‘Maps have changed as their purpose has changed’

Map collector and curator Prshant Lahoti showing one of the earliest maps used by pilgrims in India. | Photo Credit: ARRANGEMENT

It was sweeping history of seven centuries of cartography packed into 35 minutes at the Kalakriti Art Gallery here on Saturday (October 31). Map collector and curator Prshant Lahoti dove into his massive collection of maps and drawing that date from earliest Indian maps that showed the path for pilgrims to the current day Google maps that are available at the click of a button.

He began with the earliest conception of Indian cosmography where the world was believed to be a circular island or Jambudvipa to a map that showed he passage for a pilgrim from Haridwar to reach the temple of Badrinath. “The maps have changed over a period of time as the purpose of the maps changed. Maps were not how the world was but how the mapmaker believed or thought it was,” said Mr. Lahoti at his talk on ‘Mapping Memory’ which is part of the Hyderabad Art Week.

“Printing technology changed map making and its purpose as well. The Ptolemy world map is based on the descriptions of various places by the historian in his book on Geography. Neither the map makers travelled nor did Ptolemy and it was a collection of information,” he said.

“The Portuguese mapped the world and kept it a secret till a Dutch trader and spy Jan Huygen van Linschoten collected the information from the Portuguese and wrote a tell-all book that changed the trade history of the world. Trade was driving geography. The cartographers never came to India but collected information from travellers and used their imagination,” Mr Lahoti said showing a world map that did not look anything like what we know now.

Published - October 31, 2026 09:14 pm IST