Himalaya Mein Upniveshvad Aur Paryavaran (Coloniasm and the Environment in the Himalaya)

"... The work presented by the scholar stretches over two specialisations that lie within the field of historical research. One is mainstream research regarding the exploitative nature of British colonialism in India, its administrative structure and its land revenue policy. The second field which the scholar enters - environmental history - is an emerging and relatively unexplored one. It is in this latter aspect that the study breaks new ground. Here the hitherto neglected forests, forest policy and the 'marginal' tribal populations living in them assume centre-stage importance. Such a study of environmental history is made difficult in many areas (and the Terai-Bhabar is one of them) by the paucity of reliable historical sources. Despite this major constraint the scholar has produced a convincing and fairly well substantiated argument. Almost all recent scholarly work related to the subject has been examined by the scholar and he has acquired a good understanding of current theoretical debates. In this context may be mentioned his adept handling of the questions of commercialisation of forests and the intricate issue of changing notions and relations of private property....."