Science Against Region: Understanding the Silent Valley Differently

Abstract

This article examines the Silent Valley Hydroelectric Project controversy in Kerala as a clash between regional developmental aspirations and ecological science. It explores how the rhetoric of regional upliftment, rooted in the historical underdevelopment of Malabar, conflicted with the emerging environmental consciousness of the late 1970s and 1980s. Drawing on frameworks from political ecology, Science and Technology Studies, and environmental ethics, the essay situates the debate within larger postcolonial tensions between knowledge, governance, and local identity. By tracing how scientific reports, public activism, and symbolic representations shaped the Silent Valley Movement, this article argues that the conflict ultimately redefined notions of progress and conservation in India. The episode highlights the complex negotiation between economic modernity and ecological responsibility, revealing how both region and science struggled to claim moral and political legitimacy