April 09, 2002

‘13’

200^TH COMMEMORATION OF "THE GREAT ARC"

    Two hundred years ago on April 10, a great daunting and audacious scientific endeavour known to mankind led by Col. William Lambton began from Chennai in the South mapping the entire Indian sub-continent right upto the Himalayas, covering a distance of 2,400 kms and taking 50 years for completion. Called the great meridian arc of India, the gigantic trigonometric survey resulted in the first accurate measurements of the Himalayas, an achievement which was acknowledged with naming the world’s highest peak in honour of Col. Sir George Everest. More important still, the survey produced exact values of the curvature of the earth, significantly advancing our knowledge on the exact shape the planet.

    Announcing a year-long commemoration of the great event here today at a Press Conference, Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology said the Great Trigonometric Survey can be considered as foundation of all the topographical surveys. It is possible to claim that much of India’s infrastructural development like railways, national highways, telecommunication, power-grids could not have taken place without accurate maps, which the measurement of the Great Arc made possible. The major events of commemoration include, the Treasure Quest, Geo Quest Quiz, Great Arc Exhibition, Great Arc Documentary Film Series, and Great Arc Pictorial publications etc. The series of events kick-start with the Great Treasure Quest, commencing tomorrow, at India Gate.

    The Surveyor General of India, Dr. P. Nag said, the objective is to use the bicentennial as an opportunity to leverage the enormous wealth of data assets held by the Survey of India and convert them into knowledge products, to meet the rapidly growing needs of a knowledge society. He said the grand expedition, conceived by Colonel Lambton was the longest measurement of the earth’s surface ever to have been attempted with pin-point precision of every inch. More lives were lost during the expedition than in most contemporary wars. Even in a advanced country like the United States such a Trigonometric Survey was completed only recently.