Volume V Issue I January-March 2025

Name of Author : Nixson. B. & Dr. E. Anita

Title of the paper : Echoes of the Forest: Ecofeminism and Ecological Consciousness in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Forest of Enchantments

Abstract: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Forest of Enchantments has been widely examined for its feminist retelling of the Ramayana through Sita’s perspective. However, one of its most compelling yet underexplored themes is Sita’s ecological consciousness, her deep connection with nature and the forest as a space of agency, growth, and survival. This article argues that Divakaruni reconfigures the Aranya-Kanda of the Ramayana as a site of exile and an ecosystem that mirrors Sita’s resilience, autonomy, and spiritual evolution. By analysing Sita’s interactions with flora and fauna, her empathy towards the environment, and the way the forest nurtures her identity beyond patriarchal constraints, this study reveals a subtext of ecofeminism embedded within the novel. The article also situates this theme within the larger framework of Indian ecological traditions, highlighting how Divakaruni weaves mythology with contemporary environmental ethics. This paper also aims to reposition The Forest of Enchantments as a novel that not only reclaims Sita’s voice but also underscores the intrinsic relationship between women and nature in Indian mythology. By foregrounding this ecological consciousness, Divakaruni challenges dominant narratives of exile and reframes Sita’s journey as one of harmonious coexistence with the environment, offering a fresh perspective on her resilience and selfhood.

Keywords : Ecofeminism, Coexistence, Aranya-Kanda, Environmental Ethics, Indian Mythology

DOI :

Page Number : 77-80