Estd.: 1981
(Registration : Societies Regd. Act. No. XXI, 1860, Registration. No. MAH/184/82(N) and the Bombay Public Trust Act No. 29, Reg. No. F/3230)
Established in 1981, this society has been formed with the keen interest and tireless efforts of faculty members of the PG Department of Geology, Nagpur University. This team had the vision and commitment to foresee the fact that Nagpur is a hub-centre for geoscientific activities. Several earth science institutes and departments are based here and a geological society located at Nagpur, the Orange City, can act as a catalyst for propelling earth science research at the same time also inspiring budding researchers. By virtue of Nagpur being centrally located, other conducive factors made this an ideal location and launch-pad for the GGS. Our founders must be thanked and commended for conceptualizing, establishing and managing the society through its early years. The Society has been in very able hands all through and the all teams of office bearers have also vowed to put in efforts to set and achieve higher goals to reach new heights.
The name Gondwana Geological Society is drawn after the historic Gond Kingdom of yore, wherein Nagpur was an important centre. It is after this Kingdom that the Gondwana Land and the Super Group was conceived and later accepted internationally. The GGS has wide geoscientific interests in the entire stratigraphic column from Archean to Recent and its activity is in no way confined to the Gondwana Land.
Many other similar scientific societies have come and gone, becoming non-functional or dying a premature death during the several decades long history of the Gondwana Geological Society, but our Society has endured all the adversities, growing and emerging stronger every year. The objectives are clear, the resources defined and identified while the actions are oriented to achieve specific scientific pursuits and objectives. The members and office bearers are committed, enthusiastic, dedicated and selfless, with only one goal – to see the Society reach higher echelons.
A scientific society is evaluated by the regularity and the excellence of its publications that incorporate the research findings. Every society has teething troubles initially in overcoming this very bitter and crucial phase. Eminent researchers and scholars are choosy about any publication whose circulation is not well defined. Persuasion and perseverance to secure scientific papers for publication from authors is needed in the initial phases. The Gondwana Geological Society faced such problems initially, but over the years the bi-annual journal entitled The Gondwana Geological Magazine has received national and international acclaim. The special thematic volumes are also in great demand and are also being widely referred to by researchers, internationally.
The GGS also periodically organises lectures by eminent scientists to facilitate dissemination of scientific information with better interaction and also co-sponsors geoscientific events of interest by other scientific societies.
During the efforts to nurture and sustain the society in executing its objectives by conducting National Level Seminars and by bringing out widely-acclaimed publication of scientific papers in the symposium volume the GGS has received unstinted support. This has been forthcoming from organisations like the Geological Survey of India, RTM Nagpur University, Indian Bureau of Mines, Western Coalfields Ltd, Atomic Minerals Directorate, Manganese Ore India Limited, Earthquake Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan, Department of Science and Technology, Babha Atomic Research Centre, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Directorate of Geology and Mining and Groundwater Survey and Development Agency, Central Ground Water Board, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and many more, besides a number of companies in the private sector.
The editorial committees, authors and scrutinizers have put in special efforts to meet the deadlines for the release of the Special Publications during the six National Symposiums that the GGS has so far conducted. These special publications include Gondwana of India (1993), Deccan Flood Basalts (1996)(co-sponsor Earthquake Research Institute, Japan),Quaternary of India (1999), Seismicity of Central India (2002) (organised by Maharashtra Academy of Sciences and co-organised by the GGS), Advances in Precambrian Geology and Mineral Resource Modelling of Central India (2003) and Energy Scenario 2020- Vision and Perspectives (Silver Jubilee Commemoration,2007). The GGS is now gearing up to organise a National Symposium on Sedimentary Basins in India-Economic Potential and Future Prospects later in 2010.Besides two publications on “Fluorine in Environment” was published by the GGS, the project being funded by the Rajiv Gandhi National Mission for Drinking Water and the UNESCO.
The GGS originally coming up as a regional society in the early 1980’s, has grown up now with active life membership from most earth science related organisations, universities and academic institutes in India, imparting it a national character and essence. The GGS also has foreign-based life members.
The Gondwana Geological Society looks forward to many brighter years ahead and is gearing up to meet the present and future challenges in the field of earth sciences at the national level, commensurate with the changing times.