Entanglements:
Journal of Posthumanities
E-ISSN: 3107-488X

(Article)
Waste and Women: A Posthumanist Study of Prayaag Akbarar's Leila
Authored By — Sk Amimon Islam , Banani Chakraborty

Abstract

This paper examines Prayaag Akbarar's Leila through the lens of posthumanism, exploring themes of environmental collapse, systemic oppression, and the erosion of individuality in a dystopian future. The novel portrays Aryavarta, a rigidly segregated society where caste, class, and religious identity dictate one's fate. The study highlights how posthumanist thought critiques anthropocentrism by interrogating the boundaries between humans, technology, and the environment. The research delves into Aryavarta's technological advancements, such as climate-controlled domes, which exacerbate social hierarchies while offering artificial solutions to environmental crises. It also explores how surveillance, forced assimilation, and bio-political control in Purity Camps reflect posthumanist concerns about dehumanization and ideological programming. Drawing from theorists such as N. Katherine Hayles and Rosi Braidotti, this paper argues that Leila presents a cautionary narrative where oppressive systems reduce individuals to informational entities, stripping them of agency and autonomy. Ultimately, this analysis situates Leila within the broader discourse of posthumanism, emphasizing the urgent need to rethink societal, ecological, and technological entanglements in contemporary dystopian fiction.

Keywords

Leila, Environment, Dystopia, Individuality, Societal Decay, Posthumanism

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