Healing and Transfigurative Dimensions of Nature in Namita Gokhale’s The Book of Shadows
Sanjay Sarkhel1 and Dr. Soumya Tiwari2
1Research Scholar, MGU, Bhopal, E-Mail: sanjaysarkhel1971@gmail.com
2Assistant Professor, MGU, Bhopal, E-Mail:mguliterture@gmail.com
Abstract
Namita Gokhale’s The Book of Shadows (1999) presents a poignant narrative of trauma, survival, and self-renewal through its protagonist Rachita Tiwari, a woman scarred by an acid attack. Set in the Himalayas, the novel highlights the therapeutic, spiritual, and transfigurative powers of nature. Far from functioning merely as a backdrop, the natural world in this text emerges as an active agent of healing and transformation. This paper explores how Gokhale intertwines the rhythms of the Himalayas with Rachita’s journey towards psychological wholeness and spiritual transcendence. Drawing upon ecocritical and ecofeminist frameworks, the study argues that the novel positions nature as a feminine, regenerative space that facilitates self-discovery and resilience.
How to Cite: Sarkhel, S., & Tiwari, S. (2025). Healing and transfigurative dimensions of nature in Namita Gokhale’s The Book of Shadows. Anubodhan, 1(3), 24–46.