Indian Geography : Perspectives, Concerns and Issues
Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction: concerns and debates in Indian geography/Ravi S. Singh. I. Unfolding Indian geography: 2. Identity of 'India' and 'Indianness', and geography in India: sensitive appraisal from the past and move to the 21st century/Rana P.B. Singh. 3. The roots of Indian geography/K.R. Dikshit. 4. A hundred years of Indian geography: development and change/Lekh Raj Singh. 5. Indian geography: an encounter with reality/R.D. Dikshit. 6. Image of geography in India/Ravi S. Singh. II. Questioning thyself: 7. What ails Indian geography? some statements/Anath Bandhu Mukerji. 8. Geography as a marginal social science/Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt. 9. Geographic research in India: its strengths and weakness/Mehar Singh Gill. 10. Analyzing current practices in geography education/Yemuna Sunny. III. Reflections from abroad: 11. Towards a rediscovery of India: thoughts on some neglected geography/David E. Sopher. 12. The state of South Asian geography/Joseph E. Schwartzberg. 13. Research in social geography: South Asia/Robert W. Bradnock. 14. Toward an Indian geography agenda/Surinder M. Bhardwaj. 15. Geographic research on India: contributions from the United States/David G. Dickason. 16. Development of geographic thought in India/P.P. Karan. 17. The development of Indian geography/Allen G. Noble. Index.
"Indian geography has grown rapidly in the recent past. Quite naturally considerable thinking on it is known to us today. Many of the professional geographers show satisfaction over the trend of growth; however, many more seem to be dissatisfied. All such thoughts are expressed in different writings scattered in several volumes and journals; some in familiar and others in less familiar academic geographic spaces.
This book contains articles authored by top geographers and practitioners of geography in India and abroad with their highly acclaimed long and keen interest in Indian geography. It is an exclusive treatise on geographic thought and covers an authentic full breadth and depth of history, an exhaustive survey of the major works, critical viewpoints, contemporary concerns, public perception and the emerging future trends. The core discussion points, across the articles, cover strong ancient Indian roots, growth of modern geography since the colonial period, creeping weaknesses, contemporary dilemma and also the public image of geography in the country. Focused voices of professional Indian geographers' three generations are brilliantly expressed in it. Its uniqueness also lies in the fact that it reflects ideas on Indian geography shared at varied stages during the recent times. Authentic representative articles are the hallmark of this book.
This book is a comprehensive examination of challenges and possible solutions facing the professional Indian geography, and is essential reading for all practitioners, students and academics interested in Indian geography." (jacket)
