Prehistoric River Saraswati, Western India:Geological Appraisal and Social Aspects

The book, Prehistoric River Saraswati, is a synthesis of data from geology, geophysics, tectonics, geomorphology, topography, sedimentology, space science and archaeology, with greater emphasis on the reconstruction of the geological history of the Saraswati basin. K. S. Valdiya initiated his studies on the Saraswati river about fifty years ago with a popular article in Dharmayug, at that time a widely circulated Hindi weekly. His periodic forays into the fundamental issues of the Saraswati river reflect on his unrelenting commitment to resolving the myth and reality surrounding the sacred river. A cursory look at his publications on this subject during the last fifty years reveals his abiding interest and commitment culminating in Prehistoric Saraswati. He says: ‘I felt the urge again to write on the geological aspects of the river that was the lifeline of the people…