https://doi.org/10.67147/literariness.v1i4.041
Manuals for Species Negotiation: Re-centering Sustainability as Lived Culture in Indian Archives
SUBHANGI PATRA
Research Scholar
Department of English and Foreign Language
Central University of Karnataka, India
Abstract: Animals have been the identifying fundamentals of human existence. The Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Panchatantra, and Jataka Tales reveal the multifaceted ways of animals serving as moral exemplars. They are invoked as spiritual symbols and ecological indicators. The representation of animals in regional folk tales, Adivasi oral narratives illustrate intricate ways in which animals are woven into the fabric of everyday life, ritual practices, and cultural identity of India tradition. The culture of oral scholarship weaves ecology and culture together to preserve indigenous knowledge and promote sustainability. The paper highlights the ecological and conservation implications of these oral traditions to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability. The argument attempts to examine the diverse roles played by animals in shaping Indian oral traditions and collective memory, by drawing on a rich array of Hindu scriptures, folk tales, and cultural narratives. The exposition strives to define collective memory as a trans-species legacy by challenging the dominant anthropocentric view of memory and history. The depiction of nonhumans attempts to refine the definition of collective memory, cultural heritage, and species politics by exploring the complex relationships between humans and animals in Indian narrative traditions. These narratives offer a rich repository of indigenous knowledge and wisdom which can inform contemporary debates on animal rights, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation.
Keywords: Animal Studies, Collective Memory, Environmental Humanities, Indian Traditional Archive
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