Paani sena

Baarav, an ancient stepped pond, at Manchar in Pune district. Pic courtesy/DR Manas Marathe

A virtual archive of Pune's water heritage has been evocatively titled Punyache Paani. It translates to Pune's waters, but doesn't quite capture the loaded meaning it holds for a Maharashtrian raised in Mumbai. Ask a Mumbaikar about Pune traits and signboards, and what will follow are jokes on Punyanagari's conservative hava paani. Likewise, seek a Punekar's take on the Maximum City, and be assured of an one-dimensional image of a flooded-harried-congested megapolis. I was told Mumbai tondche paani palavte (Mumbai terrifies people).

For this columnist, the difference between the Mumbai and Pune DNA was part of the light post-meal conversations during vacations with family in the Erandwane neighbourhood, way back in the 1980s. Even in those simpler childhood years dominated by visits to Kamala Nehru Park near Pune's iconic Prabhat Road, the impact of the city's paani was not lost on my school-going mind, especially when aaji referenced Pune's nyare (extraordinary) paani, which made people "smart".

Urban sketchers near Aundh at Mula River. Pic courtesy/Tushar Sarode

None of this banter possibly featured in the ideation sessions of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, the ideological force behind the Living Waters Museum's (LWM) virtual bi-lingual exhibition on Pune's water heritage. No other wordplay, certainly not in English, would have done justice to the vast slate of water-related issues faced in Pune - not just in the core municipal limits, but in gaothans extending to Sus in the West and Uruli Devachi in the East. Needless to add, drinking water supply challenges and sanitation issues abound in Pune's suburbia. After the controversial merger of 23 villages, Pune municipality is now the largest geographical expanse in the state (seventh largest nationally), even beating the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. In this context, the axe on Pune's hilly neighbourhoods and its pastoral communities (dhangars, katkaris and bhois) is a relevant chapter. Pune or Mumbai or any Indian city bursting at the seams, is eventually compromising on land and water resources in the bargain.

In its bid to instill respect for water, IISER's Centre for Water Research had earlier mounted Mumbai's water narratives, which celebrated water systems that Mumbaikars should be particularly cognisant of. The CWR's efforts, geared towards documenting changing waterscapes, embrace the larger goal to sensitise the young-old, urban-rural, savvy-underinformed about a resource that deserves judicious use. Also, unless we appreciate the layers of our everyday water challenges, a long-term water-safe future cannot be addressed.

Mula and Mutha are evoked as deities in a story map, so that Punekars feel responsible towards the water sources

Punyache Paani is integral to IISER's grander scheme of interconnected efforts - be it a Jal Jharokha workshop in a Jodhpur fort, or a documentary on the coral reefs of Kutch, or the Water Varta multimedia discourse around water-related vessels. Being part of the Global Network of Water Museums, the LWM team also factors in research around women's water-related unpaid chores, an aspect not necessarily on the top of India's national policy and action.

It is satisfying to see diverse Punekars currently gathered to retrace the story of the city's waters. Despite their distinct professional backdrops, they emerge as water carers, who have taken it upon themselves to create water awareness. For instance, the Jeevitnadi River Foundation emphasises on reviving river and lake walks, Studio Vitamin D design platform digitalises water lore, suffused with history and geography and popular practices. The INTACH Pune chapter adds a performing arts dimension in its powada. While these content makers and shapers met in person at the IISER campus from March 27 to April 2, their worldviews, audio-visual showcases, photo essays, online exchanges, talks and lecture demonstrations float forever in cyberspace.

Map of the aqueducts in the Peshwa period. Pic courtesy/Pallavee Gokhale

For any other city, which is aiming to curate its waterscapes and relive its water heritage, Punyache Paani can lead by example. I was touched by its post-COVID power of assembly. Water-sustainability education in India needs such a gathering of water carers who align time and energy for sharing interdisciplinary research. For instance, Indologist Saili Palande-Datar, one of the key contributors, retells the significance of rock-cut marvels surrounding the Mula-Mutha river basin. Unless one knows these cultural heritage sites, it will be difficult for the new student/citizen to assess the current status of Pune's riverine environment.

The story-map of Mula Mutha: Daughters of The Sahyadris helps Punekars reimagine the once-revered and now-polluted watercourse. There can never be a popular acceptable way to bring alive the issue of untreated sewage in Mula Mutha or any other river. But a Punekar's religious beliefs can be called to action. By evoking Mula Mutha as deities, Punyache Paani uses the mythology-religion route to instill a water ethic.

The virtual water showcase runs on the fuel provided by water champions and changemakers who are incredibly passionate about saving, locating, conserving and celebrating waters. For instance, Shailendra (kaka) Patel's life is dedicated to saving a natural spring in the Bavdhan neighbourhood. His efforts persist towards ecological restoration of natural spring sites, for which he offers arghya everyday to the Sun God to protect the live streams amid indiscriminate construction.

Dr Manas Marathe's visual representations of Pune's ancient baaravs - 600-year-old stepped ponds - is another take on the architecture and design of structures, which are living but often undervalued systems. In fact, Marathe recalls many Punekars who nurture a deep personal connection with these heritage ponds. Similarly, archaeologist Pallavee Gokhale's 3D reconstruction of the Peshwa period underground aqueducts is an educational tour of the engineering and city planning wonders of a bygone era. It is not that baaravs and underground nahars haven't ever been subjects of research projects. But, the colourful digital mapping of these aspects adds heft to Punyache Paani.

Do we need a commemorative Earth Day or a Water Day to admit the severity of the water crisis India is currently facing? We are aware of the water stress experienced by large pockets. We know water scarcity adversely impacts national economy. We know of the debilitating impact on human resources in water-scarce landscapes. Yet, we need reminders of the roles we can play to conserve a finite resource. Punyache Paani is another gentle reminder.

Sumedha Raikar-Mhatre is a culture columnist in search of the sub-text. You can reach her at sumedha.raikar@mid-day.com

Addendum: Living Waters Museum is a virtual repository on water heritage, housed at the Centre for Water Research, IISER, Pune. LWM is a special initiative, building interdisciplinary understanding of contemporary water challenges through the creative and performing arts, founded in 2017 by Dr. Sara Ahmed who has niche experience in the water sector as an academic and policy advocate. She is the driving force behind LWM. Punyache Paani, like Mumbai's water narratives, is part of LWM's vision.