About ASLE India

ASLE – INDIA was born on 15th January, 2005 the first day of the Tamil new-year. It is significant that this day marks the harvest festival for the people of this region. It is the day when the land replenishes and enriches the household that it nourishes and sustains. ASLE, thus stands for a sympathetic and compassionate understanding of the human and the natural world. This association is envisaged as a forum for the study of literature and the environment, and the web of life. 

There are two significant complementary concepts that occur in the Tamil Sangham poetic thoughts- Akam and Puram.  Akam corresponds to interior/ inner aspect, and Puram is its complement or counterpart. Akam can also be seen as the household affirming the kinship among humans, nature and culture, while Puram could also stand for the non-human, exterior world that humans engage with. The two are of course, inextricably interlinked. This affirmation has been expressed and represented in various ways in art, literature and culture especially in this part of the world, from very early times. We desire to reiterate this interrelationship and close explore its contemporary relevance in multicultural contexts. Having initiated this forum on this significant date and true to its spirit we welcome dialogue and communication.

ASLE—INDIA intends to provide a platform for its members to explore the literary/ artistic representations of the interior household in which both humans and non-human beings have their being, as well as of the exterior world out there which unites with it, striking a complementary relationship. Today this area of exploration, well known as ecological-criticism—ecocriticism in short-- draws the scholarly attention of researchers, intellectuals, professionals, academics and social activists alike. This forum will be the site of such explorations, particularly relevant to the Indian context. 

India is a vast country, a region with manifold cultures, innumerable languages, and multiple ways of thinking. Hence, we as a multidisciplinary and multicultural forum would certainly keep our thinking open and democratic.  Seminars, Conferences, Workshops and other appropriate academic activities will be the special convergent points for our members to share expertise in the area and learn from each other. Much remains for us to explore and understand together. As we would like to highlight-- contact, communication and understanding would be our major concern. We do not wish to entertain partisanship nor do we encourage fundamentalism in any form—our concern and commitment is primarily to nature, which we as humans are all connected. Nature does not discriminate nor does she judge. We seek to learn and understand through sympathy and empathy.  

Our periodic newsletters would help to maintain dialogue among naturalists and nature lovers, academics and environmental activists. 

We welcome you to join us.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ASLE INDIA