Cartographical Survey: National Atlas of India (fascicule)

Summary

This paper offers critical reviews of two significant cartographic and historical works. The first review assesses the 1977 fascicule of the *National Atlas of India*, prepared by the National Atlas Organisation. It traces the atlas’s evolution from a preliminary Hindi edition (1957) and a partial English version (1968) to the present expanded edition, which incorporates regional data from various Indian states. The review describes the physical format (loose-leaf, folded plates at scales of 1:1M, 1:2M, and 1:6M), the planned scope of at least 234 maps, and the thematic content covering physical geography, population, transport, and tourism. While acknowledging the ambitious nature of this national inventory, the reviewer identifies several weaknesses: inconsistent temporal baselines (reliance on 1951 census for large-scale maps versus 1961 data elsewhere), a production span of up to fifteen years for certain sections that undermines comparability, uneven print quality, and suboptimal organization of thematic plates. Despite these shortcomings, the work is praised as a fascinating and useful publication. The second review introduces a new assessment of William Roy, marking the 250th anniversary of his birth. It draws attention to a paper by Dr J. B. Harley published in the *Chartered Surveyor* (1978), which re-evaluates Roy’s role in the founding of the Ordnance Survey after two centuries. Together, the reviews highlight both the monumental challenges of compiling a comprehensive national atlas and the ongoing scholarly reappraisal of foundational figures in surveying.