Publications

Kutch, in western India, is a unique region described by Burnes and Dossal as “a land Without a Counterpart on the Globe” and is referenced in ancient texts and cartographic records. Continuously inhabited since the Palaeolithic period, including a large number of Harappan civilisation settlements, it holds significant archaeological, historical, and maritime importance. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, along with the works of Ptolemy, Linschoten, and Rennell, collectively depict Kutch as a land of both peril and fascination, blending myth, observation, and experience to highlight its enduring allure and challenges. The present chapter focuses on the historical perceptions as well as the geographical setting of Kutch. This paper explores descriptions from four major historical sources: the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, accounts of Claudius Ptolemy, John Huyghen van Linschoten, and James Rennell. These accounts, along with associated maps or maps made later based on these descriptions, offer diverse perspectives on Kutch’s historical geography and landscape. The present research identifies Kutch’s portrayal in ancient records, including its maritime hazards as noted in the Periplus and its geographical description in Ptolemy’s Geographia. Linschoten and Rennell contribute to later interpretations, highlighting navigational marvels and terrestrial features. Analysis of seven historical maps provides insights into the evolving understanding of Kutch’s shape, location, morphological evolution, and environmental changes over time. Geospatial tools, including digital elevation models, were employed to reconstruct the terrain and analyse features described in historical sources. The study underscores the complexities in interpreting historical data and the interplay between myth and observation in shaping perceptions of Kutch's enigmatic landscape. This chapter contributes to a deeper understanding of the historical geography of Kutch, linking ancient narratives with modern spatial analysis techniques.

This volume offers fresh perspectives on the use of geospatial analysis in cultural heritage and the humanities. By integrating spatial data and analytical techniques, it demonstrates how digital tools can enrich historical inquiry, spatial storytelling, and interdisciplinary research. Featuring a unique collection of case studies from across India, the book highlights innovative applications of geospatial technology in understanding and preserving the country’s diverse heritage. Through real-world examples spanning regions and time periods, it showcases the transformative potential of geospatial methods in heritage research. An essential resource for scholars of Indian history, archaeology, and heritage studies, the volume also serves as an inspiration for future work in the digital humanities globally.

Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, was a major Buddhist sacred site for nearly two thousand years. This paper argues that its sacred landscape was far larger than the three commonly excavated sites. Drawing on historical, archaeological, and geospatial evidence, it identifies 40 features showing that Mahābodhi extended in all directions from the Mahabodhi Temple. The study also suggests that the Lilajan’s present course, about 250 metres east of the temple, differs from the historical Nirañjanā, which lay roughly 1.5 kilometres further east. This later shift in the river cut through and divided the site, reshaping how the sacred landscape is understood and pointing to new directions for future research.

Dr. Raja Ramanna, an internationally renowned nuclear physicist and founder and Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), had deep interests in Western classical music as well as in ancient Indian traditions. 

This book intends to give a systematic exposition of the validity of quantum principles in biological systems. There are two types of applications of quantum theory in physical systems — the "trivial applications" and "non-trivial applications". Since every object in this universe consists of atoms and molecules, they should be described by the laws of quantum theory — which we call trivial applications. On the other hand, there exist some systems where the observational results cannot be explained by the laws of classical physics and this requires a change of paradigm — these are known as non-trivial applications. Many authors pointed out such non-trivial applications of quantum theory to explain how some biological systems function. In this book, we review such kinds of results in a systematic manner which clearly indicates the need to change the paradigm to understand these biological systems better.