Cataclysms of Dharali and Chisoti are tragic lessons. These are not just about rain; these are about a ticking time bomb in the glaciers, and our failure to act.
Traditional knowledge
The Unlearned Lessons of the Himalayas: From Dhauliganga to Dharali, a Blueprint for Survival
Moving ahead from Dharali, this is a blueprint for survival which paves way for proactive anticipation and mitigation of Himalayan hazards by integrating science, traditional knowledge, and responsible development.
The Land That Remembers
Banta teaches Santa technique of deciphering ancient warnings written into the landscape, revealing that the safe looking places can actually be dangerous.
Himalayan Habitats: Built on Landslides, Threatened by Negligence
Not landslides, but our ignorance and greed are responsible for increasing losses due to this phenomenon that facilitated growth of habitations in the Himalayan region.
Mounting Earthquake Risk in Uttarakhand
Ignorance or indifference, be what we are faced with mounting earthquake risk in Uttarakhand and but for immediate and serious corrective measures we are to face disastrous consequences.
The Crack in the Wall and the Landslide’s Yaaddasht
Minor crack in the wall could be a hint of ground instability and ensuing subsidence. Avoid heavy construction over agricultural land and ensure safe disposal of wastewater to keep your area safe.
Traditional Knowledge: An Untapped Resource for Disaster Resilience
At the face of fast increasing disaster frequency and magnitude and challenges posed by changing climate amalgamation of science and traditional knowledge hold the promise to ensure disaster resilience and promote climate adaptation.
Earthquake safety tradition in the Himalayas
Experimenting with building design and construction precepts the people living in earthquake prone Himalayan region developed a construction algorithm with five distinct principles that ensured safety of structures during earthquake incidences. Ongoing tectonic movements, ensuing subduction of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, and their consequent collision resulted in the evolution of the Himalayan […]
Tradition of groundwater prospecting in Himalayas
Survival in the mountainous terrain, with scarce water availability despite ample rains, would not have been possible without mastering the art of water harvesting. The people of the region therefore observed natural processes related to water, ensured this knowledge being transferred from one generation to other, and experiemented to maximise water availability. Seeking answers to […]
Traditional knowledge: Groundwater presence
Just imagine that the early settlers in the Himalayan region were aware of the intricacies of Hydrological Cycle, groundwater presence, means of enhancing groundwater recharge, and had even mastered the art of groundwater exploration. Hope this is no testing time for the limits of your imagination. What if I say that by the end of this […]