Shri Anupam Mishra, Gandhian and environmentalist is a remarkable person. He lays no claim to copyright for his own books and (similiar to open source software) it has increased the dissemination of his message. During a recent visit to his office at Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi, he showed several different editions of "Aaj Bhi Khare Hai Talaab" brought out by all kinds of individuals and publishers across the country. He recounts the story of how a impoverished young person was inspired to translate it into Punjabi and get it published.
We hope showcasing "Aaj Bhi Khare Hai Talaab" and "Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boonde" here on the India Water Portal will reach his ideas to a wider audience. "Aaj Bhi Khare Hai Talaab" is in the process of being translated to English. "The Radiant Raindrops of Rajasthan" is the English translation of "Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boonde". The translation was done by Maya Jani of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology. While we were unable to contact Ms. Maya Jani we express our thanks here for the work.
More about the books:
"Aaj Bhi Khare Hai Talaab" is his acclaimed book in Hindi on the traditional ponds in the villages. The book lays stress on the importance of the rural model of water management which by providing precedence for water over land, and also by tapping into the ability of the community to work for the common good provided a near perfect system of water managment. Detailed images and descriptions of rural water harvesting structures in India are collated in this book. The book serves as a knowledge bank on rural water harvesting techniques and technologies, helping in the upkeep and adaptation of the same to modern times and also to preserve the knowledge systems contained there in.
"Rajasthan Ka Rajat Boonde", is about the traditional water harvesting and storage structures of the western desert areas of Rajasthan. Through a deep respect for the preciousness of water that informed every aspect of their lives, and ingenuinity in catching and storing every available drop of water, the people here have brought the desert to life in a way that is not true of most other desert regions of the world.
Download the books here:
