Fossilized Economic Paradigms and Farmer Suicides: Examining Kota Neelima's Fictional Critique of Indian Agriculture

Abstract

This paper explores post-truth aspects of Indian farmer suicides through ecological concerns in select works by Kota Neelima. It analyses how the shift from organic to chemical farming  contributed to agrarian distress. Applying Vandana Shiva's concept of a fossilized economic paradigm to Neelima's texts, the study traces vested interests and hypocrisy of authorities responsible for the post-truth scenario of farmer suicides. The research examines how indigenous knowledge and ecological interventions could mitigate the crisis. It maps ecological issues stemming from genetically modified seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The paper argues that mere accumulation of data does not reveal the truth of farmer suicides, and explores how fictional representations can uncover hidden realities. Through close textual analysis of Neelima's novels Death of a Moneylender, Shoes of the Dead, and Riverstones, the study reveals the complex interplay between ecological degradation, economic policies, and social factors contributing to the agrarian crisis. It concludes that returning to sustainable agricultural practices may offer solutions to the ongoing agrarian crisis, while emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that addresses both ecological and socio-economic factors.