Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Kultur-, Sozial- und Bildungswissenschaftliche Fakultät - Institut für Asien- und Afrikawissenschaften

The environmental history of modern India is intricately shaped by colonialism, professionalism, resistance and modern industrialisation. Colonial British rule massively transformed the landscape and introduced scientific forestry, often viewed as an economic enterprise by historians. However, the linearity of this perspective can be historically challenged.

This presentation discusses the early forest history of India, examining nineteenth-century bureaucratic testimonies to reveal differing opinions on the climatic impact of India, examining nineteenth-century bureaucratic testimonies to reveal differing opinions on the climatic impact of forests. It questions the homogeneous standpoint on materialistic imagery of scientific forestry and highlights a dichotomy within the colonial forestry community. The talk establishes the sympathetic stance of early German foresters, which furnished a practical foothold for scientific forestry. The presentation will spotlight their contributions and then conclude with the intensified timber operations during the world wars, highlighting the complex interplay between environmental management and colonialism.

Shivangi Maindola did her undergraduate studies from University of Delhi and her Masters from Banasthali University. Having grown up in Dehradun which also happens to be the location of Forest Research Institute, for her graduate studies she was inspired to research forest history in India and its intricacies. She joined the department of history of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University to study under the mentorship of Prof. V. M. Ravi Kumar. Her primary interest lies in colonial scientific forestry in South Asia, focusing on the research aspects of forestry after the establishment of forestry training and forestry education in India.