Geographical Lens - Inhye ChoWHAT WILL MY PAGE BE LOOKING AT?As mentioned in our main page, this website aims to provide individuals interested in Indian (3)Industrialization with detailed, insightful information regarding the causes and effects of industrialization in the Indian nation. This page will be focusing on the geographical lens while also giving the reader an opportunity to view the information in a social perspective. As a geographer, I am responsible to look at both environmental and global impacts. The specific goals of the geographical page includes of considering the effects industrialization has had on things like air quality, water quality, forests, farmland, etc. Also a geographer would look at where (within the country and internationally) the resources for industry are coming from and the impact of resource extraction the people/ environment.
RESEARCH QUESTION &THESISIn order to combine all the responsibilities of a geographer and limit the extent and time spent on research, a main research question is created: To what extent has mass population been the drive of industrialization in India to the detriment of the environment?
This question will allow you to conduct research in a not too broad nor narrow range. Throughout this page, several sub questions that will help you answer the main analytical question will be listed with abundant and useful information. The thesis for my research question answers as the following: Urbanization (1) as its starting point, the pressure from the rapid population growth on lacking natural resources, land, and the growth of production and consumption resulted in environmental degradation along with promotion of the Indian industrialization during the 20th century. From the thesis, you could infer that the "geographical" page sets population growth as the main cause and will be providing you with information on the relationships between the rise of population and lacking natural resources, land and consumption levels. In addition, the link and role of poverty will be briefly mentioned also. |
In each passage you will notice that few words or phrases are bolded. This represents the main ideas that must be included to understand the topics.
KEY TERMS Vocabulary in which certain age groups are not aware of will be listed in this section along with its definition. While reading the information you will see numbers in brackets next to certain words.
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HISTORY
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European traders first arrived at the Indian shores along with it's well known explorer Vasco Da Gama. India was ruled by many colonial powers until the British rule took full control of the country from the early 18th century to 1947. Britain was the first country to industrialize as it had all the factors of production required for industrialization, which included capital, labor, and land. By taking great advantage of these factors, Britain was able to produce various inventions, experiencing a mass production of manufactured goods.
BRITISH HINDERS INDIAN INDUSTRIALIZATION
Although India lacked of great power and had to deal with few major issues regarding poverty and economy,etc in the past, India was a country with a vast amount of land and population. Regardless of the fact that India held two out of three factors of production in it's hands, the colonization by the British rule posed a strong influence, hindering the country's development. For instance, British merchants bought majority of India's cotton at a cheap price, used them to produce fabric by machine, and sell "their" products in India. India's hand made cotton was much higher in quality and lower in price compared to those of Britain. From then it is apparent that most clothing industries of India gradually shut down one by one while large number of British factories appeared at once on India's land. Not only cotton, but the Indian population were forced to plant tea, a popular plant between Europeans due to its excellent quality. While India's large percentage of population was suffering from famine, Britain banned the production of salt in India and only permitted people to purchase salt sold by the British.
BRITISH HINDERS INDIAN INDUSTRIALIZATION
Although India lacked of great power and had to deal with few major issues regarding poverty and economy,etc in the past, India was a country with a vast amount of land and population. Regardless of the fact that India held two out of three factors of production in it's hands, the colonization by the British rule posed a strong influence, hindering the country's development. For instance, British merchants bought majority of India's cotton at a cheap price, used them to produce fabric by machine, and sell "their" products in India. India's hand made cotton was much higher in quality and lower in price compared to those of Britain. From then it is apparent that most clothing industries of India gradually shut down one by one while large number of British factories appeared at once on India's land. Not only cotton, but the Indian population were forced to plant tea, a popular plant between Europeans due to its excellent quality. While India's large percentage of population was suffering from famine, Britain banned the production of salt in India and only permitted people to purchase salt sold by the British.
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FUN FACT
Mahtma Gandhi (1869-1948)
:preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India
Mahtma Gandhi (1869-1948)
:preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India
- Gandhi carried out a movement of nonviolent resistance against British rule
- He spoke innumerable lectures around the country about the faults of Britain and led parades
- When India was forced to keep distance from their own natural resources such as cotton and salt, Gandhi protested against this by making clothing on his own with his spinning wheel and by leading a group of people to the ocean to produce and eat salt.
- Many Indian people were influenced by Gandhi's brave actions and followed his teachings for their whole life time or for a long period.
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL LENS
India was able to gain independence on August 15th, 1947 thanks to Mahtma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru whom addressed the nation with a new Declaration of Independence and became the first prime minister of India. Since then, the country rapidly industrialized which brought change to its governmental structure, agriculture, settlement patterns, economy,etc. During India’s pre-independence, the majority of the country’s working class lived in the countryside and heavily followed the (2) caste system. Since independence, India’s industrialization and modernization lead people to seek for work and better standard of living from farms to cities, causing a large scale urbanization. Urbanization allowed many cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata to become ‘super cities’ in which the population is continuously increasing until now, containing many skilled workers. However, the rapid change created negative externalities such as air, water pollution, poverty, and high demands for insufficient natural resources.
Please always keep in mind that all main and sub topics link to the mass population.
Please always keep in mind that all main and sub topics link to the mass population.
PRESSURE OF POPULATION GROWTH ON LAND
India is well known as the second most populated country in the world after China, with a population of I billion (18% of world population) on only 2.4percent of the land. After its independence, the urban population increased by three times from 62.4million to 217.6million along with the expansion of cultivated land by 20.27 especially within forests and grassland within 50years. However, there is not enough agricultural land available to feed each individual in India.
Although one of the reasons for population growth due to urbanization included jobs, improvements in health conditions and control of diseases which were the consequences of industrialization during the beginning contributed also. |
ENERGY PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION--> AIR POLLUTION
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Consumption levels of fuels like coal, oil, and nuclear etc grew along with the population since 1950, which is the time period when India became independent and started to rapidly industrialize. The combustion of these fuels in industries acted as a major factor of pollution especially within the air causing pneumoconiosis, bronchitis, and respiratory diseases.
- coal&lignite production increase by 9 times from 1951 to 1996 (32.3m tons—> 292.27)
- petroleum production increase by 22times (3.3m tons—> 74.7m)
High level of energy consumption leads to global warming and climate changes.
India was not prepared for the rapid growth of energy production and consumption. The country lacked of quantity/ quality of resources and environment required in order for the population's production and consumption to be balanced. This lead to major issues to the air quality mostly due to the burning of fossil fuels.
- India’s per capita commercial energy use: (137kg of oil equivalent—> 248kg—> 476kg)
India was not prepared for the rapid growth of energy production and consumption. The country lacked of quantity/ quality of resources and environment required in order for the population's production and consumption to be balanced. This lead to major issues to the air quality mostly due to the burning of fossil fuels.
GAP BETWEEN DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF RESOURCES WIDENS..
To what extent does poverty play a major role in aggravating the quality of the water and natural resources?
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In India, 42% of the Indian population is below the international poverty line, living in slum or rural areas (2005 World Bank). The slum areas lack of proper drainage and clean running water. Only 35% of urban households and 18% of those in rural ares have access to clean water.
People experiencing poverty, use up natural resources faster than the rich or middle class as they cannot support themselves to a minimum level through purchase. For instance, common resources such as forests for food and fuel, ponds and rivers for water are utilized by the poor population.
Some sources state that 70% of the water in urban areas are seriously contaminated due to industries and also because the rivers are used as open sewers, waste while also used for bathe and drinking, leading to widespread diseases such as cholera and typhoid. River Ganges is known as the dirtiest river in which 2 million people bathe everyday due to Hindi beliefs and culture.
People experiencing poverty, use up natural resources faster than the rich or middle class as they cannot support themselves to a minimum level through purchase. For instance, common resources such as forests for food and fuel, ponds and rivers for water are utilized by the poor population.
Some sources state that 70% of the water in urban areas are seriously contaminated due to industries and also because the rivers are used as open sewers, waste while also used for bathe and drinking, leading to widespread diseases such as cholera and typhoid. River Ganges is known as the dirtiest river in which 2 million people bathe everyday due to Hindi beliefs and culture.
Summary & Conclusions |
The mass population was involved through the start of urbanization straight after India’s independence from the British rule. The country urbanized and gradually moved away from the rural roots. This brought the results of population growth in which India was not prepared for. Rapid growth in production and consumption levels impacted the air pollution, people highly demanded for natural resources that were already lacking, and poverty contributed greatly in contaminating primarily the water quality. However, environmental pollution not only leads to horrible conditions of our surroundings but also have negative effects on the health of people. Therefore, I could conclude that the growth of population is a prime factor between the relationship of natural resources, environment and technology. If you are viewing this research question in a long term perspective there is an urgent need to control population and poverty, conserve and protect natural resources and the environment for healthy humans and country.
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Bibliography
Bhattacharyya, Krishna G., and Nibedita Kapil. "Impact of Urbanization on the Quality of Water in a Natural Reservoir: A Case Study with the Deepor Beel in Guwahati City, India." Water and Environment Journal 24.2 (2009): 83-96. Web.
Economic Reform in India. Rep. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Innes, John L. "Research on Air Pollution Impacts on Indian Forests." Air Pollution and the Forests of Developing and Rapidly Industrializing Regions. Wallingford: CABI Publ., 2000. 165-88. Print.
Nagdeve, Dewaram A. Environment and Health in India. Rep. Mumbai: International Institute of Population Sciences, n.d. Print.
Nagdeve, Dewaram A. POPULATION GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN INDIA. Rep. Mumbai: n.p., n.d. Print.
Singh, Abhay Kumar. Modern World System and Indian Proto-industrialization: Bengal 1650-1800. Vol. 1. New Delhi: Northern Book Centre, 2006. Print.
Economic Reform in India. Rep. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Innes, John L. "Research on Air Pollution Impacts on Indian Forests." Air Pollution and the Forests of Developing and Rapidly Industrializing Regions. Wallingford: CABI Publ., 2000. 165-88. Print.
Nagdeve, Dewaram A. Environment and Health in India. Rep. Mumbai: International Institute of Population Sciences, n.d. Print.
Nagdeve, Dewaram A. POPULATION GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN INDIA. Rep. Mumbai: n.p., n.d. Print.
Singh, Abhay Kumar. Modern World System and Indian Proto-industrialization: Bengal 1650-1800. Vol. 1. New Delhi: Northern Book Centre, 2006. Print.
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