Growing with Green Literature: Inspiring Young Minds with Ruskin Bond & Manjula Padmanabhan

Swagatika Dash and Ashapurna Dash

Published in Literary Oracle — Vol.8, Issue I, May 2024

Keywords: Ecological catastrophes, tabula rasa, eco-consciousness, children’s literature, eco-literature, sustainable approach

Abstract:

The world is facing terrible ecological catastrophes at the turn of the millennium. So, it is no longer a choice but a necessity to raise ecologically responsible children, as we are passing on a fractured environment to future generations. People often observe a twofold interaction between children and nature. According to one perspective, as William Wordsworth portrays, children are full of innocence and have a special bond with nature. In contrast to this perspective, John Locke’s theory of tabula rasa contends that children lack knowledge and experience. Thus, elders are accountable for keeping them aware of their surroundings. This paper explores the importance of instilling eco-consciousness in children early on through eco-writing. It also examines how, by using stories and picture books, children can attain greater insight into the interconnectedness of their lives with their surroundings. The findings suggest that, through storytelling, children can comprehend more fully the relationships between themselves and others, as well as nature and society. For younger readers who are not yet able to grasp complex plotlines, it is also proposed that picture books can be used to develop these connections. This research delves into specific works of children’s literature by Ruskin Bond and Manjula Padmanabhan, in which they convey their exceptional affinity with nature. By recognising the importance of eco-literature, this study looks to provide a model for a more sustainable approach to living, which can potentially shape the future of humanity and the planet.

https://doi-ds.org/doilink/06.2024-44584584/LiteraryOracle/2024/V8/I1/A18