Speaking Rivers: Environmental History of a Mid- Ganga Flood Country, 1540-1885

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The question of water and human dependence on river systems has become a major public concern of the twenty-first century. Based on a long term historical study of a flood country in the mid-Ganga basin, Speaking River: Environmental History of a Mid-Ganga Flood Country, 1540-1885 looks at the changing perception of the people of the Ganga region from a useful to a problematic river. Based on environmental, agricultural and cultural histories it explores the British colonial policy that altered the age-old relationship between the people and the river, and the long-term landscape transformations and cropping pattern changes that have been taking shape since early modern times. This book also examines the man-made calamities of 1770 and 1873-4 in ecological and human terms. Vipul sees a strong connection between economy and environment and goes on to question the presumed relationship between flood control and modernity, and explains as to why even today ecologically vulnerable diara land remains as the centre of conflict and dispute.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vipul Singh

Vipul Singh is Reader in Medieval History at Motilal Nehru College (University of Delhi), New Delhi, where he has specialized in teaching Medieval Indian History and Environment. He obtained his M.A., M.Phil and Ph.D. in History from Delhi University. Dr. Singh specializes on eighteenth century Indian history which is considered as a period of transition from medieval to modern. He has to his credit a number of research papers, articles and book-reviews, published in journals of repute. He has participated in many national and international conferences. Among his publications, the chapter entitled Ecology and Encounters: the Maratha Demands and its Impact on Land-use Pattern in Eighteenth Century Marwar published in the book Resource Conservation and Food Security (Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, 2004), has been widely acclaimed for its meticulous research. Presently, Dr. Singh is engaged in writing a volume on the environmental history of Marwar. Dr. Singh is also an active environmental activist who stresses on a more pragmatic approach to solving problems currently being faced worldwide. His views, in the matter, have been published in various national dailies.