Joining the Geological Survey of India without having a degree from Europe was a significant achievement back in the 1920s when Indians were barely allowed to hold any position of authority. But Darashaw Nosherwan Wadia managed to accomplish this through his efforts and interest in science.
Established in 1851, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) is a pioneering organisation that maps India’s geography. From discovering rich mineral deposits to mapping earthquake zones, it plays a vital role in harnessing India’s geological resources, boosting its economic growth and scientific advancement.
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Wadia joined the GSI in 1921 at the age of 37 and worked there until 1938. This journey laid the foundation for the study of geology in India, benefiting later students.
Darashaw Nosherwan Wadia emerged from a Parsi family renowned for its shipbuilding legacy in the vibrant coastal city of Surat, Gujarat. Born on October 23, 1883, Wadia remained dedicated to the geology of the Himalayas and conducted many surveys. In fact, his geological work began with his spending vacations in the Himalayan region, collecting rocks and fossils.
The fourth of nine siblings, he grew up in a household steeped in tradition, where the whispers of the sea and the rhythms of the railway — his father’s occupation as a station master — shaped his early world. The family’s journey led them to Bombay and then to Baroda, where young Wadia’s thirst for knowledge blossomed.
His formative years were spent at a private school in Surat and later at Sir JJ English School, but it was at Baroda High School that his passion for science ignited. Guided by his elder brother, Munchershaw, an educationist, Wadia found inspiration in the wonders of the natural world.
At just sixteen, Wadia enrolled in Baroda College, where influential teachers like Adarji M Masani opened his eyes to the intricacies of natural history. His scholarly journey flourished, culminating in a BSc in botany and zoology in 1903, followed by another BSc in botany and geology in 1905, and ultimately an MA that deepened his understanding of the earth’s mysteries.
At the age of 23, he took on the mantle of a professor of geology at the Prince of Wales College in Jammu, where the rugged beauty of the Himalayas became his classroom.
Despite personal heartache, Wadia’s summers were spent among the towering peaks, gathering rocks and fossils, his hands tracing the stories written in stone.
In 1919, he published a groundbreaking textbook on geology, breathing new life into the academic landscape of India.
WADIA’S JOURNEY AT THE GSI AND BEYOND
In 1921, Darashaw Nosherwan Wadia took ship on a new chapter with the GSI, becoming a pioneer among Indian geologists. His early work involved through and through explorations of the Himalayas, where he unearthed treasures of the past Middle and Upper Cambrian trilobites, fossils that spoke of ancient seas.
With each discovery, he mapped the geological narrative of the land, his passion illuminating the dark corners of uncharted territory.
Wadia’s journey took him to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) after his retirement from the GSI, where he embraced the role of mineralogist, delving into the rich geology of the island.
Returning to India in 1947, Wadia stepped into the role of advisor to the government under Jawaharlal Nehru, urging a renewed commitment to science. He envisioned a future where Indian scientists united to harness the nation’s vast resources, tapping into the potential that lay beneath the surface.
His influence was instrumental in the formation of the Indian Atomic Energy Act in 1948, paving the way for the exploration of thorium and uranium in India’s diverse landscapes.
Throughout his illustrious career, Wadia’s work in Himalayan stratigraphy was marked by a dedication to understanding the earth’s past. He delved into the origins of mountain ranges, explored the age of the Salt Range, and pondered the enigma of the Bouguer anomaly.
His insights into the Pleistocene Ice Age suggested a time of abundant rainfall, a poetic reflection of nature’s cycles.
Darashaw Nosherwan Wadia’s life was a tapestry woven with threads of passion, resilience, and an insatiable curiosity for the natural world. His legacy shows his spirit of inquiry, a beacon for generations of geologists who continue to explore the earth’s secrets.
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