From the start of 2017, I have been working on a personal project associated with rivers. I have named it अनादी (Anaadi) which means eternal. In this post, I will be talking of the what, why and how of the project.

Need more than wanderlust

Wanderlust was a pleasant word for me during the early stages of my traveling. I did all was visit a green place or white mountain, capture some snaps and tag wanderlust on it. It absolutely was fun and excitement. However, once days passed all I had was memories and nothing else.

It is good to have memories as they take us to the places later in our lives and make us smile. It was certainly good, but not enough.

Later on, when I questioned myself that did I definitely liked traveling?  I got an affirmative answer. I liked traveling but so did Neanderthals. In fact, they wandered with purpose but what about me?

I had a deep feeling of bringing in some purpose. At the end, I wished to make the wanderings more than Empty Miles.

Next step?

So I started looking for a purpose. I asked myself, is there anything I wished to seek or look out for? Yes. I like water bodies, I like sitting next to rivers, lakes, well and sea. I can spend hours listening to the splashing sound of rivers. They are one of the greatest automated phenomena on land created by God.

Next step was to identify in what way I can place myself between rivers and travel?

In 2013, I had authored a research paper ‘Jalshastra – Ancient water management key to sustainable future’ in Cummins Engineering College, Pune. The paper talked of various water management (Collection, storage, distribution, maintenance) approach practiced throughout the country for several centuries.

I thought of extending the same by touring the rivers, lakes, wells and be on the field along with the books.

The reason behind choosing the river, in particular, was that clean and perennial rivers are very crucial for any civilization.  And it’s a fact that rivers have suffered the worst in the last 200 years of industrialization. Many rivers have given up and many are in the queue.

The distress, negligence, and mismanagement which the rivers are facing is an indication of a grave crisis.

The idea behind अनादी (Anaadi) river project

अनादी is my attempt to learn, understand, share and spread the on ground condition.

My idea is to ride along the river and have a first-hand experience of the situation and move forward by taking tiny steps for its mitigation.

We know that rivers and other water bodies not only affects the landmass but the living subjects as well. They play an active role in shaping the culture of that area. Certain dance forms, folk songs, theatres, designs of houses, etc are some of the sections which have a very vivid impact of water bodies.

I wish to touch these points by playing the role of collector and storyteller.

I have created a roadmap for the project. Right now, I have a list of more than 25 small, medium and large rivers. But the sequence and names will change as I move ahead.

I have started my journey and tested myself with Vashisthi river and Kosi River in Bihar. Next in line is the grand and holy har har Narmade.

Do like, share and write your comments regarding the topic in the box below or anywhere on the social media or Email (budgetyatri@gmail.com) me. Wish me luck friends ?

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