Geopoetics and Cosmovision in the Works of Temsula Ao and Monika Varma: A Comparative Study

Abstract: This paper undertakes a comparative study of geopoetics and cosmovision in the works of Temsula Ao and Monika Varma, two contemporary Indian women writers whose literary engagements foreground indigenous relationships with land, memory, and ecology. Drawing upon geopoetic theory, indigenous cosmovision, ecocriticism, and postcolonial spatial studies, the paper examines how landscape functions as a repository of cultural memory, identity, and ethical responsibility. Temsula Ao’s writings articulate a geopoetics rooted in the Naga hills, where land emerges as a site of trauma, resistance, and historical continuity shaped by oral traditions. In contrast, Monika Varma’s works reflect a Himalayan cosmovision that emphasizes spiritual interconnectedness, sacred geography, and ecological harmony. Through close textual and comparative analysis, the study highlights both convergences and divergences in their spatial imagination, demonstrating how indigenous narratives challenge dominant anthropocentric and colonial paradigms. The paper contributes to indigenous literary studies by foregrounding land-centered epistemologies and alternative ecological ethics. Keywords: Geopoetics; Cosmovision; Indigenous Literature; Ecocriticism; Spatial Imagination