Abstract
This paper explores the intricate relationship between plant diversity, ecological awareness, and cultural values as reflected in ancient Indian literature, with particular focus on the Srimad Valmiki Ramayana. Plant diversity, as described in the epic, offer not only geographical and botanical detail but also a window into early environmental consciousness that integrated science, spirituality, and ethics. Drawing upon references from the Valmiki Ramayana the study catalogues the diverse plant species mentioned across regions such as Chitrakoot, Dandakaranya, Panchvati, Kishkindha, and Lanka and aims to determine whether the plants mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana are tracked by modern ecologists and how these depictions align with modern ecological distribution including biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and the sustainable use of natural resources. The paper also situates the ancient Indian understanding of plant diversity, as recorded in the Valmiki Ramayana, within the framework of the contemporary Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing continuities between traditional ecological ethics and modern environmental science. By bridging ancient textual knowledge and modern sustainability discourse, this study demonstrates that except some of the plants most of them survived the linguistic transition across centuries and the location tracked same as mention in Valmiki Ramayana. India’s literary and cultural heritage offers not only historical insight but also practical models for ecological resilience, conservation ethics, and sustainable living.
Presenters
Jyoti YadavPost Doctoral Fellow, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
ANCIENT INDIAN LITERATURE, RAMAYANA, PLANT DIVERSITY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, ENVIRONMENTAL
