question

[rohan.oberoi at CORNELL.EDU]

This is more a matter of geology than Indology, but it's interesting
that the best figures I can find from the Encyclopaedia Britannica
(available online) are exactly equal for the two rivers (see
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/single_table/0,5716,126476,00.html).
There is some very detailed Brahmaputra information on NASA's site (see
http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/DAAC_DOCS/geomorphology/GEO_4/GEO_PLATE_F-13.HTML)
but, reassuringly for those concerned about productive use of their
taxpayer dollars, no one seems to have analysed it carefully to
estimate the length of the river with greater precision.

Funk & Wagnall's encyclopaedia, on the other hand (see
http://www.funkandwagnalls.com/encyclopedia/getpage.asp?abspage=/articles/012000b/012000553.asp)
puts the length of the Indus at 2736km (1700miles) and the Brahmaputra
(http://www.funkandwagnalls.com/encyclopedia/getpage.asp?abspage=/articles/003002a/003002286.asp
at 2700km (1680miles), so a careful selection of sources gives the
prize to the Indus.  More honestly, the degree of precision involved
probably doesn't allow us to answer this question using the published
figures from encyclopaedias (and probably almanacs, though I haven't
looked any up).

Allen, it's all very well to direct people in the US to their
'university or public library', but Dr. Kochhar's email was from
India, and you must have some idea of the deficiencies of university
and public libraries in India.

Regards,
Rohan.

>This question should be answerable by a consultation of an
>encyclopedia, a world almanac, or a visit to your university or public
>library.  It is an easy one by that route but on the other hand it
>will be pure chance if any on the list know it offhand and by memory,
>as they might what is the best book in English on the karma doctrine,
>or the best in French on Indo-Aryan origins.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Allen W. Thrasher
>
>
>
>
>
>Allen W. Thrasher, Ph.D.
>
>Senior Reference Librarian       101 Independence Ave., SE
>Southern Asia Section               LJ-150
>Asian Division                            Washington, DC 20540-4810
>Library of Congress                     U.S.A.
>tel. 202-707-3732                       fax 202-707-1724
>Email: athr at loc.gov
>
>The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the
>Library of Congress.
>
>>>> Rajesh Kochhar <rkk at NISTADS.RES.IN> 03/11 9:20 AM >>>
>Of the two Himalayan rivers Indus and Brahmaputra ( both about
>1800miles / 2900km ) which one is  the longer and by how much?
>rajesh kochhar