Roots of Exclusion: Examining Environmental Injustices in Balbir Madhopuri’s Against the Night and Lal Singh Dil’s Poet of the Revolution
摘要
This book chapter examines the largely unexplored realm of Environmental Casteism as depicted in the selected Punjabi Dalit autobiographies, namely Balbir Madhopuri’s Against the Night (2010) and Lal Singh Dil’s Poet of the Revolution (2012). Through a critical lens, the chapter aims to unravel the relation between caste dynamics and environmental practices, exposing how Dalits, historically marginalised in the socio-cultural hierarchy, have been systemically denied access to natural resources. Drawing upon vivid instances from Madhopuri’s and Dil’s autobiographies, the study looks at specific incidents that underscore the prevalence of Environmental Casteism. One such example is the discriminatory prohibition against Dalits planting ‘Aam’ trees, a privilege reserved solely for the higher castes. The chapter also investigates instances where Dalits were denied the right to swim in the same water bodies as their higher caste counterparts, reflecting an egregious form of environmental exclusion based on caste identity. Instances of denying Dalits the right to cultivate specific trees and restricting their access to common water sources are proofs of the entwined dynamics of caste-based discrimination and environmental injustice. The analysis employs an interdisciplinary approach to unravel the deeper implications of these instances within the broader socio-cultural context. By examining the personal narratives of Balbir Madhopuri and Lal Singh Dil, the chapter aims to contribute to an in-depth understanding of how Environmental Casteism intersects with the daily lives and struggles of Dalits.