Environmental History Of India, Pakistan And Bangladesh

Geological and Climatic evolution, Environment during Vedic period, Environment movements in Mughal and British era

What you'll learn

Learn about the geological, demographical and climate evolution of indian subcontinent

Learn about the environmental concern during Indus and Vedic periods

Learn about the outlook of Mughal kings for environment

Know how Britishers gave the laws related to environment

Define the trajectories followd by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for environment conservation

Requirements

Interest to learn about Indian subcontinent and its history from environment angle.

Description

Environmental history is one of the basic prerequisite to understand the environmental studies. Many distinguished historians and authors have tried to write their viewpoints about the historical perspective of enviroment in India. Indian subcontinent is looked in its entirety because of its natural boundary of Himalays in the North and Sea shores in the South. Such a strategic location is rarely found elsewhere and this has blessed Indian subcontinent to evolve very differently. Indus valley civilization marks the beginning of the environment history where people got displaced due to shifting rivers and drying water resources. Ganga valley provided shelter to the Aryans from Central Asia whereas Dravids migrated and settled to far south. With various clashes of clans residing in Central Asia, a branch speaking Devnagri or language of the Gods evolved into Sanskrit speaking Vedic civilization. With its mystical means of transmitting unwritten knowledge, Vedic culture preserved its knowledge but lost its past because no monuments could be found related to Vedas. Late Vedic period saw the emergence of Budhhism and Jainsim which did not last long and slowly modified Vedic culture known as Brahminical culture came to flourish. This culture coopted many things from Buddhism and Jainism and influenced the belief system of forest dwellers in South India, Deccan and Dravid. With downfall of Vedic counties or Mahajanapads and attack from different rulers of Central Asia, ethnic diversity increased in India. Portuguese sailor Vaso-da-Gama first landed in India and later Portuguese merchants brought with them many exotic species like potato and tomato in India. Abbasid caliphates supported Muslim traders in Indian coasts. Later Turks and Mongols like Babar who patronised Islam established Delhi Sultanate in India. They conquered far south and far west but later succumbed to British policies like Doctrine of Lapse and advanced military weapons. First environment movement occured against Mughal ruler in Rajasthan led by Bishnoi community which resisted tree cutting by the kingsmen and laid their lives. Britishers under East India company exploited the Indian forest natural resources for developing roads, railways and monuments. They brought in many legislations to protect forest from local people. With 1857 revolt, British Raj was established under the Queen. Due to racism and exploitation, increased resentment against British in India forced them to declare independence in 1947. But, the partition of India ravaged the already reeling situation due to famines and drought. Post independence, many environmental reforms and legislations were brought in with time to protect the environment. Lets see what are these events.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction : Indian subcontinent - its evolution and population

Lecture 1 Geological and Demographical evolution of Indian subcontinent

Lecture 2 Evolution of Climate of Indian subcontinent

Lecture 3 Evidences of species populating the Indian subcontinent

Lecture 4 Forest dwellers of Indian subcontinent

Section 2: Indus to Ganga

Lecture 5 Indus Valley Civilization

Lecture 6 People of the Vedas

Lecture 7 Late Vedic Period (600-800CE)

Section 3: Emergence of the New models of the World : Buddhism and Jainism

Lecture 8 Mauryan dynasty : Magadh and Beyond

Lecture 9 Golden Age : Gupta period

Lecture 10 Deccan, South Indian and Dravidian culture

Section 4: Enrichment in Ethnic Diversity of India from abroad

Lecture 11 Development of Ethnical and Biological Diversity in India through invasions

Lecture 12 Delhi Sultanate and Deccan Rulers (1206-1526 AD or CE)

Lecture 13 Portuguese Empire in Asia (1498 onwards)

Section 5: 300years of Mughal period and its end with the Revolt of 1857

Lecture 14 Mughal Empire

Lecture 15 Mughals and the Arrival of Britishers

Lecture 16 Mughal-British Transition period

Lecture 17 Second half of 18th century

Lecture 18 First half of the 19th century

Lecture 19 Fight for independence - 1857

Section 6: World Wars and India's independence

Lecture 20 The End of the Nineteenth Century (1858-1890s)

Lecture 21 First Half of the Twentieth Century

Section 7: Partition ravaged nations

Lecture 22 Post Independence India (1947-1971)

Section 8: Period from 1947-1960 : Indus Water Treaty (1955)

Lecture 23 West and East Pakistan from 1947 till 1960

Lecture 24 India during 1947 to 1960

Section 9: Green Revolution in India and Formation of Bangladesh

Lecture 25 India from 1960 till Green revolution

Lecture 26 West and East Pakistan from Indus Treaty till 1971

Section 10: Stockholm to Rio

Lecture 27 India entering into the Greens

Lecture 28 Rio Earth Summit

Lecture 29 Pakistan from 1971 to Rio Summit

Lecture 30 Bangladesh from independence till Rio

Section 11: 21st century

Lecture 31 India - moving into the 21st century

Lecture 32 Pakistan - moving into 21st century

Lecture 33 Bangladesh - moving into 21st century

University students opting Environmental studies and anyone who has the curiosity to learn about Environmental history of India, Pakistan & Bangladesh.