Geography
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A. DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHY/
HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHICAL
THOUGHT
1. Singh, Sachinder, “Geography in India: Some reflections”,
Transactions, 31(2), 2009: 109-120.
The paper has identified the crisis facing geography and the way
out of this. The first crisis is lack of understanding of the changes on
the space. The understanding of concepts and techniques is also
weak. The market value of the subject is found to be very low that is
why the job opportunities are very few. Even if the opportunities
exist, they are availed by non geographers as the geographers are
technically, conceptually not that sound. The problem lies with not
taking up the subject seriously. The solution to this crisis lies in
making the subject relevant by updating it with the present changes.
The second crisis is the quality of the publication. The number
of geographical societies and publications has increased but the
quality is abysmally low. The progress made in the discipline is
never on discussion agenda in conferences. The remedy lies in
promoting debates and discussions on the nature and progress of
the discipline by senior geographers. Geographical societies should
publish pamphlets and arrange workshops to explain new themes
and concepts. The collaboration between geographical organizations
and private institutions is commended. It will not only increase the
quality will also raise the market value of the subject.
The third crisis identified by the author is in the use of new
technology like RS, GIS and GPS. The use of these techniques can
take geography to the market but in this also we are laggard. The
use of these techniques is limited to elitist centres. The answer to
this problem lies in involving geographical societies to impart
knowledge and accessibility to these technologies.
Fourth crisis is the marginalization of geography and the
geographers. Society understands geography as the discipline
related with information and construction of maps. This image of
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the discipline is may be due to ignorance on the part of the society
or our low standard work or irrelevance of the subject. We need to
ponder over these issues.
2. Mookherjee, Saswati, “Idological Shifts in Geography: Its
Impact on Research”, Geographical Review of India, 71(3), 2009: 249254.
The paper highlights some of the latest trends in geographic
research in country as well as in the Anglo-American world in recent
years. At the same time the paper also focuses on some of the basic
parameters of geographical thoughts and the theoretical postulates
that help to make hypothesis and make it possible to solve the
problems related to man and society. It describes the classical period
of Greek and Roman scholars, medieval period of Arab and
European Geographers, modern geography as the contribution of
Kant, Humboldt and Ritter and Geography in the 20th Century.
There have been several shifts in geographical methodology
starting from Quantitative approach to Behavioural, Radical and
Humanistic approaches that have been increasingly used by those
geographers in analysing the socio-natural relationship of man. It
may be mentioned that the problem of identity crisis in geography
is an age old phenomenon which may be attributed to its nature.
Research methodology in geography has undergone a tremendous
change in recent years. Modern geography takes into account an
individual’s role in shaping his immediate space either in urban or
rural areas.
3. Farooqui, Jamil, “Changing Paradigms of Development: An
Assessment”, Indian Association of Social Science Institutions, Quaterly,
2009: 5-26.
The paper deals with different approaches to development. It
stresses that development is a broad concept which covers all aspects
of human life and society. It rejects the interpretations of concept in
terms of economic and political development only. The most suitable
term to highlight is the social transformation or social development.
The paper rejects the contemporary view that changes in the material
conditions, initiate changes in the ecological system including
standards of morality, values and virtues. The paper highlights the
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repercussions of this view. In material conditions, changes on
ideological bases, it will destroy the whole fabric of human relations
creating conflicts, violence, suppression, exploitation; and will
damage peace, tranquillity and human dignity. The reason is that,
it will damage and alter the bases and forms of society for which
they are created. The paper sets forth the view that changes and
development of material conditions should take place according to
the ideological bases and cardinal principles of society. They can be
used to achieve the ends. Development in any aspect of society
should be according to those cardinal principles and in such a way
as to strengthen them and implement them in all aspects of the
society.
4. Khan, Mumtaj, “Richard Hartshorne’s Contribution to
Climatology”, Annals of National Association of Geographers, India;
Vol.29, No.2, 2009;50-59
The paper, presents reflection on the contribution of Hartshorne
to climatology. It is based upon two papers, which Hartshorne
published in the field of climatology in USA, which also trace down
the growth of the contribution of persons working in various
institutions, Weather Bureau and university departments of
geography. In a way, Khan has provided a summary of what
Hartshorne had written decades ago.
The paper is based entirely on Hartshorne’s paper under
reference. His first paper, ‘Six Standard Seasons of the Year’ was
published in 1938, the second entitled, ‘A Rational and Elementary
Classification of Climates’ is available only in the form of an abstract.
In the absence of the precise technique inferred from the abstract, it
is not possible to fully comprehend the paper.
Hartshorne had discussed a very interesting problem, which was
significant geographically. In this study Hartshorne had emphasized
the complementarities of both regional and systematic braches of
geography, he had not only pleaded for the use of quantitative
techniques but also used relevant mathematical formulas to
construct the temperature curves in the study.
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5. Ghosal, Somnath, “Is Nature Cultural’ or Producer? An
Explanatory Anaysis Based on Recent Human Geographical
Studies”, Annals of the National Association of Geographers, India, 29(1),
2009: 89-95.
The article has discussed the concept of nature a contested term
that means different things to different people in different places.
Generally this contestation revolves around three main meanings,
the nature or essence of a thing, nature as material place external to
humanity and nature as universal law or reality that may or may
not include humans.
Geographers, more than most other academics, have been
centrally concerned with nature. Human Geography encompasses
human, political, cultural, social and economic aspects regarding
the internal as well as the external nature of surroundings of human
society. The major focus of Human Geography is not merely to
discuss man and his society. It is hardly possible to discuss human
geography without referring to the physical landscape and its
influence on social activities. Human Geography thus finds an
important juncture in its critical engagement with the question of
nature. Man has fulfilled the potential to make the whole earth their
home. A universal human habitat has been created. The earth has
been humanized. The total dependence upon nature, had reduced
with the accumulation of knowledge. Science can hold out the
technological goal of reasonable sufficiency for a very considerable
period.
At the end of the discussion, it is concluded that the contention
that nature is also cultural. Not only to protect the nature world as
well as the social features of the human being is the most important
link, between the natural and the cultural world.
6. Adhikari, Sudipta, “An Approach to Measure National Power:
A geographical Appraisal of Twenty-One Countries”, The
Geographer, 56, 2009: 12-25.
The present paper aims at measuring the national power of the
21 selected countries, with the objective of identifying their place in
the power equalities and their role in global geopolitics. It is a sample
study of a very small number of countries, with the intention of
universalising the applicability of the model developed in the present
appraisal. Present study shows the power equation and/ or index
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among the selected 21 countries have changed over times and space.
It is a deductive study, intended for a general understanding of the
global power equation vis-a-vis the nature of geopolitics. The
selection of 21 countries has been made applying the Wallenstein’s
model of spatial structuring, core, periphery and semi-periphery.
The power equation developed in the present study to measure the
national power is based in the application of the formula developed
by Knox-1874, which is used to measure the level of living in England
and Wales. On the basis of the calculated values or ranks of power
equation or index, the 21 selected states have been grouped into
four categories. These are 5 countries in first category of high energy
consumption level, high per capita GDP, the highest military
expenditure and production of iron and steel, six countries are in
the second category. There are six states in third category and six
also in fourth category. The United States ranks one in the power
ranking in the world. The only power in the world geopolitics with
a capacity to participate unilaterally in the global decision-making
process that is reflected in the foreign policy. Russia comes next to
United States, despite her failure on the economic front. The rise of
china in the global geopolitics is spectacular. Rapid economic growth
in past few years since cessation of cold war has sustained her
military powers to the hemispheric power in the global power
equation. Germany’s economy has improved ever since her
unification in the late 80’s. Germany is the present local military
power, likely to emerge as a regional power. Japan is an economic
power challenging the US economic hegemony. Canada’s position
in the power ranking has improved, and it appears to be in an
ascending position, while the United Kingdom and France which
once held dominance, particularly, in the world-system have lost
much of their strategic vitality in spite of being core countries. Italy
is a core country together with the Netherland but their strategic
power is yet to be recognised. Rise if India is also spectacular in the
global power equation. Indian economy is improving with a
sustained growth rate. The military power position has increased
to the extent as to have made her a regional power in the AfroAsian Indian Ocean Region. Pakistan, spite of being a poor country,
is also a nuclear armed state through its position in the power
equation is much below than that of India. Remaining countries are
neither militarily strong nor economically powerful.