Guardians of Nature: An Ecocritical Exploration of Tribal Spirituality and Wisdom through Documentaries

Abstract

Due to increasing modernization on Earth, the basic needs of humans have increased. Considering themselves as centers, humans are excessively exploiting the valuable gifts received from nature without thinking. Due to which there has been an increase in comparison between modern materialistic development and sustainable development. Ways of sustainable development are being explored. Tribal people are a living example of this sustainable development. The spirituality and ecological wisdom of tribal people develops eco-consciousness within them due to which they consider it their duty to protect nature from those who harm it. The research paper explores ecological wisdom and spirituality in the lives of two tribes, Dongria Kondh Tribe and Yanomami Tribe, through the lens of two documentaries Niyamgiri: The Mountain of Law and The Last Forest. The research paper shows how these tribes respect nature not just as a resource but as a living spiritual entity. Through the documentaries, mythology, traditional ecological knowledge and beliefs of the tribal people that have been passed on from one generation to the next have been highlighted. After studying both these selected documentaries and through the research paper, an attempt has been made to know that the role of tribal spirituality is very important in maintaining the ecological balance. This study emphasizes on rethinking the relationship of man with nature.