Enduring Spirit of Nature and Womanhood foran Individualistic Self: A Study on “A River” and “Of Mothers; Among Other Things” by A K Ramanujan

Arul Little Snita S¹, Beneson Thilagar Christadoss B²

¹Research Scholar, Reg. No. 241112702034, Department of English, St. John’s College, Palayamkottai, Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. littlesnita@gmail.com 

²Associate Professor & Research Supervisor, Department of English, St. John’s College, Palayamkottai, Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. tobeneson@gmail.com

Abstract

The growth and survival of human civilisation has always depended deeply on nature. Natural environment provides means of livelihood, namely water, food, and land. Humans’ necessities are broadened with commitment to oneself, and community building in anthropocentricism. Although the eco- consciousness is present, the course of anthropocentric activities marginalises the consciousness. The poem, “A River” by AK Ramanujan is analysed from an eco- critical perspective, centering on marginalisation of eco- consciousness in anthropocentricism. The events depicted in the poem are reflections of marginalised eco-consciousness. Eco-consciousness exists in sustainable accommodation of spiritual faith, in which community building leads to strengthen eco-consciousness. Marginalisation of eco-consciousness happens as the enduring spirit for it is faded in anthropocentric circumstances. Eco-consciousness is not always recognised with fulfillment of human necessities but prevails with reclamation of natural entity. The longer eco-consciousness is marginalised, the more the natural environment is destroyed. In due course, the spiritual faith for enduring eco-consciousness will be derailed from human consciousness. On parallel grounds, human beings will live in memories. Reality has challenging phases where the aspect of endurance is entertained. The spirit of endurance has its traces of origin from nature and womanhood. Nature acts as a metaphor in form of tapestry in womanhood. Nature reflects internal emotions in a woman. Nature acts as an interconnectedness of emotions in womanhood. Flashback technique is the liveliest form of living reality through emotions. These emotions sustain the self for enduring the present state of mind. The poem “Of Mothers; Among Other Things” is analysed from a perspective of enduring spirit. Motherhood has an enduring spirit. Nature, in its eternity, keeps alive the enduring spirit. Motherhood sows the spirit of eternal love in itself for endurance. Nature, over its cycle of season, is correlated with endurance. The paper discovers the enduring spirit existent in poems “A River” and “Of Mothers; Among Other Things” by AK Ramanujan. River, as a part of Nature, and Mother, as a phase in womanhood, signify the enduring spirit.

Keywords: Individual self, Enduring spirit, Motherhood, Nature, Spiritual faith.