The figure of the white hunter sahib proudly standing over the carcass of a tiger with a gun in hand is one of the most powerful and enduring images of the empire. This book examines the colonial politics that allowed British imperialists to indulge in such grand posturing as the rulers and protectors of indigenous populations. This work studies the history of hunting and conservation in colonial India during the high imperial decades of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. At this time, not only did hunting serve as a metaphor for colonial rule signifying the virile sportsmanship of the British hunter, but it also enabled vital everyday governance through the embodiment of the figure of the officer–hunter–administrator. Using archival material and published sources, the author examines hunting and wildlife conservation from various social and ethnic perspectives, and also in different geographical contexts, extending our understanding of the link between shikar and governance.

This book presents a comprehensive account of the transformation of Assam's forests and ecology from early nineteenth century to the end of the twentieth century. It locates present-day ecological conflicts in the colonial era when contest over forest, land, and resource began to take new shape. Arupjyoti Saikia delineates how forest resources in Assam were mapped and intergrated with mechant capitalism since the early nineteenth century. He shows how imperial forestry practices led to changes in traditional resource utilization patterns. The book also examines the political economy of conservation practices. It explores the question of law and conservation, role of institutions and organizations, and the changing role of the forests in imperial economy. The book argues how the making of forest policy in the postcolonial period was defind by the complexities of the political matrix. It discusses plantation, silvicultural practices, protection and regeneration of forests, and livlihood practices. The author also analyses public debates surrounding ecology and environmental changes in conservation practices after the 1980 Act.

This book is a study of the concepts of endangerment and extinction. Examining interlinking discourses of biological and cultural diversity loss in western and central India, it problematizes the long history of human endangerment and extinction discourse.

Annotation This volume surveys 200 years of Indian literature in English. Written by Indian scholars and critics, many of the 24 contributions examine the work of individual authors, such as Rabindranath Tagore, R.K. Narayan, and Salman Rushdie. Others consider a particular genre, such as post-independence poetry or drama. The volume is illustrated with b&w photographs of writers along with drawings and popular prints. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

The Intelligent Dolphins, The Giant Whales And The Inoffensive Dugong Or Sea-Cow Are Among The Most Fascinating Creatures In The Wild. Every Aspect Of Their Way Of Life Is Astonishing Some Of Them Use Sound To See In The Water, Some Of Them Dive To Incredible Depths In Search Of Food, And Some Of Them Sing Complex Songs. Marine Mammals Are So Intriguing That Worldwide There Is A Multi-Million Dollar Industry In Just Watching These Animals. Yet, In India Few Are Even Aware That There Are Many Of These Creatures In The Seas Around The Country A Full Fourth Of The World S 120 Or So Species, In Fact. This Is Due To The Lack Of Information About Them. Most Existing Records Are Scattered In Various Scientific Journals. No Book Published So Far Covers This Group Of Indian Wildlife Adequately. This Book Is Meant For A Wide Range Of Readers Including Children, Wildlife Enthusiasts And Serious Students. A Significant Part Of The Book Is Devoted To The More Than 30 Species Accounts, Which Make The Book A Useful Reference. Glimpses Of Their Lifestyles Are Given Through Several Essays Dealing, For Example, With The Phenomenon Of Mass Strandings Of Whales Or The Reputed Ferocity Of The Killer Whale. Further, Color Illustrations And Character Matrices Meant For Easy Identification Make Marine Mammals Of India A Useful Field Guide. The Extensive Bibliography Makes The Book A Valuable Research Aid. The Accounts Of Whaling And Other Threats Faced By Marine Mammals Highlight The Conservation Requirements Of These Animals.

This longue durée survey of the Indian subcontinent's environmental history reveals the complex interactions among its people and the natural world.