Considering the global environmental challenges and climate change, a critical revisioning of modernist paradigm of knowledge production and the linear form of progress is an imperative. What is crucial now for an ‘ecologically sustainable life’ is to infuse modernism with significant experiences from diverse cultures for a pluralistic perspective on development and living. The ‘eco-cosmological world view of the indigenous community’, their beliefs, and rituals which are premised on the interconnectedness and interdependence of human, non- human and other than human for a sustainable living, can provide a momentous ground in this direction. Ironically, the hegemonic paradigm of modernity remotely recognizes the ongoing efforts of the indigenous community let alone the vital agency of indigenous women in this area.
This paper investigates crucial interventions of indigenous women actors in the grassroots in India for a ‘sustainable life’. Despite being marginalized in multiple levels for being ‘indigenous’ and ‘women’, these women grounded with indigenous knowledge and experiences, have treaded the uncharted terrain, mobilized their community, and negotiated and interrogated modernity and development e.g., engagement of Kamala Pujari in ecological and bio-diversity preservation and propagation of indigenous seeds; Lakshmikutty Amma in traditional medicine and healing; Tulsi Gowda for preserving and propagating knowledge about plants and forest; Jamuna Tudu and Kandoni Soren for environmental activism and preserving forest; Anna Kujur and Dinja Jakesika for preserving forest and advocating forest and land right of the indigenous community amongst others.
This paper thus argues that these indigenous women, through assorted forms of life practice and ‘world making’ as interventionists and activists, have opened a new paradigm of interaction and exchange between ‘indigenous eco-cosmological world view’ and ‘modernity’ for a ‘sustainable life’. They have further redefined the idea of indigenous identity and women’s agency, community mobilization, leadership within their community and in the larger social sphere.
