Re: [tied] Digest Number 591

--- In cybalist@..., markodegard@... wrote:

> >perhaps a visit to a schoolboys atlas will clarify matters.
>
> There is nothing wrong with this. I have no shame in admitting my
> ignorance of the physical/political geography of much of the world;
> I've learned, however, that most people are even more ignorant than
> me. I have no problems in asking possibly 'dumb' questions.
>
> For the great majority of Americans (and Europeans too, I suspect)
> India, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc are just blobs on a map. You might
> know the capital, the name of a river or two, but not much else.
>
> From my own experience, the majority of Europeans, even the highly
> educated ones, are pretty vague about North American geography. If

you

> asked them to *instantly* locate Iowa (my state), they'd msot

likely

> be hard pressed to do so, about like just about every non-Pole

would

> be hard pressed to name the province in which Cracow, Poland is
> situated.
>
> Schoolboy atlases are fine. They are in fact wonderful. The IE

world

> is a huge place, and we afficianados need to learn our geography.
>
> > Rajastan is today a western province in India, bordering on
> Pakistan.
>
> That I know, but only recently has this become a 'hard' datum.
>
> > Much of Rajastan is desert, known as the Thar Desert, which also
> > covers part of Pakistan.
>
> This I knew too.
>
> > During medieval and Colonial times, this province was known as
> > Rajputana - home of the rajputs. This province was made up of a
> > number of small kingdoms.
>
> The 'White Huns' and all that. Rajastanis are said to be quite

prickly

> about their honor.
>
> > many legends of valour, chivalry etc emanate from this area.
>
> Didn't Kipling write of this?

Ravi writes:

Communication is such a wonderfully delicate thing.

Just to clarify, when I refer to a schoolboy atlas, it is because I
often use one, as they are simple to follow.

I also ask dumb questios,and grateful for the understanding and
pleasant replies.

History,geography as wonderful subjects, and generate a lot of
passion, we can all be understanding of that.



On writing of this area, one writer was Col James Todd( mid 19th
century) who wrote a 2 volume book " Annals and Antiquities of
Rajastan",publioshed by Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, and it make
interesing reading.It reads a bit like a historical novel.

White Huns. Most Rajastanis would not know what you are referring to,
and probably get " prickly"

But Todd, and others have theorised that the Rajputs/ Jats had a
scythian/ hun / getae, central Asian origin.

They could be right too or wrong and we will probably never no for
certain( not that it matters today anyway) - but it does make for an
interesting discussion.



Thanks best regards


ravi