CFP: “Eco-poetics to Eco-practices: Interpreting Environmental Changes in South Asia”
The Journal of South Asian Exchanges invites original research papers, theoretical studies, book reviews, and review articles on “Eco-poetics to Eco-practices: Interpreting Environmental Changes in South Asia”. The journal is open to scholars, academics, and practitioners who are interested in discussing and deliberating on the path to South Asia in 2025 and the potential futures of South Asia.
Theme of the Special Issue
Ecocriticism has emerged as a significant theme in the arts and literature of South Asia, reflecting the region’s vulnerability to its effects and the urgency of environmental activism. However the ecological crisis in not independent of discourses as Gregory Bateson points out, “There is an ecology of bad ideas, just as there is an ecology of weeds”. While talking about ecology Felix Guattari in his the Three Ecologies (2000) foregrounds the relationship between the ecological crisis and emergences of various discourses when he highlights three interlinked ecologies–mental ecology, social ecology and environment ecology. The relationship between these ecologies is established and sustained through interactions between human beings and the world of nature.
In literature, authors like Amitav Ghosh, Prayaag Akbar, Janice Pariat have highlighted the impact of changes in ecology on human life and how various discourses and practices by human beings bring out changes in the environment. Ghosh’s “The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable” critiques the inadequacy of contemporary literature in addressing environmental crises and emphasizes the need for a more robust narrative that encapsulates the reality of climate change (Ghosh, 2016). Visual arts also play a critical role, with artists like Ravi Agarwal using photography to document the environmental degradation of rivers in India, portraying the stark reality of pollution and the need for conservation (Agarwal, 2010). Similarly, the folk arts of South Asia, such as the Warli paintings from Maharashtra, often depict nature’s cycles and human interactions with the environment, serving as both a cultural archive and a call to action for ecological preservation (Vatsyayan, 1992). The performing arts, including traditional dance and theatre, incorporate themes of environmental justice and climate change awareness. For instance, the dance-drama forms in Kerala, like Kathakali, have started integrating stories of ecological balance and the consequences of human actions on nature (Menon, 2015). These artistic expressions not only raise awareness but also mobilize communities towards sustainable practices, illustrating the arts’ vital role in responding to the ecological crisis. The special issue aims to explore the impact of environmental changes on the emergence of various discourses and impact of various discourses on the environment. This issue aims to cover a wide range of themes, including but not limited to:
• Climate Crisis and Ancient Indian literatures
• Literary Depictions of Environmental Degradation
• Mythological Narratives and Climate Crisis.
• Indigenous Ecological Wisdom in South Asia
• Rapid Urbanization and Industrial Pollution and Artistic Responses
• Climate Refugees and South Asian Arts and Literature
• Ecofeminism in South Asian Arts and Literature
• Ecophobia in South Asian Arts and Literature
• Environmental Satire and Irony
• Digital Media and Climate Narratives in South Asian
• Environmental Justice and Social Inequality in South Asian Arts and Literature
The Special Issue Aims to Meet the SDGs
Important Dates
Submission Deadline: 30th March 2025
Before making any submission, we strongly suggest to consult the following:
Submission Process
Send your scholarly articles to editor@saexchanges.com
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