Environmental Catastrophes and Human Resilience in A Breath of Fresh Air and Animal's People

Abstract

This paper explores the environmental and social consequences of industrial disasters, as in Amulya Malladi's A Breath of Fresh Air (2002) and Indra Sinha's Animal's People (2008). Malladi's A Breath of Fresh Air centres on Anjali, a 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy survivor. The tragedy has indeed altered her life; consequently, Anjali grapples with her son's declining health and the enduring impact of environmental disasters. The novel also explores personal relationships, societal norms, and the role of women in a conventional society. Similarly, Sinha's Animal's People examines the aftermath of a similar industrial disaster through the eyes of Animal, a young man deformed by the toxic effects of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The novel depicts the struggles of marginalised communities due to corporate negligence, the enduring fight for justice, and also the resilience of those living on the periphery of society. This paper highlights the interconnection between environmental degradation, systemic inequality, and human resilience through Eco-criticism as the theoretical base. By comparing Anjali's and Animal's struggles (and, of course, discussing the important characters), the analysis intends to discuss the ethical imperatives of ecological justice.