Empire and Ecology in the Bengal Delta: The Making of Calcutta

ISBN-13: 9781108443340 / Angielski / Miękka / 2019 / 257 str.

Debjani Bhattacharyya

Opis

Explores how the British Empire responded to the environmental challenges of the world's largest tidal delta.

Recenzje

'… Debjani Bhattacharyya's innovative, ecologically minded study takes the mobile character of the Bengal Delta as its central dynamic and aligns this with an unfolding narrative of land, law and profit … Bhattacharyya builds an effective lineage for modern India's 'technologies of property' and makes a case for Calcutta that is both unique and yet highly relevant to imperilled deltas and endangered wetlands around the globe.' David Arnold, The English Historical Review

Spis treści

Introduction. Almanac of a tidal basin; Part I. Environmental Consolidations: 1. Power and silt; 2. Drying a delta; Part II. Legal Maneuvers: 3. Notarizing possessions; 4. Commerce in land; Part III. Un-real Estate: 5. Speculative properties; Conclusion: disappearing coastlines.