“The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva's hair, is not an ancient stream. Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan. The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being. But India is really far older. In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea. They are older than anything in the world. No water has ever covered them, and the sun who has watched them for countless aeons may still discern in their outlines forms that were his before our globe was torn from his bosom. If flesh of the sun's flesh is to be touched anywhere, it is here, among the incredible antiquity of these hills.”
Quote Analysis:
In this quote by E.M. Forster, the author delves into the deep history and ancient origins of India, specifically focusing on the geology of the land. He emphasizes that while the religious significance of rivers like the Ganges is important, geology reveals a much older history of the land itself. Forster describes how the formation of the Himalayas, the creation of rivers, and the evolution of the Indian subcontinent have taken place over incomprehensible spans of time. He highlights the enduring presence of the Dravidian hills, suggesting that they are the oldest remnants of land on Earth, untouched by the waters that once covered other parts of the planet. This quote reflects a profound reverence for the ancient geology of India and the deep connections it holds to the natural world.
Modern Relevance:
In this excerpt from E.M. Forster's writings, the author reflects on the geological history and ancient origins of the Indian subcontinent. Despite being steeped in religious mythology, Forster highlights the significance of geology in understanding the formation of the land and the historical processes that have shaped it over millions of years. This perspective serves as a reminder of the deep time scales and complexities involved in the creation of the Indian landscape, offering a broader context for appreciating its natural beauty and cultural richness.
Reflection on the Ancient Landmarks of India
"The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva's hair, is not an ancient stream. Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan. The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being. But India is really far older. In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea. They are older than anything in the world. No water has ever covered them, and the sun who has watched them for countless aeons may still discern in their outlines forms that were his before our globe was torn from his bosom. If flesh of the sun's flesh is to be touched anywhere, it is here, among the incredible antiquity of these hills." - E.M. Forster
Reflection Questions:
In this excerpt, E.M. Forster reflects on the ancient history of India and highlights the geological perspective on the formation of the Ganges River and the Himalayan mountains. As you consider these themes, reflect on the following questions:
How does Forster's emphasis on geology challenge the traditional religious and mythological narratives surrounding the origins of the Ganges River and the Himalayas?
In what ways does Forster's description of the prehistoric ocean and the ancient land of Dravidia evoke a sense of deep time and the immense antiquity of the Indian subcontinent?
How does Forster's portrayal of the sun as a witness to the enduring presence of the Dravidian hills prompt reflection on the interconnectedness of cosmic forces and the earthly landscape?
What implications does Forster's perspective on the ancient history of India have for our understanding of human civilization, cultural heritage, and the concept of immemorial time?
Similar quotes
“Be beautiful, noble, like the antique ant,Who bore the storms as he bore the sun, Wearing neither gown nor helmet, Though he was archbishop and soldier:Wore only his own flesh....Trace the tracelessness of the ant,Every ant has reached this perfection.As he comes, so he goes,Flowing as water flows,Essential but secret like a rose.”
“Everything alive is part of each of us, and many things which do not move as we move are part of us. The sun is part of us, the earth, the sky, the stars, the rivers, and the oceans. All things are part of us, and we have come here to enjoy them and to thank God for them.”
“I've known rivers:I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”
“Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?" That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past nor the shadow of the future.”
“The Himalayas are the crowning achievement of the Indo-Australian plate. India in the Oligocene crashed head on into Tibet, hit so hard that it not only folded and buckled the plate boundaries but also plowed into the newly created Tibetan plateau and drove the Himalayas five and a half miles into the sky. The mountains are in some trouble. India has not stopped pushing them, and they are still going up. Their height and volume are already so great they are beginning to melt in their own self-generated radioactive heat. When the climbers in 1953 planted their flags on the highest mountain, they set them in snow over the skeletons of creatures that had lived in a warm clear ocean that India, moving north, blanked out. Possibly as much as 20,000 feet below the sea floor, the skeletal remains had turned into rock. This one fact is a treatise in itself on the movements of the surface of the earth. If by some fiat, I had to restrict all this writing to one sentence; this is the one I would choose: the summit of Mount Everest is marine limestone.”