A GEOGRAPHICAL INVESTIGATION INTO VILLAGES AND AGRICULTURE IN NORTH INDIA BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HIROSHIMA

Abstract

A Geographical research project was carried out by the members of Research Teams of the University of Hiroshima during the period between 1967 and 1973. The first field research was carried out in the Ganga Plain and the second on the Punjab both in North India. An extensive as well as an o intensive approach were applied. A. GANGA PLAIN A brief reference to the field study in settlements in the Ganga Plain will be made first. Major subjects for field research were as follows: (1) villages and agriculture, (2) rural central places, and (3) industrial towns. However, reference is to be made to the first subject alone in this paper. It may safely be concluded that the ricecultivating area in the Ganga Plain is characterized by peasants, peasant village and peasant agriculture. A ringshaped structure was noted with inner, intermediate and outlying land. It may be argued from the ring-shaped arrangement of land-zoning, from the customs of land use, from the villagers' sentimental attachment to different zones, and also from some documents, that the prototype of the ring-shaped structure was a twofold arrangement: an area of enclosed land and its periphery. Traditional and conservative land use were noted everywhere. B. THE PUNJAB The geographical field research in the Punjab was carried out from September 27, 1972 to January 31, 1973 on a similar basis to the above-mentioned research in the Ganga Plain. This project aimed at studying the characteristics of the village and the culture on one hand and at probing into ways of modernization and economic development on the other. It was also hoped that a study of the geography of the Punjab would lead us to an understanding of the geography of the dry tropics and also of Indian philosophy. The following research items were proposed: natural environment and land use; historical background; village morphology and function; land use and agriculture; industrialization. An intensive sample study was made together with an extensive general study. Schedules and checklists were carefully prepared in advance and revised on the spot from time to time. Sample study villages were selected according to the following indices: (1) isopleth of aridity index 20, which separates the wet area from the arid zone; (2) the availability of previous studies; (3) villagers' readiness to co-operate with us in research; (4) facilities for accommodation. Thus, the following four villages were selected: a. Lohna: A Peasants' and Tribesmen's hamlet using traditional agriculture in a humid valley in the Lower Himalayas. b. Gaggar Bhana: A Typical Village in the Punjab Plains with Canal and Tube-well Irrigation Facilities. c. Salmatpur: A Village in Ferment in Cho(torrent)-land without Canal Irrigation Facilities. d. Mangali: A Village on the Marginal Land of the Dry Farming Area in the Semiarid Zone of Haryana. It must be first noted that radical changes—transformation—are noted in the Punjab Plains. Major results of the field research may be summarized as follows: 1. Development of irrigation facilities. The Punjab Plains were famous for the early construction of irrigation canals on a large scale not only in the Indian subcontinent but also throughout the world. These irrigation facilities had paved way for the “wheat granary”. However, serious problems were caused by them: raising of the ground water level and particularly waterlogging. Fortunately these problems have been solved by the construction of drainage canal and tube-wells in recent times. Thus, many parts of the Punjab Plains have benefited from the irrigation and drainage facilities, which have paved the way for the “green revolution”. But there is some fear of a lowering of the ground water level by over-construction of tube-wells. 2. The less conservative character of the society.