Monsoon in history and present

Abstract

Monsoon in the Indian sub-continent remains a seasonal phenomenon which is awaited by all of the humans of the sub–continent. It has long drawn the reverence of monks, travellers, poets, traders and researchers. All mortals from the sub-continent have looked to it from their own perspective and it continues to be the subject of intense multi-dimensional engagement. The monsoon has provided the means of survival to many civilizations, besides sculpting the drainages and the paleogeography of the subcontinent. The evolution of the Himalayas has played a critical role in the evolution of the summer monsoon, which gave life to rivers, crops and human settlements. The present synthesis of the Monsoon illustrates how it is linked to the history of human cultures and their evolution. Furthermore, we have attempted to place the monsoon in a historical perspective using ancient literature, besides considering the present monsoon variability and forecasting systems available.