Ecocritical Reflection on Modernization and Loss of Biodiversity in the Forest Beneath the Mountain by Ankush Saikia

Abstract

This paper analyses Ankush Saikia’s The Forest Beneath the Mountain (2021) through the ecocritical lens to focus on the theme of modernisation and its role in biodiversity loss. The novel is set in a detailed landscape shaped of cultural and ecological significance as Saikia reflects the forest ecosystem’s fragility and the irreversible damage caused by human infringement and critically interprets these projects which prioritize short-term economic gains at the price of long-term environmental health. Modernization projects emerge within the narrative which threatens biodiversity and destabilizes the local communities that have traditionally lived in their environment. This study examines how Saikia’s portrayal of the flora and fauna points out the inherent importance of biodiversity and underlines the embedded nature of ecological health and indigenous knowledge. The work calls for an ethical approach towards nature rooted in indigenous knowledge and practices that respect the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable. This paper argues that Saikia’s novel serves as both a caution and an appeal for environmental protection, presenting biodiversity not just as a setting but as a critical aspect of a development that balances human needs with ecothics.