Rivers – the birthplace of civilisations, the carriers of history, the protagonists of many myths, and also the seats of many a conflict and resolution. What secrets do they carry? Here are some of our favourite books on Indian rivers – from tracing history, to contemporary commentary, these books give a lot more insight into our rivers that are the nation’s lifelines.
The Unquiet River: A Biography of the Brahmaputra by Arupjyoti Saikia
In the conversations around rivers, how much light is shed on their pasts? Historian Saikia explores the history of the Brahmaputra River through archival details and research-aided narratives. It is a compelling read given the times when rivers are subjected to geopolitics.
The Mighty and Mystical Rivers of India by Alaka Shankar
Charting the course of some of the important rivers in the country, this book explores the journeys of those rivers through towns, cities, dams and archaeological sites.
Empires of Indus: The Story of a River by Alice Albinia
From being worshipped to being the site of imperial ambitions, the Indus was the lifeline of ancient civilisations, and on its banks, religions and mystical movements were born. Journalist and author Alice Albinia takes the reader through its rich history and long journey across mountains and plains.
Mahanadi: The Tale of a River by Anita Agnihotri, translated from Bengali by Nivedita Sen
The only novel on this list, Mahanadi, is about the lives of people living on the banks of the mighty river, but the true protagonist of the book is the river. Sprinkled with myths, lore, and archaeological vignettes, this book explores the joys and travails the river brings into the lives of people truly connected to it.
The Dark Coloured Waters: A Journey Along River Chenab by Danesh Rana
Part memoir, part travelogue, this book is a chronicle of a river and a man shaped by its history. From tracing the mythic origins to documenting the violence the river has been subjected to, the narrative also touches upon the diplomatic interventions between countries sharing its water.
Along the Betwa by Radhika Singh and Shail Joshi
Bundelkhand region is subjected to periodic droughts and the Betwa cuts through it.
The authors, researcher Singh and urban planning professional, Joshi, walked through this region documenting livelihoods, inequality and environmental issues. This book is a chronicle of their experiences and uses photographs, maps and anecdotes from conversations with the locals to support the narrative.
Waterlines: The Penguin Book of River Writings, edited by Amita Baviskar
A tribute to the Indian rivers, Waterlines is an anthology of stories, essays, poetry from some of India’s most loved writers, scholars and academics. A combination of classical and contemporary writing, the contributors include Tagore, Arundhati Roy, A.K. Ramanujam, Mukul Sharma and Ruchir Joshi.
Rivers Remember: The Shocking Truth of a Manmade Flood by Krupa Ge
The floods of December 2015 remain etched in every Chennai dweller’s memory. The author, through years of research, traces how it was inactivity and carelessness in water management that led to this moment.
