March 15, 1952 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY The March of the Desert J. M. Joshi

HE eastward march of the Raja­ fertile table-lands and wide stretches graphy. It is all covered by sand­ T sthan desert has caused a stir, of excellent soil. hills, shaped generally in long but not yet a consternation, in the The desert proper, with which straight ridges, which seldom meet, minds of economists and Govern­ we are more concerned here, covers but run in parallel lines, separated ment. The barren, saline and burn­ the divisions of Bikaner and Jodh- by short and fairly regular inter­ ing sands of North-Western Raja- pur and the Shekhawati district of vals, " resembling the ripple-marks sthan are knocking at the gates of the Jaipur division. It thus stretches oh a sea-shore on a magnified scale." Indo-Gangetic plain and the hot from Sind (Pakistan) on the west Some of these sand-hills are two breath of the creeping desert threat­ to Delhi on the north-east. miles long, varying from 50 to 100 ens to wither its smiling face. The The desert has played an import­ feet or even more in height. Their physical geography of India may be ant role in history, having proved summits arc blown into wave-like changed beyond recognition unless since times immemorial " a more curves by the periodical westerly this continuous march of the desert effective barrier to the advance of winds. Their sides are scoured by is stopped. The problem has be­ armies than the Indus itself" water, and from a distance, they come an acute one for those who (Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, look like low hills. They are arc vitally concerned with increas­ Vol, I, p. 33). For the develop­ sparsely covered with stunted shrubs ing the food production of the coun­ ment of agriculture, however, it has and tufts of coarse grass in the dry try. But before one can prescribe proved a curse, as we shall pre­ season, while light rains clothe them the right remedy, it is necessary to sently see. It is a vast expanse of with vegetation. It is the south­ study the topography of Rajasthan wind-blown sand, sparsely popu­ west winds which sometimes attain in general, and of the sandy tracts lated and with a scanty rainfall. a velocity of 40 miles per hour in particular. Hence, the dreaded name for it, which have transported inland Rajasthan lies between North Marudesh, the " Dead Lands". clouds of sand and dust, derived in Latitude 23°3' and 30°r2' and East With the exception of the sub­ a great measure from the Runn of Longitude 6o°3o' and 78°17'. Thus, montane tracts of Jodhpur division, dutch, the sea-coast and the basin geographically, this tract forms the which lie immediately below the of the lower Indus and have creat­ north-western portion of Tndia and Aravallis, this tract is sandy, water­ ed sand-dunes — locally called lies between the very dry, almost less and unproductive, but the cha­ " dhoras " or " tibas "—of gigantic rainless, valley of the lower Indus racter of the terrain improves shape. The consistence of these " dhoras " is frequently so loose that and the plateau of Malwa. On the gradually as one passes from the men and animals stepping off the map, it looks like an irregular paral­ far-west and north-west. The land beaten track, sink as if in snow. lelogram, with east-west and north- is comparatively fertile and habit­ For these lands, it has been said that south diagonals about 540 and 510 able towards the north-cast. The there are " more spears than spear- miles long. Incidentally, Rajasthan " Great Desert", comprising the grass heads", and " blades of steel is the second biggest State in India whole of Rajasthan-Sind frontier, grow better than blades of corn ". in point of area, extends from the edge of the Rutin The only river of the tract is the Rajasthan is divided into distinct of dutch beyond the Luni river Luni. natural regions by the Aravalli northward; between it and the range of hills. The Aravalli system "Little Desert" on the east, the land Now the question arises, how intersects the State from end to end is not so sterile, consisting of rocky could these desert sands dare enter and forms a line running north-east tracts, cut up by limestone ridges, the lands beyond the Aravalli range? and south-west, from Delhi to the which protect it to some extent from The answer lies in the general plains of Gujrat, and is about 430 the desert sands. The '"little desert" make-up of the Aravalli range. Of miles long. The two parts into which runs up from the Luni river between course, from Abu north-east to Rajasthan is thus divided arc un­ Jaisalmer and Jodhpur into the Ajmer, the unbroken range stands equal; about three-fifths of the northern wastes. The whole region like a barricade and effectively State lie to the north-west of this is parched, sand-bound and arid protects the country behind it from range and about two-fifths to the except for a man-made oasis around the inilux of sand. But beyond south-east. It is this north-western Ganganagar, where the late Maha­ Ajmer and again to the north-east, part that embraces the " great " and raja of Bikaner made the desert although the general elevation and " little " deserts of India, with the " blossom as the rose ". run of the ridges have to some ex­ scantiest and most uncertain rain­ Over much of this region, in the tent checked the spread of sand fall and, as a result, most liable to pre-historie ages, flowed the waters from the west, yet sand has drifted famine. Quite different in point of the Indian Ocean. Indeed, in through many openings and gaps of climate, rainfall and soil is the many parts of Jaisalmer, one can among the hills, and has overlaid portion of Rajasthan lying on the still sec the imprint of a tide that large tracts on the eastern side of eastern side of the Aravalli range. had withdrawn, leaving great the line. It is higher, more fertile and' diver­ stretches of thirsty, flat rock gasp­ This onward march of the sands sified in physical character. It con­ ing in the sunlight. And, where from the Runn of dutch could tains long ranges of hills, stretches once the ocean's waters ebbed and have been prevented, had there of rocky wold and woodland. The flowed, now the desert tide ad­ been forests even of a modest region is traversed by a number of vances, slowly but inexorably. growth in these desert lands. But, rivers—the Chambal, the lianas, The desert, " overlying this unfortunately, neither the poor soil the Banganga, etc.—and in some ancient bed of a great primeval nor the scanty rainfall allow forests parts of it, there are wide valleys, sea,'' has the same monotonous topo­ to grow. The whole of this region 278 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY March 15, 1952 It is very difficult to get any data, now been fully recognised by the but there was some evidence to Central Government and the State show that between Sheo and Jodh­ Governments of Rajasthan, PEPSU pur there are places where soil is and UP alike. disappearing at the rate of 25,000 The main problem is to change tons per sq. mile each year, and the physical features of the coun­ this has been going on regularly for try. It is not one man's task. The at least 50 to 100 years. There solution lies in controlling the were places where there was some source of sands and winds. It is evidence to show that six crores of gratifying to note that the Central maunds of surface soil per sq. mile Government? has appointed a com­ had disappeared." (H. Howard— mittee of experts to examine a A Note on a Tour in jodhpur scheme for arresting the march of Thus, this desert region does not State, 1944, p. 5.) Similarly, about the desert in Rajasthan. The mem­ support even one per cent of the the sandy tracts of Jaipur unit, viz., bers of the committee are at pre­ total area as forests. Not only are Sikar and Jhunjhuna districts, the sent touring the sandy wastes of this these forests of a very poor quality, same author remarked: "There are region. The scheme embraces many but they arc situated, for the most places where this wind erosion has inter-related problems. It is both part, on the western slopes of the been removing as much as 26,000 multi-purpose and comprehensive. Aravalli hills in the tehsils of Bali, tons of earth per sq. mile for at The first step contemplated is the Desuri, Sojat, Jaitaran, Parbatsar, least 50 to 60 years." (op. cit., p. 9.) fixation of sands on the sea-board of Siwana, Jalore and Jaswantpura. This phenomenon occurs all over Kathiawar and Cutch by construct­ The vast sandy tracts are devoid of the sandy tracts of Rajasthan. ing wind-belts and sand-dunes at any vegetation worth the name. It is not difficult to establish a the mouth of the river Luni which In the absence of forests in west­ correlation between wind erosion drains into the Runn of Cutch. ern Rajasthan and due to the bro­ in Rajasthan and the eastward Simultaneously, and this is a very ken ridge of the Aravallis from march of the desert. After all, important part of the project, the Ajmer north-eastward, the sands of where do these sands go? Of course, scheme contemplates afforestation Rajasthan have always been at towards the leeway—to the glitter­ of the critical zones. Green belts liberty to proceed eastward un­ ing lands of the Indo-Gangetic of forests will be grown on either hindered. It will be interesting to plain. The eastward march of the bank of the Luni throughout its know what havoc they play in desert has awakened the people from course and also around the Ara­ Rajasthan, especially western their slumber. It has been estimat­ vallis. This forest wall will prevent Rajasthan, itself. In both the divi­ ed that this sandbelt is already the hot winds which blow across in sions of Bikaner and Jodhpur, in spreading like an octopus over an summer and carry saline deposits to the absence of trees and vegetation area of 80,000 sq. miles. It has the cultivated lands. Besides, the scheme also contemplates reclama­ in general, sands and winds are further been observed that the desert tion measures, pilot projects and doing their worst. From the begin­ is encroaching upon the green lands surveys, acquisition of land, enact­ ning of March upto the end of the of the Punjab, Delhi and Uttar ment of legislation, training of monsoon period, dry, hot, desiccat­ Pradesh at a rate of half-a-mile a technical staff, etc. The total ex­ ing winds blow throughout western year over a total length of 100 miles penditure of these projects, spread Rajasthan and also to a certain in separate stretches on a front of ; over a period of 20 years, is esti­ extent, in the north-eastern region. about 500 miles. This amounts to mated at Rs 549.340 lakhs. The The winds carry away with them an encroachment of about 50 sq. multi-project to curb the monster fine particles of soil and leave be­ miles a year. It has been estimat­ is, thus, not only costly but also a hind only barren sands. The pro­ ed that an average of nearly 500 sq. miles had suffered during the last long-period one. Let us await the cess has been going on unchecked findings of the experts' committee. for the last so many centuries that decade from the desiccating breath of the desert. These sands carry one can well imagine the quantity An important feature in the with them the salinity of the desert of fertile soil lost to the rainless Government scheme discussed above and thus do a great harm to the fields of this tract. The blight is that it is concerned with only fertile plains beyond the Aravallis. caused by the desert wind has been rendering the Rajasthan desert im­ The desert is becoming a far-flung noted by many observers in the past mobile, so that it may not be able menace. and some of them have left graphic to encroach upon the adjacent lands records. About Bikaner, K. D. The march of the desert must of the East Punjab, Delhi and Erskine wrote years ago, "High have been going on for a very long Uttar Pradesh. It has not to say winds often cover the sown fields time. But although it had been much about converting the Raja­ with a layer of sand and thus pre­ noticed by some people even in the sthan desert itself into a more vent the germination of the seed, beginning of this century, the habitable and fertile region. If both or, by carrying away the light soil, seriousness of the problem had not these aims could be co-ordinated leave the young plants exposed and been fully appreciated. As early as and combined in some long-term cause them to wither up." (K. D. 1909, Mr K. D. Erskine had re­ project, it would be the ideal solu­ Erskine, Rajput Gazetteer, III A, marked about the sand-dunes of tion. Unfortunately, the very little ^ 341.) Had the soil been'more Jaisalmer that: "... these dhrians rainfall that we get is the principal compact and not sandy, this would are very difficult to cross as the path hindrance. Even then, something not have happened. A more recent shifts almost daily, and the people can be done in this direction. report is that of Mr H. Howard, say that they are gradually but Besides the afforestation of stra­ who toured Jodhpur in 1944: slowly travelling northwards" (op, tegic zones, an attempt should also " Moreover, the amount of wind cit., p. 5, italics mine.) Anyway, be made in the direction of work­ erosion is far more than realised. the seriousness of the problem has ing out a proper forest policy for 279 March 15, 1952 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

280 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY March 13, 1952 the whole of Rajasthan. Afforesta­ through evaporation or in floods study of the geological conditions of tion may be difficult in the desert which carry away with them the Rajasthan in order to find out the areas, but it is not impossible. It valuable top soil, will be absorbed possibility of digging tube-wells at has been found that in these tracts, and retained in the soil for con­ suitable places. Tube-wells, how­ species like acacia arabica (Babul) siderable periods, so that the gene­ ever, need cheap power but the and prosopis spicigera (Khejra) ral moisture content of the soil grand hydro-electric projects have can be grown easily. Moreover, layers would be far higher than at yet to come into being. This again pros pis juliftora, commonly known present. These trees would further shows that there is no short cut to as Vilaiti Khejra, has been found act as a shelter belt to lessen the the conversion of the desert into a a remarkable tree for desert con­ force of the desiccating hot weather fertile plain. ditions. If large belts of these trees winds and would, to that extent, To concede, the Rajasthan can be grown in the desert tract, mitigate the dust storms which desert has not only be immobilised our purpose can be amply served. carry away a huge quantity of soil. but it has also be transformed. Both It does not mean that the actual Another important problem is the tasks should be co-ordinated and volume of rainfall in these areas that of supplying water to the rain­ combined into an all-embracing would increase, as a result of affores­ less tracts of Rajasthan. The prob­ scheme. The inauguration of such tation—this would be an unscientific lem is naturally most difficult in a scheme rests with the newly-form­ claim to make—but the 12" or 13" the desert proper. The solution ed Rajasthan Government, which, of rain which now run waste can come only from a scientific we hope, will take it up in earnest.

The Wafd a Spent Force (From a Cairo Correspondent) HE slogans chalked today on the life itself.' And neither the sure but This was the choice encountered T walls of Cairo and Alexandria slow Indianjsation of the civil ser­ by the Indian National Congress in read: "Get out you dirty English." vice nor the working of Congress 1947. Gandhi favoured the former It is difficult not to be reminded of ministries in the provinces really course; Congress should refrain the slogan " Quit India" which made any difference. The chosen from competition in pursuit of poli­ appeared in Bombay and Calcutta leaders of the people remained out­ tical power but should "flower into" somewhat under ten years ago. side the back door of the palace a social service movement. (Since Yet closer acquaintance with the of government, deeply aware of the this had in fact been already an moods behind the slogans discloses indignity of their position and aspect of Congress—its " construct­ more contrasts than similarities. genuinely eager for an opportunity ive programme " — this proposal There is no doubt that public to bear responsibility. Their senti­ would not have involved a com­ opinion in the new member nations ments were readily shared by the pletely fresh direction.) The ma­ of the Commonwealth inclines to bulk of thinking Indians. jority could not accept this renun­ see in Egypt's quarrel with Britain ciation of a powerful political The impression given by Egypt yet another manifestation of the weapon and chose instead to trans­ is different. Here we seem to have anti-imperialist struggle, and the form Congress into a party within a people discontented rather than Communist attitude naturally does the new State. The danger of using specifically frustrated, discontented all it can to confirm this impression. the label to arouse loyalties born of above all with themselves. Power In this country, too, uneasiness the period of national struggle re­ and responsibility have, after all, about Britain's role and policy in mains, and it is not easy to part been in the hands of Egypt's Egypt is not confined to the extreme with former comrades, but the re­ ' popular' rulers for nearly a gene­ left but is found in some measure cent elections have witnessed at ration, and if the enjoyment of wherever there is a trace of liberal least some attempt to formulate a power has been more in evidence sentiment and thought. Liberalism programme around the real issues than the exercise of responsibility, grew up with nationalism and re­ which confront the country. More­ that is simply a factor in the dis­ mains disposed to lend it sympathe­ over, opposition to party is not con­ content. The chosen leaders can tic support. It is true that liberal­ demned as treachery to the nation. only remain fairly certain of con­ ism learnt between the wars to dis­ The Wafd has also faced the tinuing to be chosen by appealing tinguish between a ' genuine' na­ same dilemma but has run away to issues of the kind on which they tionalism and the spurious varieties from it. indeed, it has been deter­ originally came to power. It may inculcated by the totalitarian re­ mined neither to abandon power be truly said that British influence gimes; modern Egypt suggests that nor to relinquish its nationalist in Egypt has provided an ample a further distinction has to be appeal. It never had anything like number of such issues. But the drawn. a constructive social message on nature of Egyptian internal politics which it might have concentrated; Observers of the Indian scene in is such that if the Canal Zone did the years during and before the war it has studiously avoided the alter­ not exist, it would have had to be native of the harsh and unpleasant often received a powerful impression invented. of a profoundly frustrated people. world of policies and programmes. " Politics seems to be everything," When a national movement The result is a form of political the visitor exclaimed. Indeed, it achieves its object, it is faced with stagnation in which discontent freely was so; the presence of alien rulers an unpleasant and difficult choice. breeds. There has been a failure loomed so large in the foreground It may continue to be national but to adapt the equipment appropriate of the people's vision that their eyes at the cost of ceasing to be poli­ to a struggle for independence for became focussed delusively on this tical; or it may continue to be poli­ the new job of national construc­ obstacle and missed the game of tical but cease to be wholly national. tion. As a consequence, national 281