse thoughts, the author weaves a narrative thread that passionately encourages a shared re-evaluation, beseeching us to redefine human connection with the land and heralding the emergence of a fresh environmental ethos.