The Study tour as per the curriculum was an exposure to the understanding of this literary theory practically by visiting ecological hotspots of Karnataka. The expected outcome was to make students understand the term “Nature” by taking a step away from “Anthropocentrism” and analyze literary texts and see the world by using ecocriticism as a distinctive lens.
The students reached their first destination Kodachadri on 15th October 2016 at 6:00 am, which is the 10th highest peak of Karnataka, located in Western Ghats of South India, Shimoga district, Karnataka. The team stayed in a home stay named “Chitrakoota”, just a kilometer away from Kodachadri trekking point. The students walked through the lush green forests, meandering paths, climb rocks to reach the most beautiful peak of the mountain, this trek definitely opened up a new thought of “being a part of nature” in students, even the lunch that students ate amongst the trees and below the skies was an experience in itself.
The next day, i.e., 16th October 2016, the students set out to Kodachadri which forms a background to the famous temple of Mookambika in Kollur. It is located at a distance of 21 km from Kodachadri. After visiting and seeking the blessings from the deity goddess Mookambika at Kollur, the team continued the journey to Apsara Konda Waterfalls located in Honnavar Taluk of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.
Later, finishing dinner at Shimoga, the team started their journey back to Bangalore and reached Jain (Deemed-to-be University), JC Road campus at 5:00 am on 17th October 2016. Though the study tour ended, it gave rise to lot of questions pertaining to ecology, ecocriticism, environmentalism, conservation, literary theory and most importantly the role of literature and understanding of nature, especially usage of nature as a distinctive lens in literature studies.
