Goddess Saraswaty’s eldest son Mathematics holds a venerable position in the family followed by Physics. Both are allied like Ram and Laxman.
Later on, came Chemistry and Biology. Alas! Geography and History are just poor cousins! In India our ancestors were too much concerned about Atma and Paramatma to be bothered about such mundane matters like the Mountains and Rivers and the Seas. Even Al Beruni’s India, written after A.D. 1000, contains only sketchy description of a few rivers.
While Alexander the Great sent an expedition to explore the river Indus up to the Sea (Alexander wanted to return to Greece through the seas about which coastal Europeans were acquainted through Sea Traders from the time of Phoenicians; but the attempt failed because of inclement whether and pestilence, to the disappointment of the great Emperor), did any of the Kings who ruled this region afterwards care to do it?
The Chinese marine traders made a map of the known world, including parts of Africa, even two millennia ago. By 18th century Portuguese made comparatively accurate maps, which were kept very secret, in consideration of Trade Wars, even though much of it was destroyed in fire.
Captain Cook was a good Cartographer. He sailed round part of Australia and the New Zealand islands,and the map he made is remarkably accurate. He planted the Union Jack there and on return to England offered the Island on a platter to the Queen! Thus it becomes part of Her Majesty’s Empire!
Indian is much nearer to Australia and N.Z. With such a shore line and good quality wood for the shipping industry, we could have produced great explorers and history would have been different. We just don’t care about geography. How many of us can describe off hand, the States bordering Chattisgarh? Do we have a geographic society like the National Geographic Society (USA) for the Royal Geographic Society (UK) which foots the bill of innumerable expeditions?
Only when the British Rule was established, a comprehensive survey of the land was undertaken. I feel that children should not be taught Geography; they should learn it like their mother tongue. They just cannot read the maps on flat papers. A Geographic park will automatically enliven their interest in the subject. The waste land South of Nizamuddin Bridge to East Delhi is ideally suited for the purpose. The outline of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can be marked, measuring at least one kilometre, and sand excavated from surrounding “Seas’’ filled in the “subcontinent’’. Thus, Himalayas as high as 20 feet and other mountains of proportionate hight can be made.
By fitting pipelines under the mountains, water can be made to spout from the origin of the rivers to make them “flow’’. Dams and Great Bridges can be made at actual location, along with major Rail routs and National Highway. Green grass can be grown at important grain producing plains. Shrubs can indicate forest. Suitable models of the Gateway of India, Rameshwaram Temple, Charminar etc. can show actual location of the concerned cities and towns. Even Power Plants and Electric grid can be simulated.
A Water Park may be made in the “Seas’’ with Floating Shops and Restaurants. Illuminated by Solar Powered Electricity, the area can became a destination point for Delhi-ites who desperately throng the India Gate in the evenings, for want of something better.
In due course, the “Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean’’ can be dug, leaving contour maps of Africa, America etc. We may think of a Deer Park in Africa and Goshala in America! And what about a Solar System where students can watch the movements of planets and occurrence of eclipses?
After a visit to the Park, children will learn more of Geography, than they can learn in ten years!
No comments:
Post a Comment