How can one interpret the land, the environment and livelihoods of people living in the charlands — little islands formed within the river beds in the deltaic flats such as Bengal? How does one think about the fixed categories such as land and water, or vulnerability and security?


The charlands in the lower reaches of the Damodar river in India are prone to frequent floods, shifting river channels and riverbank erosion. They defy such convenient categorisations because an entire village on one of the chars can be wiped out in a few hours during the monsoonal flows. Contesting the ‘risks’ posed by the fragile environment, migrant communities from Bihar and Bangladesh settle in the charlands and make them their home. This research, undertaken jointly with my colleague Dr Gopa Samanta, explores the mental maps of the chouras, the charland inhabitants, and the contingent process of settling in and adjusting to the marginality of the charland environment.