The Sacred Waters ‘of’ Varanasi The Colonial Draining and Heritage Ecology
The Sacred Waters ‘of’ Varanasi: The Colonial Draining and Heritage Ecology by Mahesh Gogate, published by Routledge on November 28, 2024, is a comprehensive examination of urban water bodies and drainage patterns in India. This 192-page book addresses the impact of colonial urban development policies on the traditional water systems of Varanasi, particularly in light of recent heavy rainfall and the ongoing challenges of water scarcity in metropolitan areas.
Readers will find a detailed analysis of how colonial practices transformed Varanasi’s water bodies and catchment areas, leading to the elimination of temple tanks and ponds from 1775 to 1947. The book explores the concept of a ‘dry city’ and its implications for land and water separation, which contributed to water pollution and the reclamation of these vital resources. By investigating the historical context and current implications, this edition provides insights into the intersection of history, politics, and urban planning, while also addressing the cultural heritage of the region.
Official synopsis Publisher
This book on urban water bodies, catchment areas and drainage pattern is set against the backdrop of the unprecedented heavy rainfall that severely deluged metropolitan cities and other parts of India in recent years. The recurring natural catastrophes in water-stressed cities of India and alarming rate of diminishing water bodies, wetlads and catchment areas needs a re-visit to an entire urban water-cycle.
This book, thus, discusses how the processes and implementation of colonial urban development policies and projects have radically transformed the water bodies and their catchment areas – traditional water holding systems of Varanasi city. In this imperative colonial process, through the case study of Varanasi, the book mainly engages with the reasons behind the elimination of the temple tanks and ponds after the annexation of Varanasi by the British from 1775 till 1947. The book investigates the colonial notion of ‘dry city’, and how this notion crafted the process of separating land and water bodies, which arguably resulted in the reclamation and draining of water bodies, and also gave rise to water pollution. Additionally, the book analyzes the elimination of water bodies and loss of catchment areas through the ongoing processes of restoring the ancient city’s natural and cultural heritage.
Print edition not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bhutan)
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