Environmental history

 6. Environmental history

Ans – Environmental history:

Environmental history refers to history of human beings and their interface with nature. Importance of environment is known and traced with the beginning of human civilisation, whether as science or religion. It is strongly linked with our daily lifestyle that is closely associated with fauna, flora and ecological system. This significance has developed with dependence on nature as a whole, which established a symbiotic relationship between biotic-abiotic. Most of the literature of environmental history has been classified into three important thrust areas:

I) Concept of nature and its dynamics with time and space.

2) Impact of such changes on nature and its interface with fauna, flora and ecological system, with special focus on humans and their surroundings i.e. land, water, atmosphere and biosphere.

3) Most important aspect is people's perception or thinking about nature, which includes their attitudes, beliefs and values.

7. Role of water resources in river-valley civilizations during ancient India

Ans – Role of water resources in river-valley civilizations during ancient India:

In ancient civilizations humans created water mills to grind wheat, developed drainage, built canals, aqueducts, and pipes for water transport. They invented water drainage of aquifers by building qanats, and built structures of water displays for aesthetic purposes.

Rivers were attractive locations for the first civilizations because they provided a steady supply of drinking water and game, made the land fertile for growing crops, and allowed for easy transportation.

Early river civilizations were all hydraulic empires that maintained power and control through exclusive control over access to water. This system of government arose through the need for flood control and irrigation, which requires central coordination and a specialized bureaucracy.

Hydraulic hierarchies gave rise to the established permanent institution of impersonal government, since changes in ruling were usually in personnel, but not in the structure of government.

8. Animal hunting under East Indian Company

British officers were allotted money to keep open a road and to cut the jungle back on either side for fifty yards 'without which, it would have been dangerous in the extreme for any small body of people to have traversed that road, the tigers being so numerous'. The East India Company introduced rewards for killing tigers in the eighteenth century and there were also rewards for killing panthers and leopards which lasted into the twentieth century. One of the most celebrated victims of a tiger attack was the son of General Sir Hector Munro who in 1792 was carried off while picnicking with friends. :

The death of a tiger is a matter of too much importance to be treated with indifference. The Honourable East India Company, with a view to prevent interruption to the common course of business, and to remove any obstacle to general and safe communication, bestow a donation of ten rupees, equal to twenty-five shillings, for every tiger killed within their provinces. The Europeans at the several stations situated where the depredations of tigers are frequent, generally double the reward.

9. Role of NGOs in environmental conservation and restoration in contemporary India

Ans – Role of NGOs in environmental conservation and restoration in contemporary India:

A non-govemmental organization's is any non-profit, voluntary citizens' groups which is organized on a local, national or international level. Task orientated and driven by people with a conunoninterest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizens concerns to the government, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provisions of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international arguments".

The NGO's constitute a world wide net work interacting with Governments and Internal intergovernmental organization in shaping international environmental policies;-Creating awareness among the public on current environmental issues and solutions. Facilitating the participation of various categories of stakeholders in the discussion on environmental issues. Conducting participatory rural appraisal. Being involved in the protection of human rights to have a clean environment.

10. Tinai concept during Sangam age

Ans – Tinai concept during Sangam age:

The ancient Tamils had divided the Tamil country into five distinct ecological zones, with each zone having its own characteristics. Each zone with its distinct characteristics is called Tinai. The concept of tinai can be compared to the modern ecosystem approach adopted in the study of cultures. The five tinai are:

1) Kurinci — mountainous zone.

2) Mullai — pastoral zone.

3) Marutam — riverine zone.

4) Neytal — coastal zone.

5) Palai- arid zone.

These zonal classifications were adopted for the composition of poems. Besides, they also more or less reflected the actual ecological systems of Tamil country. However, it should not be considered that the five fold divisions were found as distinct units in reality. They were idealised landscapes. Though such distinct units existed in some areas, quite a few regions had overlapping of various tinais. Tolkappiyam refers to such a situation as tinai mayakkam.

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