How Caste Comes Into Play When Climate Changes

Abstract

Climate change has diverse impacts that disproportionately affect marginalised communities, exacerbating existing inequalities. In the Indian context, climate change has been experienced for decades, particularly affecting Dalits and Adivasi communities who rely on nature for sustenance but have limited resources to adapt. Thus, recognition of caste as a significant factor in climate action policies is crucial. In the same vein, environmental literature in India has often neglected the ecological perspectives of marginalised castes. This oversight stems from the assumption that Dalits are subsumed within broader categories of poverty and vulnerability. This chapter aims to examine Dalit literature, often viewed as protest literature, as a valuable insight into the interactions between Dalits and their environments. By exploring Baby Kamble's The Prisons We Broke and Bama's Karukku the intricate relationship between Dalits and nature can be illuminated, contributing to ecological, literary, and cultural theories.