Romantic Sublime in Kalidas’s Works: An Ecocritical Approach to the Study of ‘Abhijnanashakuntalam’

Abstract

    Kalidas’s plays are replete with descriptive details of flora and fauna and vivid pictures of naturedrawn from diverse sources and rich imagery. His works particularly “Ritusambharam’’, “Meghdutam’’ and ‘’Abhijnanashakuntalam’’ also show a symbiotic relationship between man and nature. Though there are many works on his plays and epicscritiquingnature,its grandeur and other related aspects. This paper attempts to critique the Ecocritical concept of Romantic sublime in “Abhijnanashakuntalam “. This paper examines the ecosystem presented in this play by Kalidas, which endorses the emotional experiences of the wonder of nature. It also critiques the text with reference to Lee Rozelle’s  concept of ‘ ecosublime’ which suggests that sublime encounter with nature inspires awe which further invites ecological catastrophe as well as environmental responsibility. This paper further discusses the profundity of thought, emotion and spirit represented by spectacular landscapes, characters and living and non-living objects in the forest. It further interrogates the ecocentric setting of the play which extends an egalitarian perspective with respect to all elements of nature and acknowledges the intrinsic value of all living beings. The paper concludes that ‘Abhjjnashakuntalam’ presents the ecocritical perspective of society, culture and gender,which highlight nature and evoke emotional experiences with awe and wonder in postmodern world faced with danger of environmental catastrophe.