Environmental Melancholia and Ecological Grief: Probing Eco-Critical Concerns in Pashto Poetry after 9/11 and War-on-Terror

Abstract

Pashto poetry after the 9/11 incident and subsequent War on terror represents a thematic shift in its subject matter. Since the war badly affected most regions of the country, concerns about the challenges to different aspects of life were raised by Pashto poets. A threat to harmonious coexistence and balanced life became the voice of many young poets. The threats and damage to nature was highlighted and disruption in ecological lifestyle was reflected in a melancholic tone. The current study critically investigates the eco-critical concerns in Pashto poetry in the aftermath of 9/11 and War-on-Terror. For this purpose, the sample is randomly selected from published works of Pashto Poetry as well as those published on other online platforms such as social media. The study is descriptive in nature and the selected sample is analyzed through a close reading method. The theoretical framework is adopted from Eco-critical theorist and scholar Cheryll Glotfelty who emphasized the readers to closely investigate a particular text for the representation of natural world. Her groundbreaking book ‘The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology’ (1996) provides many key insights on this relationship. This study is significant in the sense that it draws attention to the ecological perils that emerged after the war and conflict. The impacts of war and conflict especially in relation to nature and environment are introspectively highlighted.