Bhawana Purohit¹, Dr. Shashikant R. Mhalunkar²
Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of English, B.N.N. College, University of Mumbai, Maharashtra
Professor of English and In-Charge Principal, B.N.N. College, University of Mumbai, Maharashtra
E-mail address: bhawanarajpurohit00@gmail.com
Abstract
In Roma Tearne’s Mosquito, the geography of Sri Lanka is not just a backdrop but an active force and a victim of the island’s ecological and political collapse. The landscape carries the scars of both past and present violence, showing that it is deeply tied to the nation’s history. Women in this war-torn setting face two layers of trauma: the ethnic conflict that surrounds them and the patriarchal structures that deny them dignity and recognition. Militarization and global neglect create a slow, ongoing violence that harms both people and the environment, turning nature into both a witness and a casualty of national wounds. As a result, people living in this damaged environment experience solastalgia, a deep sense of loss and displacement caused by the destruction of their home surroundings.The paper explores how human suffering and environmental destruction are interconnected, showing the Sri Lankan landscape as a ravaged witness, while also examining how patriarchal family structures further marginalize women.
Keywords: ecological trauma; Sri Lankan civil war; solastalgia; capitalocene; stratification; Roma Tearne