Civilising Natures by Kavita Philip

Civilising Natures explores how science and colonialism shaped one another in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century India. Focusing on the forested regions of the Madras Presidency, the book traces how botanists, anthropologists, foresters, and administrators studied and managed both landscapes and the tribal communities who lived within them.

Through vivid case studies, Kavita Philip reveals how ideas of race, nature, and modernity influenced policies, knowledge systems, and everyday life during colonial rule. This work offers a nuanced perspective on how the environment, science, and power became intertwined - and how these legacies continue to shape conversations today.

An insightful read for those interested in environmental history, anthropology, colonial studies, and the Nilgiri region.