Landscapes and Lives: Environmental Dispatches on Rural India

This book is a collection of field reports on the unfolding of environmental concerns in rural India during recent years. It portrays the complexity of issues and responses that are included under the umbrella of green politics. The book examines issues relating to marginal ecologies such as diara, khadar and ravines, which have been witness to gross misuse of natural resources, and whose concerns have so far not received much attention from mainstream media. It covers almost all the ecological belts and marginal groups who survive in India’s natural diversity, including hunter-gatherers, fisherfolk and labourers. The author tackles the question of resource-use and conflicts, which is not only one of confrontation between domestic society and the state, but also shapes relations among neighbouring countries in South Asia. With lucid reportage and a narrative style that is both non-pedantic as well as based on a deep understanding of the issues, this volume breaks fresh grounds. It is a significant contribution towards securing a life of material dignity for the people, while enhancing environmental quality. The book is recommended reading for courses in ecology, sociology and politics. It is important for academicians, policy-makers, researchers, NGOs, and social and environmental activists.