Navigating the Quest for Identity and Environmental Resilience: Investigating the Gender Complexity in Sarah Joseph’s Gift in Green

In Indian literary consciousness, spiritual ecofeminism is both a recurring metaphor and a tangible experience. This paper examines Gift in Green by Sarah Joseph, a narrative intricately woven with themes of social discrimination based on class, caste, and gender, while foregrounding environmental degradation shaped by gender hierarchies and social intersectionality. By applying a spiritual ecofeminist framework, the paper emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between women, nature, and spirituality. The research highlights resistance to environmental degradation and the erosion of cultural identity in the novel, showing how these forces are deeply interconnected. The inhabitants of Aathi, particularly its women, maintain a profound bond with the land, which provides both sustenance and spiritual grounding. This connection is jeopardized by the encroachment of modernization and capitalist exploitation, symbolizing a broader threat to ecofeminist values. Joseph portrays resistance as multifaceted, combining physical efforts to protect the land with spiritual resilience, as the community preserves cultural practices rooted in ecological harmony. The identity politics of Aathi’s women are inseparable from their relationship with the land, challenging patriarchal and colonial forces that seek to commodify and control natural resources. This paper advocates for a holistic approach to environmental stewardship that honors both the spiritual and cultural dimensions of ecological care. By examining the intersection of gender, ecology, and spirituality, the critique positions Gift in Green as a powerful narrative championing ecofeminist ideal of interconnectedness and reverence for the Earth.

Keywords: Spiritual ecofeminism, environmental degradation, gender identity, patriarchy