India bids for IGC 2020 Arunabha Das In the 70s we launched the Green Revolution that hauled

d the nation out of the trios of famine and to the amazement of experts India is today self-sufficient in food. Similarly, in the field of space technology we started from scratch to have today a system of satellitebased communication linking remote regions of the country. The same sense of purpose now leads us to face geoscientific challenges to achieving the goal of a prosperous, strong South Asia community. The myriad aspects that constitute the life of South Asia balances and synthesise all the divergent views and forces, that compete in the pursuit of self-fulfilment. Yet it rises beyond the limitations of past trends, immediate preoccupations and pressing challenges to perceive the emerging opportunities and concealed potentials. One such goal is the IGC 2020 to be used as a launching pad to propel India and its neighbours into its worthy place within the community of nations. Why India? Our cultural and spiritual strengths - which formed the bedrock of our past achievements, also forms the foundation of our future accomplishments because knowledge, in essence, is our greatest endowment. IGC 2020 will gear us up to fully mobilise all the available resources human, organisational, technological and financial to generate the requisite will and make the required effort. In formulating our vision of the future India, it is important to see beyond the limits of the immediate past to rediscover the greatness that is India. It would be wrong to state that geology in India started with the East India Company and the advent of the Geological Survey of India in 1851 as it would be wrong to state that in 1947 India started to construct a modern nation from scratch. Rather, it began the process of rediscovering its rich scientific cultural and spiritual values that had formed the foundation of India in the past. So it was that the new age in India, was ushered in by the gentlemen explorers of the East India Company who chronicled their findings in the journals abroad and in that of the Asiatic Society. After the first Map of Hindusthan a compilation of the existing maps under the stewardship and through the genius of Sir James Rennel from 1767 to 1783 the Asiatic society documented the rediscovery, cataloguing and preservation of knowledge. It was founded in 1784, a brainchild of the indomitable Sir William Jones with the blessings of the Governor General Sir Warren Hastings. It was then reared by the likes of Nathaniel Wallich, who in 1814 initiated the Museum; Sir James Princeps under whose dynamic tenure the first exhibition of Mammal fossils collected by Cautley & Falconer took place in March 1832. The Asiatic Society undoubtedly was spurred by the Great Trigonometrical Survey initiated in 1802 by Captain William Lambdon for military reasons following the defeat of Tipu Sultan. The survey, carried forward by his protg Sir George Everest over the whole subcontinent went on for a period of 60 years and in its wake produced mathematicians like Radhanath Sikdar and explorers of the calibre of Nain Singh, Hari Ram, Kishen Sing, Kinthup and geologists Col. T J Newbold, and Dr. H. W. Voysey as from geography to geology was just a step. The last is even considered as the father of Indian Geology.

The Great Trigonometrical Survey that was primarily carried out by Indians under British administration scientifically mapped the whole of the Indian subcontinent or South Asia as it is now. At the forefront of the campaign were the geographers who mapped the landscapes, studied and documented the inhabitants, who collected geological and botanical specimens, and who recorded details of economy, society, and culture. The new discoveries were only of what was there, geographically, most of which was already known by those who had preceded the British. . One such was coal that soon enough caused the formation in 1836 of the Committee for the investigation of Coal and Mineral Resources of India. Thereafter urged on by public pressure it was Dr. John McClelland initiative that made way to the Geological Survey of India to come into being with the recruitment of professional geologists. The coming of the Irish Professor Thomas Oldham and his comrades, first to locate coal to run the new steam ships in vogue and later the railways to harness the riches of the countryside to factories in India and Britain led to the establishment of the Geological Survey of India. Oldham convinced the then government that it was not possible to look for coal without first mapping the geology of India. With this commenced the systematic geological mapping of the rock structures and strata, and their age and relationships. By 1867, twenty-seven coalfields had been explored. It further led to the rediscovery of the ancient knowledge and their physical manifestation in the workings for gold, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, manganese and diamond. By 1856, the regular publication series commenced. Even Engineering geology got kick-started 1859 in connection with the proposed extension of the railway line in the Raniganj Coalfield and later on the department was also called in for investigation of suitability of dam sites and other engineering projects in various places. Earthquake studies had an early start with the Assam Earthquake and gave the impetus to the discoveries of P and S waves by R H Oldham. The first extensive and authoritative Geological map of India was produced in 1877. Study of micro-sections was introduced in by P. N. Bose, a Gilchrist scholar, and the first graded Indian Geologist to join GSI in 1880 on the recommendation of the Principal, Royal College of Science. A brilliant field geologist Bose is associated with the first use the Lameta & Bagh beds as marker horizons of the late Cretaceous and also the first report of oil in upper Assam. The beginning of the 20th century coupled with the works of the 19th provided the momentous evidence on two issues. The first was on Evolution through Pilgrims monumental work on Siwalik mammals, and the second was the break-up of Gondwanaland promoted my Blanford (1896) following the Manual of the Geology of India and Burma in 1879, in support to Eduard Suess to the Wagener theory of Continental Drift. Again in 1906 came the decisive direction from P. N. Bose the first graded Indian geologist to have joined GSI in 1880. A protagonist for the development of Indian industries, Bose strongly and successfully promoted the extraction of Mayurbhanj Iron Ore in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau and the setting up of the Jamshedpur Steel works. With this commenced the reindustrialisation of India in steel and allied industries. Bose went on to become the first principal of Bengal Technical Institute (later Jadavpur University). Even Government Science Administration saw a high in Sir T H Holland who established the Administration of GSI and the Indian Museum on a firm footing. Consolidating the micro section study introduced by Bose he took laboratory study to new heights in GSI and also in 1892 initiated the teaching of Earth Science Presidency College, Calcutta. Thereafter a close relationship between the educational and Research facilities grew up in the wake of

GSI. As such, GSI became the prime provider of basic earth science information to the government, industry and the public as well as responsive participant in international geoscientific fora. It remains so even today. Post independence GSI contributed significantly during the formative years in locating industrial resources. Geochemical prospecting was introduced. Geophysical, chemical and drilling facilities of GSI were developed rapidly to facilitate Public Sector mining and mineral-based industries. The pioneering and extensive work resulted in the growth of specialized knowledge in many vital areas because of which several specialized institutions have spawned and become institutionalized from the seeding process started by GSI. They include the Indian Bureau of Mines, Oil and Natural Gas Commission, The Ministry of Natural Resources & Scientific Research, Atomic Minerals Division, Central Ground Water Board, Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited etc. At the same time, GSI's work in mineral exploration has not only resulted in major mineral finds but also the formation of public sector institution leading to explore these resources, viz. Hindustan Copper, Hindustan Zinc Limited, National Mineral Development Corporation, Coal India Limited, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, National Aluminium Corporation Limited. Fundamental data generation still remains with GSI with strength of ___ earth scientists working under six regional and __ subsidiary centres all over the country. It is on this foundation that we seek to formulate our bid for IGC 2020 keeping in view the rapid rise in levels of education, high rates of technological innovation and application, ever faster and cheaper communication that dissolves physical and social barriers both within countries and internationally, greater availability and easier access to information, and the further opening up of global markets. Today we map the country in progressively larger scale and commensurate with changing concepts discover, assess and augment natural resources through intensive and extensive exploration and continuously update our database of the land and offshore areas. As we continue in our endeavour to understand active geological processes affecting man and his environment in the fields of environment, water resource development, natural hazards and play proactive role in natural and anthropogenic hazard assessment and mitigation, the IGC 2020 provides the opportunity for an intensive and extensive interaction that is capable of inspiring the people of South Asia and boosting the work in the region through enhancing interaction with the public. At present Indias enormous manpower base of scientists and engineers is one of its greatest core competencies. IGC 2020 will help us to capitalise on our huge pool of manpower and extensive network of scientific research organisations for transferring proven technologies from the lab to production and manufacture. IGC 2020 will be held in a nation bustling with energy, entrepreneurship and innovation. It will be better fed, dressed and housed, taller and healthier, more educated and longer living. India will be much more integrated with the global economy and will be a major player in terms of trade, technology and investment. Rising levels of education, employment and incomes will help stabilise Indias internal security and social environment. A united and prosperous India will be far less vulnerable to external security threats. A more prosperous India in 2020 will be characterised by a better educated electorate and more transparent, accountable, efficient and decentralised government.