Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Introduction to Physical Geography of South Asia An Outline of Geographic Location of Indic Civilization

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Contemporary Political Notion of South Asia South Asia contains seven nations: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. The combined area of these seven nations is approximately 1.7 million square miles, and it contains 1.3 billion people. South Asia has five times the population of the United States in an area that is only one-half the size of the United States

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Image and History Colonial Construction of India Colonial Construction of India Orientalist Myths Orientalist Myths Utilitarian Idea of Oriental Despotism Utilitarian Idea of Oriental Despotism Marxist Perceptions Marxist Perceptions Nationalist Histories Nationalist Histories Communal Constructions Communal Constructions

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia The Politics of Naming India Land Beyond River Indus India Land Beyond River Indus Avesta (Ancient scriptures of Zoroastrianism )Called the area Heptahindu – Avesta (Ancient scriptures of Zoroastrianism )Called the area Heptahindu – Achaemenid Inscriptions hndstn (Hindustan) Achaemenid Inscriptions hndstn (Hindustan)

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Ancient Indian Cosmology and the Naming of the subcontinent Flat Global Surface with Mount Meru at its center Jambudvipa-island of rose apple tree Land South of Himalaya- Bharatvarsha New Nationalist disposition to describe India as Bharatvarsha

Homeland and Sacred Geography Better than the entire world, is our Hindustan, We are its nightingales, and it (is) our garden abodeHindustan If we are in an alien place, the heart remains in the homeland, Know us to be only there where our heart is. That tallest mountain, that shade-sharer of the sky, It (is) our sentry, it (is) our watchman In its lap frolic those thousands of rivers, Whose vitality makes our garden the envy of Paradise. O the flowing waters of the Ganges, do you remember that day When our caravan first disembarked on your waterfront?Ganges Religion does not teach us to bear ill-will among ourselves We are of Hind, our homeland is Hindustan.Hind In a world in which ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome have all vanished without trace Our own attributes (name and sign) live on today.GreeceEgyptRome Such is our existence that it cannot be erased Even though, for centuries, the cycle of time has been our enemy. Iqbal! We have no confidant in this world What does any one know of our hidden pain? Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia The Idea of India Major Geographic regions of the Indian subcontinent Major Geographic regions of the Indian subcontinent Himalaya Himalaya Indo-Gangetic Plain Indo-Gangetic Plain Deccan Plateau Deccan Plateau Coastal Strip Coastal Strip

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Himalaya Himalaya means abode of snow Origins of Himalaya The largest and highest mountain system in Asia, forming a broad continuous arc for nearly 2600 km (1600 mi) along the northern fringes of the Indian subcontinent, The Himalayas range, averaging 320 to 400 km (200 to 250 mi) in width, rises sharply from the Gangetic Plain. North of this mountain belt lies the Tibetan Plateau (Qing Zang Gaoyuan). Origins of snow fed river systems and movements of monsoon Dividing line between India and the rest of north Asia

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Himalaya as Civilization Himalaya in Hindu legend Abode of Shiva and Durga The Great Himalayas, (the highest zone, consists of a huge line of snowy peaks with an average height exceeding 6100 m (20,000 ft). The width of this zone is about 24 km. the Middle Himalayas (also known as the Inner or Lesser Himalayas), (average height between 6000 and 10,000 ft, width of about 80 km ). and the Sub-Himalayas, which includes the Siwalik Range and foothills and the Tarai and Duars piedmont (an area of land formed or lying at the foot of a mountain or mountain range) (width of 48 km). Residence of 40 million people Densely populated valleys English hill stations Sparsely populated forests and natural resources Diversity of population Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Indo-Gangetic Plain Indo-Gangetic Plain stretches from Indus valley of Pakistan to lower Gangetic delta of Bangladesh Indo-Gangetic Plain stretches from Indus valley of Pakistan to lower Gangetic delta of Bangladesh Two regions within the plain Two regions within the plain West- Indus Valley- Punjab and Hariyana West- Indus Valley- Punjab and Hariyana East beyond the Delhi Ridge stretching up to Bangladesh East beyond the Delhi Ridge stretching up to Bangladesh This alluvial plain constitutes the heartland of the Indian civilization This alluvial plain constitutes the heartland of the Indian civilization

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Indo-Gangetic Plain Densely populated region Centers of Maurya(300BC), Gupta (4 th Century Ad) Mughal ( ) and the British Empire ( ) Major Urban Centers in South Asia Lahore, Delhi, Banaras, Calcutta and Dacca Agricultural Heartland of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh.

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Peninsular India Deccan Plateau This plateau occupies the greatest part of India - a tilted tableland of low rolling hills, great river valleys and uplands. In the central area, the rich black soil retains water but in the regions where this soil does not occur water is a constant problem. Much of India's mineral wealth is found on the plateau. The southern part of the plateau is called the Deccan Peninsular. The Dec ' can tilts to the east, declining in elevation and containing river systems which form fertile deltas when they reach the Bay of Bengal.

Prof. Subho Basu Hstory of South Asia Coastal India The Western and Eastern Ghats: These Ghats (hills) rise abruptly on either side of the Deccan Peninsular. The Ghats are a barrier to transportation and rainfall. The narrow coastal plains bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal lie beyond the Ghats. The Western Coastal Plain is much narrower than the Eastern Coastal plain and much wetter. Part of ancient maritime empires and well connected with the rest of Asia through trade and commerce. Thickly populated with flourishing agriculture.