Bengal in Maps: A Geographical Analysis of Resource Distribution in West Bengal and Eastern Pakistan

In stock

Free & Quick Delivery Worldwide

This atlas is not a collection of locational maps of the conventional type. It contains a number of specialized maps, based on field and library work, carried out by the author for a number of years. The observations and statistics were then plotted on large scale maps, mainly for the purpose of teaching the geography of Bengal to University post-graduate students. Some of the maps were subsequently exhibited in a geographical exhibition, opened in Calcutta by Professor L. Dudley Stamp of London University in January, 1947. It was then suggested that the maps be printed in the form of an atlas, and the revision of the maps from the production point of view was taken up soon after. In the meantime came the movement for the partition of Bengal, when the intelligentsia of India in general and Bengal in particular, became almost overnight map-conscious, and maps of every kind were in great demand. A special map was prepared in the Department of Geography of Calcutta University under the direction of the author, indicating the probable boundary line between West and East Bengal, if Bengal were to be partitioned. The publication of that map aroused further interest in cartographical representations, and it was then felt, and rightly so, that a set of maps depicting the entire field of the geography of Bengal might put the members of the Bengal Boundary Commission on the right track. Had the maps been in print before the final award of Sir Cyril Radcliffe, there would perhaps have been a more reasonable partition of Bengal to the satisfaction of the two major communities of the province, Hindus and Muslims. Most of the maps, as presented in the atlas, have the Radcliffe line marked on them, which can be seen to run across important roads and railways, thereby disrupting the existing transport systems and breaking up areas of regional unity. It is hoped that some of the maps, incorporated in the atlas, may be of use in connection with planning of national development, rehabilitation and reconstruction. In any case, the distributional patterns displayed by the maps will be of interest to statisticians and economists. The atlas may serve another useful purpose. Since it is a sort of ‘stock-taking’ of the national resources of the province at the time the British withdrew from India, and Bengal was partitioned, it may have some value as a historical document in map form for the comparison of the future economy of both West Bengal and Eastern Pakistan (East Bengal) with their past common tradition. The sources of information are noted in the text accompanying the maps. The agricultural maps, though primarily based on the statistics collected and published by the Agricultural Department of Bengal, are revised in the light of the findings of the land utilisation survey work carried out by the author in certain districts of Bengal. Agricultural statistics relating to the Sylhet district, which now forms part of Eastern Pakistan, could not be secured, hence the old name ‘East Bengal’ has been retained in the text.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prithvish Nag

Prithvish Nag, (b. 1951), M.Sc. (Gold Medalist), Ph.D., is the Director of the national Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) of the Ministry of Science and technology, Government of India. He has been the President of the Indian National Cartographic Association, Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information centre, Institute of Indian Geographers, Indian Institute of geomorpholists, Professor S.P. Chatterjee Memorial Foundation and Indian Geographical Foundation. At the international Level, he was the Chairman of the International cartograqphic Association (ICA), Commission on Population Cartography, UN/PCGIAP Committee on Institutional Strengthening for Asia and the Pacific, International Steering Committee on Global Mapping (ISCGM), Working Group on data Standardization, and Full member of the International geographical Union (IGU), Commission on Population geography, and Member, Editorial Board, International Journal on geographical Information System. Dr. nag was the Visiting member of the Staff of the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He is an Author and editor of over 35 boos and 110 research papers. His well known books are geography of Indian and Digital remote sensing. Dr. nag was UN Consultant in cartography in the Sultanate of Oman and the Surveyor general of India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR S P Chatterjee

S.P. Chatterjee, M.Sc., Ph.D. (London), D. Litt., (Paris) Head of the Department of Geography, University of Calcutta.

reviews

0 in total

There are no reviews yet.

Bibliographic information

Title
Bengal in Maps: A Geographical Analysis of Resource Distribution in West Bengal and Eastern Pakistan
Author
Edition
Reprint.
Publisher
Length
xiv+105p., Maps; Appendices; 29cm.
Subjects

tags

#Pakistan