1. GEOGRAPHY ... SOME DIRECTIONS
Dr. Chandra Shekhar Balachandran
F o u n d e r / D i r e c t o r
The Indian Institute of Geographical Studies
Bangalore

2. Salutations
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Even if it is a single syllable
That a teacher imparts to the pupil
There is no wealth in this world
With which the pupil may repay that debt
(Late) Sri B. Narasanna, MA, MEd.
1920 – 1987
Social Studies Teacher
National High School
Bangalore
Dr. Surinder Mohan Bhardwaj, PhD
Emeritus Professor of Geography
Kent State University (USA)

3. What is geography?
Standard textbook definition:
 Geo = Earth
 Graphy = description
 Geography = description of Earth
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4. The six elements of geography
1. The world in spatial terms
2. Places and regions
3. Physical systems
4. Human systems
5. Environment and society
6. The uses of geography
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Is this how you are feeling now?
Not for long!

6. Geography helps us …
 To understand connections among things that
are relevant to us …
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7. Connections
 Our stories are pieces of a dynamic puzzle
 Pieces connected
• Within a particular geographical scale
• Across geographical scales
 Connections range from local to global – a
delicious example
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand
(18 December 1863 – 28 June 1914)
Try and make the connections
(history + geography)

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Archduke Franz Ferdinand
(18 December 1863 – 28 June 1914)

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Yajnanarayana Maiya (???? – 1968)

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Rava idly

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Connect
this
with …

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Water
Air / wind
VERANDAH
BANDANA

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16. Yeah, but what about careers?
 Like, Vasco da Gama is slightly dead!
 The Vijayanagara empire is forgotten!
 Sail boats are so, like, OLD-fashioned!
 Humongous freighters now travel without
depending on winds.
 How can geography education help us build a
career? HUH?
• Say us, please!
• Er … tell us, tell us, tell uuuusss!
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17. Let us ask some questions …
 Why is India such an important exporter of
pharmaceuticals?
 How are locations of these determined?
• ATMs
• Mobile signal towers
• Industries
• Service facilities
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18. More questions …
 Understanding why:
• Knowledge of English language = power
• (India in the global context)
 Addressing the naxalite issue
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20. And another thing … or more
 How does Chinese investment in Latin America
and Sub-Saharan Africa affect the rest of us?
 Military and a geography education … this is
very obvious, ja?
 Love Mother Earth? Want to ‘save the
environment’? Start with a good geography
education.
 Want to find a good location for your new
home? Three things: location, location, location!
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“Without place, you are nowhere. Study some geography!”
My guru

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Image: NASA