Sunday, July 20, 2003		Books

Titbits on India
Harpreet Kaur

Indian Geographical Facts
by S M Mathur. Rupa, New Delhi.
Pages 139. Rs 150

AS essential book of knowledge, this is a unique information bank for those who want to know India. This is a book of reference that deals with both the physical and human geography of the subcontinent.

Mathur covers a wide array of topics on which information is not easily available, and he aims to provide a non-technical account of certain aspects of India, thereby developing an understanding of different geographical features and entities that interest today’s readers.

The information on the physical, political and cultural features and political ramifications of the Indian subcontinent is up-to-date and has been especially written for students or anyone who wants precise and concise data and information on the region.

Important facts with reliable data, such as a list of changed names of places and features, information on twin cities, world heritage sites, biosphere reserves, etc., make this book one of its kind.

We have a general profile of the Republic of India along with brief information on states and union territories. Data extracted from the 2001 Census can be very useful. Also important are certain aspects of geography that have been influenced by Indian history, such as world heritage sites, princely states biosphere reserves, and geopolitics of Indian states.

Geographical terms derived from local dialects, introduced during the British Raj, which have become part of the international vocabulary, are also provided.

Telecommunications have shrunk the world. To facilitate that, information on world time and international dialling codes set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a UN agency based in Geneva, is incorporated.

The last six chapters deal with geographical aspects, beginning with the bio-spherical reserves. The author has also made an attempt to study the old records to give systematic information on earthquakes of the subcontinent.

There is a chapter each on the prominent peaks and glaciers in the Himalayan region. Due to the changing dimensions of the glaciers information on them is generally scanty and not easily obtainable. A chapter dealing with the principal rivers of India could be useful for students.

The author with simple language and communication skills is able to provide information that has never been compiled in this form before.

The lack in illustrations and maps is, however, regrettable. Geographical or political information regarding the formation of new states is scanty. The book is reasonably priced and can be recommended for students, researchers and anybody who wants to know India.