Geography in India - Selected Themes

318 Pages·2009·1.701 MB·English

by  L. S. Bhat

Geography in India
Editorial Advisory Committee
L.S. Bhat (Editor-in-Chief)
H.S. Sharma
H.N. Misra
G. Padmaja
R.B. Singh
R.C. Chandna
V. Raghavaswamy
Sudesh Nangia
R.N. Vyas
ICSSR Survey of Advances in Research
Geography in India
Selected Themes
Edited by
L.S. Bhat
Indian Council of Social Science Research
Delhi (cid:122) Chennai (cid:122) Chandigarh
Copyright © 2009, Indian Council of Social Science Research

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Contents
Foreword vii
Javeed Alam
Preface viii
1. Introduction 1
L.S. Bhat
2. Physical Geography 11
H.S. Sharma
3. Population Geography 57
R.C. Chandna
4. Settlement Geography 108
Sudesh Nangia
5. Regional Geography 155
H.N. Misra
6. Regional Planning 169
H.N. Misra and L.S. Bhat
7. Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System 203
R.B. Singh
8. Remote Sensing and GIS: Development and Applications 258
V. Raghavaswamy
9. Analytical Techniques in Geography 281
R.N. Vyas
About the Editor and Contributors 301
Index 302
vi CONTRIBUTOR’S NAME
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Foreword
The ICSSR is pleased to bring out the fi fth survey of research in geography covering
the period 1998–2003. The ICSSR surveys, conducted since 1969, provide a
benchmark for periodical assessment of trends and achievements in particular
disciplines. In the surveys of research in geography, areas of development have
been broadly identifi ed, extensively covering thematic and regional geography,
methodological innovations in research and teaching, and application to problems
of national and regional perspectives in planning. So far, four survey reports have
been published in the fi eld.
In 2003, the Council reviewed the progress in the preparation of survey re-
search reports in various fi elds of the social sciences and strongly advised the
need for timely publication of these reports to make them available to scholars
in the respective fi elds. Accordingly, editorial committees were constituted to
identify thrust areas of research in various fi elds on a priority basis. In the fi eld
of geography, to begin with, the committee identifi ed eight priority areas to be
covered by the survey instead of the entire fi eld of geography, as was the practice
in the case of previous surveys. The state of art in the fi eld prior to 1998 was pro-
vided as a backdrop. Physical geography, population and settlement geography,
regional geography and regional planning, remote sensing and geographical infor-
mation systems, and analytical techniques have been covered in the fi fth survey
of research.
The ICSSR is planning to bring out reports covering these themes and is working
out modalities to publish more frequent periodical surveys, with a focus on emerg-
ing themes of common interest to scientifi c communities in different disciplines.
On behalf of the ICSSR, I wish to thank Professor L. S. Bhat, editor-in-chief,
contributors to different themes included in this survey report and experts who
provided valuable comments and suggestions at different stages of the work.
New Delhi Javeed Alam
2 February 2009 Chairman
viii CONTRIBUTOR’S NAME
Preface
At the suggestion of Dr D. R. Gadgil, the fi rst Chairman of the Indian Council
of Social Science Research, the Council initiated in 1969 a series of surveys of
research in different fi elds of social sciences covering the disciplines of economics,
geography, political science and public administration, psychology, sociology,
and education. This was the fi rst major attempt to document the growth of the
social sciences and trends in methods and achievements in the chosen fi elds; and,
in so doing, to identify and prioritize the thrust areas for further developments in
teaching and research. It was recognized from the beginning that different fi elds
of social sciences are interdisciplinary and that there is a need for evolving a na-
tional policy for social science development. Furthermore, through developments
in fundamental research and application, some fi elds of physical science have rec-
ognized the fact that developments in science and technology should have social
relevance both in the short and long terms.
Reports of the survey of research in geography conducted since 1969 have been
published four times. The fi rst survey report was published in 1972. These surveys
extensively covered topical and regional studies and identifi ed broadly the tasks
ahead. Emerging themes such as tourism, health, environment and ecology, remote
sensing and geographical information systems (GIS) were also the focus of these
surveys in later years. Recognizing the importance and relevance of the physical
basis of geography, a survey of research in physical geography was brought out in
the year 1983. These surveys were designed to regularly cover the programmes of
teaching and research at intervals of fi ve years. However, this schedule could not
be adhered to for several reasons. This was common to all the fi elds chosen for
the review of research. The Council reviewed the situation and a committee was
constituted in the year 2003 to suggest possible ways of making the fi ndings of
these surveys effective for wider dissemination without delay.
Imperatives for periodic survey of research in geography are due to the felt need
to attempt convergence of concepts and theories and their application to those
themes that are common among sister disciplines, notably economics, sociology,
demography, psychology, anthropology in the social sciences, and geology, geo-
morphology, soils, climate, hydrology, agro-meteorology and others in the earth
sciences.
The world over, there is now a trend towards interdisciplinarity in geography
using the concept of region or space as a common frame of reference: geographical
space, economic space, social space and so on.
PREFACE ix
The Introduction and the contributions to specifi c themes presented in this
volume have taken note of the progress in geography overseas and access to new
technology for sharpening analytical techniques in the fi eld.
Content and Scope of the Survey
The objectives of this research survey are somewhat different from the previous
surveys, which systematically covered all the major sub-disciplines within geo-
graphy; and within them certain emergent topics that have scope for specialization.
Physical geography, resource endowment, population and settlement geography,
regional geography and regional planning, remote sensing and geographical in-
formation systems (GIS), and analytical techniques, with special reference to
quantitative techniques in geography, have been covered by this survey. Draft
reports on each of the selected themes were discussed in a two-day meeting of
the editorial committee held under the auspices of the ICSSR in January 2005.
Authors contributing to various sub-fi elds of the report are responsible for the
opinions expressed and factual statements with regard to the review of research
in those themes. The fi nal report was discussed in 2006 along with a few experts
from the discipline.
One of the major recommendations of the committee was that the thrust area
on resource endowment had extensive repetition of the text on physical geography
and hence should be deleted in the present format. The focus should be on land
as a resource—using a landscape approach—integrating applied geomorphology,
hydrogeomorphology, land systems, broad land use and land cover, and land
capability classifi cation based on these inherent characteristics. This theme would
then be complementary to the theme on agricultural geography, covering cropping
patterns and productivity due to the combined infl uences of physical, economic
and institutional factors.
On behalf of the editorial committee, I would like to express my deep sense
of gratitude to the ICSSR for sponsoring this project and for providing all the
facilities and guidance in the preparation of this study. I warmly appreciate the
research and administrative assistance provided by several of our colleagues dur-
ing different stages of the work.
L.S. Bhat