Books in Review: National Atlas of India

Summary

This review introduces the first National Atlas of India (Preliminary Hindi Edition, 1957), a landmark cartographic work prepared under the direction of Professor S. P. Chatterjee of Calcutta University and executed by the Survey of India. The atlas comprises 26 large-format plates, principally at scales of 1:5,000,000 and 1:10,000,000, together with smaller-scale world maps and numerous insets. All thematic maps are printed in color, using color tints and screened overprints to represent multiple layers of information. The Forest and Land Use Map, for example, employs twelve color tints for land categories and overprinted symbols to designate 35 dominant tree species and 11 vegetation types. Hindi titles, legends, and notes are consistently accompanied by English translations, ensuring accessibility for non-Hindi readers. A notable contribution is the Administrative Map, which provides the first comprehensive delineation of India’s minor civil divisions—tehsils, taluks, and thanas—since the 1881 census, with boundaries updated to reflect the 1956 reorganization. The atlas covers a broad thematic spectrum, including physical geography, climate, geology, soils, land use, irrigation, agriculture, livestock, energy, industries, transport, population characteristics, education, health, archaeology, and tourism. Its cartographic excellence, detailed coverage, and bilingual presentation make it an invaluable reference for geographical, socio-economic, and planning studies of India. The atlas is available in standard and popular editions from the Survey of India Publication Office.