Taking Stock in India and Pakistan: A Review

Summary

This review examines the state of geography in India and Pakistan following their independence, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges. Despite low academic status and scarce resources, notable advances have been made, with several universities and journals emerging. The article critically assesses key works: Ahmad's analysis of Pakistan's geographical basis, Pithawalla's studies on Karachi and Pakistan, Chatterjee's atlas of Bengal, Bose's Damodar Valley project, Deshpande's regional monograph on Western India, and Thomas's survey of basic industries. The author underscores that while regional studies are developing, vast geographical problems remain unexplored, urging more rigorous fieldwork and regional monographs to foster the discipline's maturation across the subcontinent.