The Indian government calls 68% of the Thar a "wasteland," and plans to "better utilize" it. Actions born of this new lexicon threaten to destroy livelihoods and an ecosystem at a time when monsoons are unpredictable
All the drinking water in the world will fit in a cube that can sit over the city of Bangalore. And in this industrial age, everyone wants a share of aquifers, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Voices get shriller and stakes rise ever higher should a river cross international boundaries. Add to all this, the unpredictability of weather patterns in the age of climate change.
On the freshwater trail, I will follow the changing fortunes of people and species in the anthropocene era
Traditional desert dwellers, semi-nomadic shepherds, call upon ancient wisdom to survive in the deep Thar desert of Rajasthan. This is a story about people who remember where the wells live
The deep Thar desert sees only forty cloudy days. Yet, the shepherds have as many different names for clouds. Does the essence of thriving in this hostile clime begin with an evocative lexis of the land?
People of the Thar desert who live with the cycle of seasons find ways of feeding thousands of people without irrigation. This story unfolds over a year and recounts history through contemporary lives lived gently
When we lose an evocative lexicon of the land, when we forget, we lose what Barry Lopez calls the “voice of memory over the land.” This is an attempt to keep that lexicon alive
This freshwater trail has wandered through Rajasthan, Assam, Arunachal pradesh, northern Bangladesh, to the Ganges in West Bengal, and into the massive active delta, the Sundarbans. A map of the journey thus far ...
Very evocative of the follies that have occurred time and time again all across this land, what from a local’s perspective can be read as unsolicited change. Reading this piece in entirety methinks – just out of frustration and remorse, that along with your excellent photo-documentation and writing, would a movie with this story unfolding perhaps also have added impact to a larger audience?
Thank you for writing in, Manish. Means a lot.
I smiled at reading your suggestion of a film. It is something on my mind, something for the near future.
Excellent article.
Excellent piece. Perhaps someone could investigate the private parties who profited from these massive projects. But that maybe politically explosive.
What a brilliant analysis. Thank you for taking the time to research this topic. The time is not too far where stuff like this is mainstream.. Hopefully not too late..
Thanks, Sachin, there are people working tirelessly to increase awareness of these ecosystems. So yes, hopefully, not too late.
Emphatic. Splendid. Bests to Arati and Peepli Team.
Thanks, Prakash.
Fantastic read Arati. So evocative and well written.
Thanks much, Gaurav!
Great effort. Such a wonderful article; picture have given an additional glory to it. There is a need to make the same story for Tharparkar, Sindh in Pakistan. Lifestyle of Thari people and their culture also needs attention.
Its a bit late but i hope you read and reply to it.
I have come across many articles on a lot of issues about problems associated with projects.
Yet, rarely I see and hear people talk about solutions instead of just complaining. I don’t mean to undermine the issues arising but its better if we come up with solutions while doing so if we are serious about positive change.
Good luck 🙂
A terrific essay, Aarti! You’ve captured the plunder and stupidity of development, as well as the crying need to build on grounded knowledge. I remembered Anupam Mishra and how he used local words to show communities’ ties to landscapes. Looking forward to more long essays from you!
That’s what I have been advocating all this time bring experts,research scientist,involve public and then come up with a pilot project .These govt. Officers with title like IAS RCS will never be successful.If it becomes viable then go for it. What a detailed story and the descriptions is like novels of Tagore.I was planning to buy land in Jaisalmer but not anymore. Great job.