Presentation short abstract

Emerging storylines of everyday living from Duars, North Bengal reveal human–(non)human entanglements that do not align with demarcated official maps. Thus, using counter-mapping techniques, for a holistic understanding of coexistence, conflicts and articulating local politico-ecological realities.

Presentation long abstract

Situated in the northern part of West Bengal, Duars is a forest landscape co-inhabited by animals and the forest-dwellers. Drawing boundaries through official maps began with the colonial bureaucracy of forest in Bengal, separating humans from ‘(non)humans’ spaces, to demarcate and control forests. However, the bureaucracy could not confine their intertwined trajectories and ways of living. Based on ethnographic storylines from the forest-villages of Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jaldapara National Park and Gorumara National Park that reveal layered everyday lived experiences in co-inhabiting with (non)human counterparts including elephants and leopards. In this presentation, I would be using counter-mapping techniques on how integration of cartographic practices, community-led mapping, and animal mobility mapping can illuminate forms of knowledge that tell stories beyond the scope of official maps. Everyday encountering emerges through intersecting of living spaces and shared dependencies on the same habitat- animals’ search for food, water and shelter and humans’ engagement in forest-based activities centred around forest resources. Due to which both humans and animals continually adapt strategies and modify their movements in response to each other. These forms of everyday encountering illustrate their situated practices, struggles, negotiations and conflicts emerging through human-(non)human spaces. The storylines, thus, contribute to the understanding that socio-ecological relationships do not align with official demarcations through drawing maps and imposing boundaries. By foregrounding human–(non)human entanglements, the presentation demonstrates the limitations of bureaucratic mapping systems while emphasizing community-led map-making for a holistic understanding of coexistence, conflicts and articulating local politico-ecological realities.