Journal of Indian Geomorphology

Volume 10, 2022 l ISSN 2320-0731

Indian Institute of Geomorphologists (IGI)

Physical Geography in India: A Perspective on the Current

Status and Future Prospects
Vishwas S. Kale
Formerly at the Department of Geography, S. P. Pune University, Pune 411007
E-mail: [email protected] (Corresponding author)

Abstract: Physical geography is no longer one of the stronger or important sub-

disciplines of geography in many universities in India. This review paper deals with
the current status of physical geography in India. The review is primarily based on the
examination of the articles published in four Indian geography research journals and
the IGI journal before 2014, as well as the post-graduate course contents of some of
the university departments in India. An attempt has also been made to list the probable
reasons for the decline of physical geography in India. Finally, the paper briefly discusses
the future of physical geography in the Indian context..

Introduction Physical geography has been a prominent

Physical geography is fundamentally component of geography for a long time in
concerned with the complexities of the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada
physical environment in space and time (Gregory, 2000) as well as in some of the
(Inkpen, 2009). Physical geographers have European countries and to some extent
an abiding interest in the geographical in China (Fu et al., 2006). Though in the
distribution of various natural forms, features USA the importance of physical geography
and phenomena to understand their spatial has declined remarkably since the mid-
patterns as well as the associated processes 20th century, physical geographers and
(geomorphic, hydrological, atmospheric, geomorphologists dominated the discipline
marine and biological) on different spatial during the first few decades of the last century
and temporal scales. Physical geography (Rhoads, 2004).
is an integral, a key and a large branch of Today, physical geography in India is
geography. This sub-discipline of geography in a crisis. In the last few decades, physical
has a clear identity within the sciences geography has almost vanished from the
and is extremely broad in subject matter. Indian scene and the space separating
The three principal subfields of physical physical and human geography is growing
geography are geomorphology, climatology, wider. Given the enormous geo-diversity as
and biogeography. Other subfields generally well as climatic, pedological and biological
included under physical geography are diversity in our country this is most surprising
soil geography (pedology), hydrology and and perplexing (Kale, 1993; Kale, 2014).
Quaternary studies (Goudie et al., 1985). The Indian landmass encompasses virtually
16 journal of indian geomorphology: volume 10, 2022
every geomorphic landscape present on the Eastern Himalaya (along with Myanmar)
Earth surface — from the spectacular glacier- are amongst the world’s top twenty five
carved valleys with moraines, vast alluvial biodiversity hotspots with several thousand
and deltaic plains, chain of mountains and a endemic plant species and vertebrate species
rocky-sandy desert to laterite-capped mesas, (Myers et al., 2000). In view of the huge
waterfalls, gorges, inselbergs, beaches, variety of research opportunities in our
mangrove swamps, and coral islands (Kale, country it is a mystery why this fascinating,
2014; Vaidyanadhan and Subbarao, 2014). exciting and promising branch of earth
The region includes the highest, youngest sciences is disappearing from the Indian
and the most active mountain belt in a scene and why this key branch of geography
collisional setting (the Himalaya). The is not attracting Indian geographers.
Indian Peninsula is an ancient landmass
characterised by multiple ancient surfaces Current status of physical geography in
and valleys underlain by some of the oldest India
rocks (3-4 billion years) on the Earth. The The present status of physical geography
vast Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains in India is a germane question, the answer
display distinctive river process and alluvial for which is vital from the viewpoint of the
landforms, ranging from meandering and future of physical geography in India. The
braided channels, ox-bow lakes and natural question could be answered on the basis of
levees to floodplains, deltas and alluvial fans. the examination and analysis of the data on
The Western Ghat (Sahyadri) is one of the various ‘health’ indicators (Gregory, 2000;
most spectacular great escarpments of the Thrift and Walling, 2000; Gregory et al., 2002;
world. Furthermore, the monsoon climate of Rhoads, 2004), such as – the post-graduate
India provides several opportunities to study curricula, the number of students specialising
the spatio-temporal variations in monsoon in various branches of geography, the number
rainfall, extreme rainfall events, droughts, of teaching faculty in various university
cyclones, depressions and thunderstorms, departments and their research interests, the
as well as heat and cold waves. One of the quality and quantity of research outputs,
wettest places on the Earth is located over research funding, the department’s research
the Meghalaya Plateau (Mawsynrum and vitality, etc. In the present review only two
Cherrapunji, with annual rainfall about 11780 aspects are considered – (a) the history of
mm) in northeastern India, and the average articles published in four Indian geography
annual rainfall at Jaisalmer, in the Indian research journals, and (b) the post-graduate
Desert almost at the same latitude in western course content and structure of different
India, is less than 150 mm. There are a large universities in India.
number of meteorological stations spread
across the subcontinent and some of the History of research articles published:
longest meteorological records are available Output indicator
for the Indian region. Virtually every water- One way to assess the current status and
related hazard and geo-hazard is known from configuration of physical geography is to
the subcontinent. In addition, the Indian classify and analyse the data on research
region, due to its great geo-diversity, pedo- articles published in the different research
diversity and climatic diversity, has been journals (Gregory, 2000; Thrift and Walling,
identified as a distinct biogeographic region. 2000; Gregory, et al., 2002; Rhoads, 2004;
The Western Ghat (and Sri Lanka) and the Levia and Underwood, 2004). Information
Physical Geography in India: A Perspective on the Current Status and Future Prospects 17
regarding papers under major sub-branches publication falls in an over-lapping (fuzzy)
of geography was compiled for four area. Second, the title of the paper does
Indian geographical journals, namely the not clearly reflect the contents of the paper.
Geographical Review of India (GRI) of the Notwithstanding these difficulties, the history
Geographical Society of India, Kolkata, of research articles published in the Indian
The Deccan Geographer of the Deccan research journals provides a fairly good
Geographical Society, India, Pune (DGS), measure of the importance and configuration
the Transactions of the Institute of Indian of physical geography in India.
Geographers (IIG), Pune, and the Annals of Classification of the topics of the published
the National Association of Geographers, papers shows that the proportion of articles
India (NAGI), New Delhi. Except the first with noteworthy physical geography content
journal, all the remaining three are published varies amongst the four selected Indian
bi-annually. The Geographical Review of geographical journals. About 19–33% of the
India is a quarterly journal. The Annals of published papers in these journals could be
NAGI in the early 1980s had published three regarded as physical geography (Table 1).
issues in a year (Kapur, 2002). These Indian Table 1 also reveals that the geography journal
journals, unfortunately, are not published with the highest percentage of contributions
regularly (particularly, GRI and Annals), in physical geography was the Transactions
the quality of papers is highly variable and of the Institute of Indian Geographers.
the research articles published in the journal Grouping of the papers under different fields
volumes do not undergo rigorous peer- of specialisation included in the ‘Progress in
review. Often there are pesky mistakes in Indian Geography’ (1992–2012) by Singh
the published articles in Indian geographical (2012) reveals that only about 12% of the
journals implying that the concerned editors published articles were related to physical
do not take the proof reading step very geography. Sivaramakrishnan (2014) based
seriously. on the categorisation of the papers included in
There may be an element of bias in the the ICSSR Journal of Abstracts and Reviews
classification or categorisation of papers in Geography for the period 2000–2009,
published in the Indian geographical journals found that about one-fourth papers in Indian
due to two reasons. First, the research research journals were related to physical
geography.

Table 1. Average percentage of papers on topics related to physical geography published in four Indian geographical journals
(up to 2014)

Average number of papers

First issue Period considered
Name of Indian Journal on Physical Geography
published in in this study
during review period

Geographical Review of India 1936 1970-2013 24%

The Deccan Geographer 1962 1970-2014 23%

Transactions of IIG 1979 1979-2014 33%

Annals of NAGI 1981 1981-2014 19%

18 journal of indian geomorphology: volume 10, 2022

Figure 1. Percentage of total journal contributions in physical geography in four Indian geographical journals. GRI = Geo-
graphical Review of India, Kolkata, DG = The Deccan Geographer, Pune, TIIG = the Transactions of the Institute of Indian Ge-
ographers, Pune, and ANAGI = the Annals of the National Association of Geographers, India, New Delhi. Note that the papers
published in GRI and DG before 1970 are not included in the present review.

Although the temporal trend is highly do Indian physical geographers publish less in
variable (Fig. 1), a noteworthy increase in the the geographical journals compared to other
number of papers on topics related to physical subfields of geography, particularly human
geography is seen in the case of the Deccan geography? One of the likely explanations
Geographer (DG) from 1996 to 2002 (Fig. 1). is that there are fewer physical geographers
In 1997, a special issue on climatology was in the country than human geographers.
published by the DG. For other volumes of Another explanation is that Indian physical
the DG the exact reasons for the sudden spurt geographers perhaps prefer to publish in
in the publications on physical geography specialised or interdisciplinary journals that
could not be ascertained. reach larger audience. A cursory examination
of the contents of the last ten years’ issues
The Geographical Review of India
of four national research journals in earth
published the highest number of papers on
sciences with impact factor (<1.0), namely
topics related to physical geography in 1998.
the Current Science, the Journal Geological
The Transactions of the IIG crossed the 50%
Society of India, the Journal of Earth System
mark in 1985 and 1991. Examination of the
Science and the Journal of the Indian Society
compiled data further reveals a marginal
of Remote Sensing (ISRS), does not provide
change in the proportion of physical geography
any evidence in support of the latter argument.
articles published in the Indian geography
Nevertheless, it is important to mention
journals since the turn of this century. The
here that scrutiny of the affiliations of the
analysis also reveals the unbalanced nature
first author or the co-authors of the papers
of papers within physical geography and the
published in the Journal of the ISRS since
dominance of geomorphology over other sub-
2001 indicates that a noteworthy number
branches of physical geography, particularly
of papers have been contributed by Indian
climatology.
geographers. Not many of them are physical
A relevant question in this regard is — why geographers.
Physical Geography in India: A Perspective on the Current Status and Future Prospects 19
Figure 2. Number of papers on topics related to coastal and fluvial geomorphology in the Indian Journal of Geomorphology,
published by the Indian Institute of Geomorphologists (IGI) from 1996 to 2011.

As the imbalance in the publications within climatology, biogeography and/or soil

physical geography is clearly indicated by the geography (pedology).
dominance of papers on geomorphological The classification of the papers published
themes (Kale, 1993; Sharma and Kale, 2009; in the IGI journal between 1996 and 2013
Rai, 2012), a simple exercise was carried shows that about 51 percent of the papers were
out to determine the balance of types of on themes directly related to coastal (26%)
investigations within geomorphology by and fluvial (25%) geomorphology (Fig. 2).
classifying the contents of the only Indian Fluvial geomorphology also includes papers
research journal in geomorphology, namely, on hydrology. A large number of papers are on
the Indian Journal of Geomorphology. The very general themes such as erosion surfaces
Indian Institute of Geomorphologists (IGI) and basin relief characteristics, appraisal of
published this bi-annual research journal natural resources, geomorphic mapping and
since 1996.1 regionalisation, groundwater resources and
IGI was established in 1987 at Allahabad water quality, geo-environmental hazards,
to provide an annual forum for bringing wastelands, landforms of some or the other
Indian (geographer) geomorphologists region, etc. The number of papers dealing
together and to facilitate dialogue amongst with some or the other aspects of aeolian
Indian physical geographers as well as with geomorphology, glacial geomorphology,
Indian geologists on emerging approaches, Quaternary geomorphology, etc. were
new developments, and challenges in the less than 1%. There is a clear indication of
field of earth and environmental sciences. an increase in the application of remote
There is no such geographers’ association/ sensing and GIS techniques, though the
organisation or journal in India exclusively expected rigour is lacking. Publications on
dedicated to research in the field of applied aspects, process-oriented studies and

1
The IGI brought out the Indian Journal of Geomorphology up to 2011, after which it started to publish the Journal
of Indian Geomorphology (from 2012).
20 journal of indian geomorphology: volume 10, 2022
modelling are few or completely missing. As examination of the curricula would provide
there are fewer inquiry-based and problem- good indications of the importance of this
based research publications, a good number major discipline of geography. One of the
of these publications may not have a lasting ways to get some idea about the current
impact. In short, Indian geomorphology looks status or ‘place’ of physical geography in the
very different from its counterpart in Europe Indian universities at the post-graduate level
in general and in UK in particular. is to have a look at the number of courses on
A cursory examination of the affiliations physical geography offered by some of the
of the authors (particularly the lead author) old and leading university departments of
reveals that over the 18-year period (1996 to geography. Accordingly, the post-graduate
2013), workers from seven Indian universities syllabi of two dozen universities in India were
contributed more than half of the papers to downloaded. There is no particular reason for
the IGI journal. The top seven universities not including other universities in the present
are — the Tamil University/Sastra University list (Table 2).
(Thanjavur), Pune University (including S.P. A simple exercise was carried out. The
College), Calcutta University, Bharathidasan total number of courses (core, optional and
University (Tiruchirappalli), Gauhati elective) and the number of courses on physical
University, Allahabad University and the geography (core, optional and elective) listed
University of Rajasthan (Jaipur). under the syllabus structure were counted and
Further, slightly less than two-third the percentage was estimated. The courses
research papers were contributed by (theory and practical) on geomorphology,
geographers and the remaining were authored climatology, hydrology, oceanography,
by non-geographers, mostly geologists biogeography and soil geography (or
from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) pedology) were included under the category
and a few university departments such of physical geography. Some related courses
as the Tamil University (Thanjavur), the (such as natural resources, environmental
University of Delhi, the Andhra University impact assessment, disaster or water resource
(Visakhapatnam), etc. management, remote sensing, GIS, etc.)
Post-graduate Curricula were not considered. A brief summary of the
results is presented in Table 2. It is very likely
As much as research outputs and funded
that some of the courses listed in the syllabus
research projects, pedagogy is also critical
may not be offered every year by a particular
in shaping the practice of a discipline, and
university.

Table 2. Percentage share of the courses on physical geography at post-graduate level in some leading Indian Universities
Based on all courses (core, optional and elective) listed under the syllabus of different Indian universities in 2014).

Share of courses on Name of the Indian University

Physical Geography
Less than 20% AMU, Bangalore, Baroda, BHU, Delhi, Himachal, JNU, Mysore, Osmania, Punjab, Rajasthan

20-33% Allahabad, Andhra, Kurukshetra, Kashmir, NEHU, North Bengal, Rohtak , Shivaji

33-50% Burdwan, Calcutta, Jammu, Mumbai

More than 50% Pune

Physical Geography in India: A Perspective on the Current Status and Future Prospects 21
 Although the overall pattern is somewhat or correlation. Multivariate statistical
uneven, it is clear from Table 2 that in about approach is largely lacking. Even a
50% of the university departments the share cursory examination of the research papers
of courses on physical geography is less published in Indian research journals
than one-fifth. The proportion of physical during the first one and half decades of the
geography courses listed under the syllabus 21st century will confirm this fact. Often it
structure of only five university’s geography appears that the quantitative revolution in
departments is more than one-third. Pune geography of the mid-20th century is yet
University geography department is the only to arrive in India.
department in the country that gives almost (b) The realisation that physical geography
equal weightage to the courses on physical (particularly geomorphology) is
and human geography. becoming more science-based, multi-
disciplinary and high-tech in nature.
Causes of the decline of physical geography At the international level, as a result
in India of the explosion in the availability of
The alarming decline in the relative information and research activity, physical
strength and importance of this key branch geography has experienced number of
of geography could be attributed to multiple changes in the concepts, approaches and
reasons. To list the exact reasons is not an methods. Further, geomorphology has
easy task, and readers may disagree with become increasingly multi-disciplinary,
some of the inferences made. Nevertheless, as geomorphologists have begun to
an attempt is made to mention below some of appreciate the full scope of this sub-
the foremost reasons for the present place of discipline and the fact that many complex
physical geography in India geo-environmental issues could be solved
(a) The conviction that physical geography only through interdisciplinary teamwork.
has its affinities with geological sciences For a long time, geomorphology in
and atmospheric sciences, rather than India was based on the analysis of data
geography. Although geomorphology, generated from topographical maps and
climatology and pedology are practised simple field observations. However, in
within physical geography, some basic recent years the geomorphic enquiry is
knowledge of the complex physical more and more based on accurate and
and chemical processes, statistics, rigorous field measurements, laboratory
mathematics, etc. is required to understand, analysis, image processing, radiometric
assess and evaluate geomorphic, dating and computer modelling. This
atmospheric, and biological processes. necessitates knowledge of various new
Further, for geomorphologists some tools, techniques and methods, and
understanding of the local and regional dialogue with scientists from cognate fields
geology and tectonic setup of the study (geologists, geochemists, statisticians,
area is indispensable. Geography students engineers, computer modellers, geo-
from non-science streams often find it archaeologists, etc.). Although most
difficult to comprehend the concepts in major Indian universities have geology (or
geomorphology, meteorology, hydrology environment sciences) department, there
and pedology. Most geographical studies is limited interaction or collaboration
do not go beyond calculation of the between geographers and geologists or
percentages or some simple ratios/ indices scientists from other related disciplines.
22 journal of indian geomorphology: volume 10, 2022
(c) The belief that geomorphology, like involves considerable amount of effort
geology, is an empirical science as well on the part of the researcher. Geomorphic
as a field science and hence intensive data are available for analysis only after
and rigorous fieldwork and field-based multiple field visits and surveys, field
measurements/ monitoring are some measurements, sample collection, sample
of the fundamental requirements for analysis; field monitoring over different
successful research. With the advent of periods of time depending upon the nature
spatial technologies (GIS and Remote of the problem, etc. Needless to say, often
Sensing) and advances in computers (armchair) geographers find this type of
there is increasing preference amongst exercise very time consuming, dull and
young geographers for lab-based studies tedious.
rather than field-based studies, which (f) Weak link between physical and human
involve physical hardships and numerous geography, and limited interaction
challenges. The computer-based between Indian physical and human
developments have changed the mind-set geographers. One of the several reasons
of post-graduate and research students, for the decline of physical geography in
and more and more geography students India could be that the Indian physical
now prefer to use and analyse remote geographers have not ventured into the
sensing data rather than generate data in domains of human geography and have
the field. not taken sufficient cognisance of the
(d) Emerging trend for (super) specialisation socio-economic factors in their work.
in certain sub-fields of the disciplines, In spite of the fact that environmental
which demands rigorous training. concerns have moved to centre stage in
With the explosion in the information, the last few decades, not many physical
knowledge and research activity, the geographers have shown keen interest
inevitable response has been to focus in scientifically and systematically
or specialise more in a narrower, well- investigating the society-nature nexus.
defined and specific area of research (g) Great difficulty in publishing in main-
(Goudie, 1986). However, specialising in stream international peer-reviewed
a highly scientific or technique-oriented research journals, with high impact
field of a discipline is not a very favoured factor, in core or multi-disciplinary
situation, because this demands not only research areas of physical geography or
familiarity with the terminology (and geo-sciences with large readership, such
jargons) but also with the fundamentals, as the Progress in Physical Geography,
concepts and techniques. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms,
(e) Indian geographers’ inclination seems to Geomorphology, Catena, Hydrological
be towards more data-rich sub-disciplines, Processes, Annals of the Association of
such as population geography, agricultural American Geographers, Transactions
geography etc. Although some data such of the Institute of British Geographers,
as climatic and hydrological data collected Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography,
by national agencies are available, studies etc. It is also true that on a few occasions
in physical geography in general and the papers are not accepted citing the
geomorphology in particular require reason that it is only a good regional/
generation of primary data in the field local study. In the field of climatology the
or the laboratory by the researcher. This task is even more daunting, because of the
Physical Geography in India: A Perspective on the Current Status and Future Prospects 23
 overwhelming dominance of physicists, geography or earth sciences in India. The
statisticians, mathematicians and debate about the future of physical geography
modellers. It is pertinent to mention here in India is going on for quite some time
that only a handful of Indian geographers now. Several possible scenarios have been
have been able to publish their articles in suggested. Following Gregory et al. (2002),
one of the oldest (albeit with a lower impact three probable future scenarios for physical
factor) international journal, namely geography in India could be envisaged:
Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie. Majority (a) The status quo,
of the papers published in this peer- (b) Disappearance of physical geography
reviewed journal in the last 1–2 decades into other disciplinary areas, and
were authored by Indian geologists and (c) A renaissance of a more integrated
not by physical geographers. Publications physical geography,
in high impact factor journals and SCI Under the first scenario, the present
journals with large readership has become decline of physical geography continues,
imperative because, unlike yesteryears, the space between human and physical
now the individual research productivity geography grows wider, and the key branch
and academic performance is evaluated remains as a minor component of geography
in terms of total number of citations and or completely disappears. At the current rate,
H-index. the first scenario is likely to become a reality
It is pertinent to mention here that several in the near future. The second scenario,
of the issues discussed above are not new. although undesirable, is already taking place.
Neither do they apply only to physical While climatology and soil geography have
geography, nor are they unique to the Indian been virtually captured by workers from other
situation. More or less, similar trends and disciplines, geomorphology is gradually
patterns were observed in the geography slipping away from the hold of geographers.
departments in the west, particularly in the Even though real geomorphology is being
USA (Rhoads, 2004) and to some extent in largely neglected by Indian geographers,
the UK (Gregory et al., 2002). However, geologists as well as hydrologists, engineers,
there has been a revival of interest in physical geophysicists, environmental scientists,
geography to a considerable extent in these ecologists and geo-archaeologists have
countries, particularly UK, because of the recognised its importance and value, and are
advent of studies on landscape processes, increasingly using geomorphic concepts, tools
the growing research collaborations between and techniques in various sub-fields, ranging
physical geographers and scientists in other from hydro-geology, tectonic geomorphology
disciplines and quick adaptation of new and structural geology to river restoration and
technologies (Gregory et al., 2002; Rhoads, flood management. Even a cursory glance at
2004). This has undoubtedly raised the the research publications in some leading
visibility of physical geography research in national research journals (the Current
these countries. Science, the Journal Geological Society of
India, the Journal of Earth System Science,
What is the future of physical geography the Himalayan Geology, and the Journal of
in India? the Indian Society of Remote Sensing) as
All the available data and evidence suggest well as international journals (Zeitschrift für
that physical geography is no longer one of Geomorphologie, Geomorphology, Catena,
the stronger or important sub-disciplines of the Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, etc.) will
24 journal of indian geomorphology: volume 10, 2022
provide enough evidence in support of this geography at the college/ university level.
inference. Although physical geography in general
The third future is revival of integrated and geomorphology in particular has partly
physical geography in India, with a greater resuscitated as a result of the advent of
emphasis not only on the scientific aspects spatial technologies and studies of landscape
but also on the spatial aspects of man- processes, it is not likely to survive in the
land relationship or human-environment geography departments in India or gain
interaction. In the last few decades, recognition as a major discipline unless
environmental concerns and the impacts the research is concerned with dynamic
of human activity on natural systems have landscape processes, geo-hazards and
attracted the interest of many geo-scientists environmental issues; and the research is
including physical geographers. However, strongly based on physical, chemical, and
physical geography as an academic discipline biological principles; and unless appropriate
has not been a major player in applied statistical and mathematical techniques are
research as was expected. However, a employed in the analysis.
resurgence in geomorphology is taking place One way to revive interest is physical
due to the advent of remote sensing (RS) geography at the post-graduate level is to
and geographic information system (GIS) strengthen and expand existing courses
techniques, technical advances in computing on physical geography and introduce new
and data acquisitions (e.g. GPS and DGPS), advance courses (theory as well as practical)
and the availability of digital terrain models on contemporary issues, such as — physical
(DEM/ DTM). Spatial technologies have science of climate change, earth surface
enabled physical geographers to prepare and processes, tectonic geomorphology, geo-
analyse variety of maps on different spatial hazard/ disaster management (floods and
scales that would be logistically impractical landslides in particular), applied soil science,
earlier. These have enabled development water, river and coastal management, digital
of new applications in geo-hazard (floods, geomorphometry, biogeography of tropical
landslides, soil erosion) studies, biomass environments, India’s geoheritage, planetary
change studies, environmental studies, geomorphology, geomorphology of India,
watershed management, coastal zone etc. with greater emphasis on the scientific
management, etc. However, in spite of aspects and latest techniques of evaluation,
these developments, the present status of assessment and management. It would be
physical geography in India is far from beneficial if the course on climate change is
satisfactory. The obsession with drainage included as a core course in the penultimate
basin morphometry, unfortunately, continues or final semester and the reading material
in the field of geomorphology and landscape includes all the assessment reports of the
process studies are completely neglected. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
In climatology, the studies are limited to (IPCC). It is exceedingly important that these
simple analysis of rainfall and temperature courses on physical geography be taught
trends, and studies in soil geography and only by qualified teachers, who are trained
biogeography are few and far between. as physical geographers and/ or have done
Its high time Indian geographers also research in any of the major fields of physical
recognise the importance of this basic branch geography. This could be achieved only by
of geography. Needless to say, serious efforts appointing reasonable number of physical
are needed to revive interest in physical geographers at least in the large university
Physical Geography in India: A Perspective on the Current Status and Future Prospects 25
departments of geography in India. There on physical geography at the post-graduate
is also a need for providing good, standard level, but also to get involved in study areas
textbooks to the geography students with abroad, collaborate with international groups,
plenty of Indian examples and case studies. participate in international scientific programs
Another desirable trend is increased and play an important role in wide range
collaboration of physical geographers not only of international organisations and global
with scientists in other disciplines, but also research programs. To summarise, multi-
with human geographers and social scientists. pronged efforts are needed by Indian physical
Collaboration with geologists, engineers, geographers to revive physical geography
biologists, archaeologists, etc. would help in India and acquire greater visibility at the
in better understanding of the complex national and international level in the coming
dynamics of environmental systems and to years.
devise appropriate ways of managing these
complexities. Similarly, interaction between Acknowledgements
human and physical geographers will be more I am indebted to Professor R.
meaningful if the physical geographers take Vaidyanadhan, Professor K.R. Diskhit,
sufficient cognisance of social factors and Professor Sunando Bandyopadhyay and
cultural issues in their work and vice versa. Professor Veena Joshi for reviewing an
Furthermore, the ongoing trend of earlier version of this paper and for their very
publications in non-referred Indian journals helpful comments. I am thankful to Ms Pallavi
or in journals with lower impact rankings is Kulkarni for her assistance in compiling the
not likely to elevate the status of physical data on four Indian geographical journals.
geography in India, but is likely to seriously Thanks are also due to Dr. Deepali Gadkari
jeopardise the future standing of physical (Mumbai University), Dr. Praveen Pathak
geography. Another disturbing trend has (Delhi University), Professor Sunando
been the growing tendency amongst young Bandyopadhyay (Calcutta University), and
geographers to publish in open-access Dr. Somasis Sengupta (Malda Women’s
journals (that incorrectly claim high impact College, Burdwan University) for providing
factor). The publishers of these journals the contents of some of the missing journal
collect hefty fees from authors to pay for the volumes.
so-called peer review process. According to
one report, over 300 such ‘predatory’ open References
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Date received: 18.04.2022

Date accepted: 20.04.22

Note: This paper was presented in the National Symposium Re-Orienting Teaching & Research in Geography,
organised by the Indian Institute of Geographers at the Department of Geography, Savitribai Phule Pune University,
Pune, from 26 to 28 December 2014.
Physical Geography in India: A Perspective on the Current Status and Future Prospects 27