Published Paper Details:

Ruskin Bond's short story Dust on the Mountain presents a compelling ecocritical critique of industrial exploitation in the fragile Himalayan region, foregrounding the environmental and human costs of quarrying. Set against a landscape transformed into dust and debris, the narrative exposes how mechanized progress disrupts ecological balance and rural life. Through the perspective of the young narrator, Bisnu, Bond contrasts indigenous environmental wisdom with the extractive logic of modern industry. Bisnu's intimate bond with the mountain reflects a worldview rooted in coexistence, where nature is perceived not as a commodity but as a living, sustaining presence. The quarry operates as a powerful symbol of unchecked development, producing short-term economic benefits while leaving irreversible damage in its wake. Bond's depiction of dust-choked air, scarred terrain, and abandoned livelihoods underscores the concept of environmental "slow violence," highlighting how gradual ecological degradation erodes both land and community. Nature, however, is not rendered passive; instead, it emerges as an active force that responds to exploitation through instability and collapse, ultimately reclaiming agency. This process suggests a form of restorative justice; wherein ecological systems assert limits against human excess. By situating local environmental destruction within a broader moral framework, the story challenges dominant narratives of progress and development in postcolonial India. It calls attention to the marginalization of rural communities and the erasure of traditional ecological knowledge. Ultimately, "Dust on the Mountain" advocates a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world, making it a resonant literary intervention in contemporary environmental debates surrounding sustainability, justice, and ethical development.