Anuradha Roy, the wordsmiths of The Earthspinner, with the flourish of a maestro, conducts us through a poignant exploration of the tenacious human spirit, navigating the treacherous shoals of societal strictures and the relentless tide of environmental metamorphosis. The paramount objective is to explore how Roy intertwines the past memories of Moti Block with present-day reflections, peering through the multifaceted prism of societal, cultural, and natural dynamics embodied by the characters such as Elango, Sara, Chinna, and Usman Alam, harnessing Astrid Erll’s conceptual elucidation of ‘cultural memory’, Halbwachs’ ‘collective memory,’ and Edward O. Wilson’s seminal ‘biophilia hypothesis.’ Elango, a potter, is a vessel for transmitting ‘culutral memory’ through his craft. It further examines the concept of ‘collective memory’ through the contrasting viewpoints of Elango and the calligrapher, Usman Alam, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of shared memories. Finally, it examines the interplay between ‘cultural memory’ and ‘biophilia’ through Sara’s mnemonic journey to Kummarapet, highlighting how cultural practices and the natural world meticulously intertwine. In a world where tradition erodes and nature becomes distant, this chapter delves into the significance of ‘cultural memory,’ collective identity, and our innate ‘biophilia,’ offering a crucial lens for contemporary academic discourse, serving as a stark reminder of the symbiotic bond that sustains not only our collective cultural heritage but also the very essence of our love for life, a love as vital and enduring as the earth itself.
Shuvadip Das (Thu,) studied this question.