Author: B L C Johnson
Publisher: Vision/Orient paperbacks
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 576
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8170945666
Description
With a billion people inhabiting a land ranging from sandy desert to rainforest, from the world’s highest ranges to some of its most extensive plains, India presents an amazing diversity of landscapes and patterns of human occupation and activity. The vast and varied physical and human geography has now been packed into this unique encyclopedic reference work-the first-ever of its kind-by a noted scholar who has travelled and researched the region for close to six decades.
The Geographical Dictionary of India encompasses in alphabetically arranged entries:
India’s states, districts and cities, describing their physical, demographic and economic characteristics –population numbers, growth trends, density, languages, religions, primary, secondary and tertiary economic functions, levels of economic development-and infrastructure; communications, health, education.
Elements that constitute agriculture and industry: crops, irrigation, multipurpose projects, minerals, manufactures.
Physiographic regions, mountain peaks and ranges, hills, plains, rivers, etc., which are located, described and related to the districts they occupy.
Wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and tiger projects, as well as places of particular historical interest are noted.
In addition, the author’s Introduction provides the reader a remarkably succinct overview and context of geographical India as a whole, and numerous cross-references help the enquiring reader to explore related interests.
REVIEWS
This encyclopedic dictionary brings modern India to your fingertips. A most valuable and original work of reference.
-Andrew Gosling, National Library of Australia
An outstanding achievement. Here is a veritable goldmine of information about today’s India, an essential source for the scholar, businessman, student, diplomat, traveller and inquiring citizen.
-Professor Robin Jeffrey, La Trobe University, Australia
Contents
Preface
Guide to the Use of the Dictionary
Acknowledgements
Introduction
The People
Vital Statistics
Urbanization
Population Density
Languages
Racial Elements
Scheduled Tribes
Scheduled Castes
Religions
Administration
The Land
Geology
Soils
Morphology and Physiographic regions
Climate
Rivers and Water Resources
Natural Disasters
Natural Vegetation
Wildlife
Biosphere Reserves
The Structure of the Economy
Agriculture
Irrigation
Livestock
Horticulture and Plantation Agriculture
Fisheries
Resources for industry
Energy
Minerals
Manufacturing Industries
Textile Industries
Metallurgical Industries
Engineering Industries
Chemical and Allied Industries
Industrialisation
Service Industries
Transport
Economic Development and Market Potential
The Dictionary
Glossary