This Fissured Land: An Ecological History of India (Oxford India Paperbacks) - Softcover

Gadgil, Madhav; Guha, Ramachandra

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195633415 ISBN 13: 9780195633412

Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks, 1994

Synopsis

In the first part of the book, the authors present a general theory of ecological history which attempts a paradigm shift from Weberian and Marxian theories of human society. Here they ask under what conditions humans exercise prudence in their use of natural resources; they examine infrastructures, property systems, political ideologies, religions, social idioms and the belief structures that characterize human interactions with resource bases; they analyse the varieties of social conflict that appear over the exploitation of natural resources; and, finally, they explore the impact of changing patterns of resource use upon human societies.

In the second part the authors provide a fresh interpretive history of pre-modern India. They also provide, in this section, an ecological interpretation of the caste system which adds a significant dimension to existing ideas on caste.

In the third part the authors draw on a huge wealth of source material to offer a socioecological analysis of the modes of resources use which were introduced by the British, and which continued, with modifications, after Independence in 1947. (This is a paperback edition of the HB issued in 1992.)

About this title

Review:

The narrative's strength is its ability to highlight the two-way interaction between social relations and environmental conditions. The power of this approach is highlighted by the authors' analysis of the evolution of the caste system. (Ecological Economics)

Synopsis:

In the first part of this book, the authors present a general theory of ecological history which attempts a paradigm shift from Weberian and Marxian theories of human society. They examine infrastructures, property systems, political ideologies, religions, social idioms and the belief structures that characterize human interactions with resource bases; analyze the varieties of social conflict that appear over the exploitation of natural resources; and explore the impact of changing patterns of resource use upon human societies. In the second part, the authors provide a fresh interpretive history of pre-modern India. They also provide, in this section, an ecological interpretation of the caste system which adds a significant dimension to existing ideas on caste. To conclude, the authors draw on source material to offer a socioecological analysis of the modes of resources use which were introduced by the British, and which continued, with modifications, after Independence in 1947.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0195633415
• ISBN 13: 9780195633412
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288