Planting the Empire: literary plants and the legacies of colonialism

Abstract

What can an Indian plantation novel teach us about colonialism? How do the plants we encounter in literary works like these help us make sense of the environmental effects of ecological imperialism? This talk focuses on Mulk Raj Anand, one of the pioneers of Indian English fiction, and his novel Two Leaves and a Bud, which explores life on the tea plantations of northern Assam. The talk considers botanical life in the text, including the forest, plantations, and the planters’ gardens, as more than a backdrop to the plot. By paying careful attention to these “plant presences,” Dr Varna Venugopal argues that they help us better understand the extractive practices and ecological transformations that accompanied the rise of the colonial plantation system.  

About Stephenson Ideas

Stephenson Ideas is a talk series and programme at Stephenson College designed to challenge students, foster intellectual curiosity, and encourage engagement with diverse topics. 

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