This passage is adapted from my book The Ultimate To Do List for Humanity. Readers interested in exploring the idea further may refer to the book. It is available on Amazon.in at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL5BP86N
“Clean water and sanitation are not just basic needs, they’re human rights.”
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Five young men led by Rajendra Singh came to a village in Alwar, Rajasthan. They belonged to Tarun Barath Sangh. They built johads in Gopalpura. Next year the wells had water even in summer. Motivated by this success, another johad was built in Bahonta in the Aravalli hills. Result was nothing short of a miracle. The Aravari river which had gone dry came back to life. Such is the power of conservation.
In the next 20 years around 8000 johads have been built bringing back to life rivers like Ruparel and Bhagwani. In 2001 Rajendra Singh was given the Ramon Magsaysay award for community leadership.
Water is an essential commodity for the existence of life. But according to the data from WHO (WHO, 2023) and UNICEF , about 1.5 billion people in the world have no access to safe drinking water. UNICEF India reports that more than 60,000 villages do not have access to clean drinking water.
My grandmother and her generation, used to draw water from a well. Those were the times when there was no running water / taps. The water from the well that fell down while drawing water, was channelised to go the plants and trees around. The dishes and the clothes were also washed near the well and the water directed to the kitchen garden. They knew the importance of conservation of water.
One of the robust urban water and sewage systems was found in the Indus Valley Civilisation which existed almost 5,000 years ago.
Stepwells are a unique form of water storage systems in the India and have been in existence since the 3rd millennium BC. From a functional pit it evolved into an elaborate multi-storey work of art and architecture. Rani ki Vav is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Queen Udaymati for King Bhima I, showcasing stunning stepwell architecture from the 11th century.
It is designed as an inverted temple divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptures of high artistic calibre. There are more than 500 major sculptures and over a thousand minor ones depicting religious, mythological and secular imagery. The deepest level is the fourth, and the it leads to a rectangular tank measuring 9.5 m by 9.4 m, with a depth of 23 m. The well is located at the westernmost end. There is a shaft 10 m in diameter and 30 m deep. There is a passage for the ladies from royal family to enter without being seen for a dip in the tank. The water in the tank is clear, as you can see from the reflection.
Rani Ki Vav, UNESCO Heritage site, Gujarat
Kund
Kund is a rainwater harvesting system found in the barren regions like the Bikaner and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan. It is a huge saucer-shaped structure built of Concrete which is cleaned every year before the onset of rains.
Tanakas in Gujarat
Rainwater falling from the sloping roofs of houses is carried through a pipe into an underground tank called a Tanka.
Johads
A Johad, is also called a pokhar or a percolation pond. They served as rainfall storage tanks and we’re also used for minor irrigation. These water bodies not only store water but also re-charge the underground water. It is also referred to as Check dams.
At Elephanta island located off Mumbai, a T shaped reservoir about 1500 years old was found by ASI. Mesopotamian jars used to transport liquids in the ancient Maritime vessels were also found at the site. This indicates a linkage with mesopotamia.
These archaeological discoveries highlight Elephanta’s role as a major ancient port city and a hub of international maritime trade, shifting the focus from it being just a religious site to a historically resilient urban centre.
SDG 14: Life Below Water: While typically focused on biology, the discovery of these items through underwater archaeology and coastal exploration helps in understanding the historical use of marine resources and the long-term impact of maritime trade on coastal environments.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The use of durable, reusable ceramic jars for long-distance trade reflects an ancient model of resource efficiency and trade logistics that researchers study to understand historical production patterns.
Need for Action
Finally, I quote Churchill- “We shape our dwellings and then our dwellings shape us”. The most effective way of spreading this message is through the medium of education. The cause of SDGs, must be taken up with a crusading spirit and missionary zeal.