This Fissured Land - An Ecological History of India

Author: Madhav GadgilRamachandra Guha/Publisher: Oxford University PressYear: 1999Language: EnglishPages: 274ISBN/UPC (if available): 0195633415 DescriptionThis book presents an interpretative ecological history of the Indian subcontinent. Written lucidly and without jargon, 'This Fissured Land' is a hugely informative eye-opener for anyone with an interest in ecological issues.The focus is on the use and abuse of forest resources, a sector to which the authors have each devoted years of research. In the first part, the authors present a general theory of ecological history. Part Two provides a fresh interpretative history of pre-modern India. Here the authors give an ecological interpretation of the caste system. In Part Three, the authors draw upon a huge wealth of source material in their socio-ecological analysis of the modes of resources use introduced into India by the British. EXCERPTS FROM REVIEWS:This book will certainly take it place on the shelf when large portions of eco