Paper Title
The Arboreal Archive: An Emotional Ecology Analysis of Nature And Emotion In Toru Dutt's

Abstract
Toru Dutt, a pioneering figure in Indian English literature, created verse that goes beyond simple appreciation of nature, providing rich material for analysis within the framework of emotional ecology. This theory examines the mutual influence and complex relationships between human emotional life and the non-human environment. In 'Our Casuarina Tree,' Baugmaree, and 'The Tree of Life' (part of her 'Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan'), Dutt advances from mere description to a biocentric perspective where natural elements are seen as sentient beings, deeply connected with personal and collective human emotion. The analysis reveals how Dutt employs natural imagery to explore themes of memory, loss, exile, and the pursuit of immortality, portraying nature as a vital, empathetic character within her emotional landscape. Methodology A qualitative research design will be used as the methodology for a study examining nature and emotion in a selection of Toru Dutt's poems, with an emphasis on careful reading and thematic analysis within the context of emotional ecology. The theory of emotional ecology will serve as the main lens for our investigation. The study of emotional ecology examines how people's inner emotional worlds and their exterior environments—natural, social, and cultural—are intertwined. Interconnectedness, Emotional Landscapes, Core Emotional Needs, and Relationality are important concepts used in literary analysis. A qualitative, text-based analytical method will be used in the study. To find patterns and particular examples of human-nature emotional interaction, the main approach is close reading of the chosen poetry, which is complemented by thematic analysis. The three poems of Toru Dutt, Our Casuarina, are the main materials under examination. Keywords - Human Emotions, Emotional ecology, Memory and Loss, Nature, Biocentric perspective