As an Environmental Studies major, India provides a plethora of possibilities for a relevant research project. For my topic, I would like to look at the contemporary environmental movement in India. In the 1970s, the Chipko movement was born when villagers of a rural Himalayan community stood together to stop the felling of a patch of trees by a larger logging company. Though not the first environmentalism in India, this story spread and became iconic as a true, solid beginning for the Indian environmental movement. It has been noted however, that while similar movements were taking place half-way around the world in the U.S., the motives for these movements may have been different; while Americans tried to preserve endangered species and wilderness as earth advocated and for natural qualities, Indians did what they needed to survive. This would indicate then that the Environmental Movement in India is less ecologic, and more sociologic–if not today, then definitely in the early stages of the movement, such as with Chipko.
While abroad, I would like to further my understanding of the Indian Environmental Movement–how has it evolved and what does it look like today? To situate and narrow down the broad movement/research I would explore this topic as it is relevant in Delhi, Chennai and Varanasi, looking at specific efforts or organizations in these locations. I would be interested in understanding what the contemporary motivations for this movement are; ecological? Sociological? Something else? How is nature definied or perceived, and what qualities or benefits does it have for Indian people that motivate environmental action?
In addition, I would be interested in the culture surroundnig environmentalism in India–does popularity or support for environmental action increase or decrease with factors such as socio-economic, education, gender, area of residency, etc? What movements are popular today in India, and who supports them? Does a culture of green-consumerism exisit with things such as “Eco-labels”? Though faced with the challenge of developing during the 21st century with such a large population and with global recognition of climate change, India has the oportunity to embrace environmental/alternative technologies and solutions as commonplace, or the norm. In addition to understanding the social or grassroots environmental movements in India, I would be curious to see what actions the Indian government is taking (both at national and city levels) to support and promote environmental solutions or technologies, or what types of priorities are given to environmentalism or “green” alternatives. Additionally, I would be interested to learn which movements come from Indian organizations or projects, versus those from international or forign origins, such as greenpeace or World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and hwo these efforts or movements might differ.
Brown, Trent. “Chipko Legacies: Sustaining an Ecological Ethic in the Context of Agrarian Change.” Asian Studies Review 38, no. 4 (December 2014): 639-657. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 28, 2015).
Looks at the history of the Chipko movement and other agrarian environmentalism with a critical eye. Questions what it might mean for agraian development to have bottom-up movements. Uses a case study, the Save the Seeds Movement, which acts in the Chipko style.
Ellis, Rowan. “Who’s Participation? Who’s Sustainability? A Critical Analysis of Initiatives for Urban Sustainability in India.” Scottish Geographical Journal 127, no. 3 (September 2011): 193-208. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 28, 2015).
Guha, Ramachandra. “The past & Present of Indian Environmentalism.” The Hindu. The Hindu, 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Aug. 2015.
Breif article by scholar on subject of enviro. movements in India, overview, introduction.
Guha, Ramachandra. “The Rise and Fall of Indian Environmentalism.” Hindustan Times. Column based on Guha’s T. N. Khoshoo Memorial Lecture, delivered in New Delhi on 24th March 2008
Discusses “anti-environmental backlash” during 1990s in India.
Guha, Ramachandra. “The Paradox of Global Environmentalism.” Current History 99, no. 640 (November 2000): 367. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 28, 2015).
Notes and discusses a paradox which observes that those who most advocate for environmentalism are those same people who most destroy the environment, comparing India and the U.S. (note, I wonder if this is still relevant, 15 years later….??)
Mishra, Pavan, and Payal Sharma. “Green marketing in India: Emerging opportunities and challenges.” Journal of Engineering, Science and Management Education 3, no. 1 (2010): 9-14.
Looks at contemporary phenominon of “Green Marketing”, also somtimes known as environmental or green consumerism, where companies take advantage of consumer’s wish to help the environment through labels promoting products as “eco friendly”, etc., for any number of reasons. This article applies this idea (which is traditionally practiced in wealthier or western cultures) to India, attempting to understand how or if it might be suscessful.
Nabhi, Uma S. “Environmental Movements in India: An Assessment of their Impact on State and Non-state Actors.” India Quarterly 62, no. 1 (January 2006): 123-145. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 28, 2015).
Impact assessment article of environmental movements on India
Narain, Sunita. “Changing Environmentalism.”
Article/essay from a compilation of essay/articles on the subject of enviro. movement in India for a symposium. Author discusses motivating factors for this movement, compares with U.S. enviro. movement. This article focuses on a breif history, motivating factors, etc. in orer to try to make rough predictions on the future of the environmental movement in India during the early 21st century.
Nayak, Arun Kumar. 2015. “Environmental Movements in India.” Journal Of Developing Societies (Sage Publications Inc.) 31, no. 2: 249-280. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 28, 2015).
Discusses an overview of the contemporary enviro. movement in India, history of this movement in 20th century India. Looks at what influence political parties or large coorporations have on this movement today.
Tripathy, Jyotirmaya, and Dharmabrata Mohapatra. “Environmental Discourse and Third World Difference: Perspectives from India.” Journal Of Third World Studies 31, no. 1 (Spring2014 2014): 51-68. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 28, 2015).
Compared and contrasts attitudes today regarding environmental protection and conservation in “western” countries versus developing countries, specifically in India. Observes social classes, standards of living, etc.