Gendered Landscapes and Material Displacement: Exploring the Cultural Ecofeminism in Dollar Bahu

Abstract

This research paper offers a critical examination of Sudha Murty’s novel Dollar Bahu (2005) through the theoretical framework of cultural ecofeminism. It explores the profound ontological connection between the protagonist, Vinuta, and her botanical environment, positioning her garden as a site of emotional refuge against a backdrop of domestic marginalization. The study highlights the tension between traditional ecological values and the encroaching forces of globalized materialism, which facilitate the commodification of both nature and the feminine spirit. By analyzing the intra-gender oppression exerted by the matriarchal figures, the paper underscores the ecofeminist tenet that the exploitation of the landscape mirrors the subjugation of women. Ultimately, it argues that Vinuta’s horticultural engagement serves as a resilient reclamation of the organic self within a currency-obsessed society.