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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.
An intimate portrait of one of the world’s largest and widest rivers, River Traveller by veteran journalist Sanjoy Hazarika chronicles the author’s journeys down the river over more than two decades. Charting through the course of the river from Tibet to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Bangladesh, documenting history and observing the lives of people depending on it for a living, this book touches on multiple subjects.
In a world consumed by greed for consumption and speed, Slow Living advocates for change—small, progressive steps toward a sustainable future. Questioning the dominant narratives that widen the inequality prevalent in societies, the book shows how individual choices and small acts of resistance can, in turn create ripple effects that could restore our relationship with the planet.
In this email interview with Meghaa Gupta, Ashish Kothari, and Sujatha Padmanabhan, founders of Kalpavriksh, a Pune-based environmental action group, share their thoughts on the role of environmental literature in shaping society. Environmental Writing Should Appeal to the Heart – Greenlitfest
Just an Old Sea Dog and Other Poems mariner Beetashok Chatterjee, offers 52 lyrical poems steeped in the salt and spirit of the sea. With the beat of waves and the lilt of verse, these ballad chart a course through longing, adventure, hardship, disaster—and moments of pure joy.
Sangam Literature beautifully categorises the landscapes of Tamil land into five tinais or ecological zones. In this essay, researcher and writer Sindu Deivanayagan depicts the web of life in neithal tinai, coastal landscapes and how it can inform today’s coastal development. Image credit – Wikimedia Commonshttps://thewire.in/culture/how-sangam-literature-imagined-a-coastal-world-of-balance
The uniqueness of India and its Indianness lies in its natural diversity. The ancient sages and saints made efforts to bind man with nature. Since ancient times, poets have composed verses in Telugu language with nature as the focal point. In Telugu literature, animals like snakes, spiders and elephants were shown crossing the boundaries of devotion. The epic Kalahastishwara Mahatmyam Kavya, written by Dhurjati, the court poet of Sri Krishna Devaraya, is an example. Humans learnt the form of Satvik Bhakti from Shri (Spider), Kaala (snake) and Hasti (elephant), which are not domestic creatures.