Human Conflict And Environmental Dimensions In Madhavi And Adhe Adhure: An Ecocritical Approach To Translation

Abstract

This paper examines the interplay between humans and their environment in the Hindi plays Madhavi by Bhisham Sahni and Adhe Adhure by Mohan Rakesh through the lens of Ecocriticism, as well as the difficulty of conveying these environmental ideas in English translation. Both plays are often approached from psychological and social perspectives, but they contain deep ecological and spatial narratives that shape character encounters and cultural critique. In Madhavi, Sahni uses myth to depict the story of a woman’s life marked by enduring sacrifices, societal expectations, and nature as a silent witness and symbol. The natural environment reflects Madhavi’s endurance, which reinforces the repetitive exploitation of women and nature. To translate such ecological symbolism, cultural metaphors and environmental context must be considered.

On the other hand, Adhe Adhure depicts a bleak modern cityscape characterized by emotional loneliness and disintegration of family units. Nature’s absence in the setting can be seen as a sign of modern alienation, forcing translators to render cultural specificity and spatial detachment. This study uses comparative ecocriticism to examine the influence of both nature and urban space on human relations and the societal strife they embody. It also suggests adaptation and contextualization, among others, as methods of translation to maintain the plays’ ecological and emotional resonance. In conclusion, this paper expands modern ecocriticism and translation studies by analyzing the neglected ecological aspects of contemporary Hindi drama.