Mridula Ramesh
The brilliance of the book lies in its convincing reasoning, evidence and research-based arguments, and a well-organized discourse providing a 360-degree view of the important water issues of India.’
Financial Express
‘I am delighted that Mridula Ramesh’s excellent book Watershed is now out in paperback. Our water economy is under great strain, and our development practices over the decades have encouraged highly water-intensive methods of production with little effort towards sustainable use of water. Water is no longer an easily available commodity, and the impending threat of climate change is set to worsen the situation. Well-researched, fascinating and lucid – Watershed is ideal to understand and frame the solutions to tackle India’s water crisis. A wider appreciation of these issues is also a precondition for politicians to be able to push difficult decisions.’
– MONTEK SINGH AHLUWALIA,
Former Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India
‘Water is the defining challenge in India’s battle with climate change. Watershed rigorously unpacks how we got to this crisis point, outlining the risks and the changing realities that farmers, cities and businesses need to contend with. It lays out workable, scalable, natural and technological solutions that can secure water resilience while creating the jobs India desperately needs. This is compelling material. A must-read.’
– ANAND MAHINDRA,
Chairman, Mahindra and Mahindra
‘Watershed reveals in clear, gripping language how close to the abyss we have come. Grounded in science, with a sound and subtle appreciation of traditional and modern technologies, Mridula Ramesh shows every concerned citizen, particularly the next generation, how to build water security in their lives and, importantly, highlights the role of communities in managing their water.’
– DR RAJENDRA SINGH,
The ‘Water Man of India’
‘In Watershed, Mridula Ramesh lucidly and masterfully explains the science behind India’s hydrology, how we traditionally managed it well, how we got into the current crisis, where we are headed, and what we can do to use and conserve India’s waters better in a warmer world.’
– DR J. SRINIVASAN,
Distinguished Scientist, Indian Institute of Science
‘Mridula Ramesh has written the definitive book on water. Fuelled by deep research, her engaging and insightful book takes us through India’s waterscape, in all its diversity and complexity, its richness and vulnerability. Highlighting traditional solutions and emerging technologies, Mridula shares approaches that could lend both flexibility and pragmatism to the solutions we need in our greatest crisis. With its easy accessibility, Watershed will interest all Indian citizens who want to develop their ecological intelligence – even as it informs practitioners, academics and policymakers alike.’
– ROHINI NILEKANI,
Founder–Chairperson, Arghyam, and Water Philanthropist
‘This is a riveting book marked by meticulous attention to detail yet never losing its central thread, namely that water is ubiquitous in national life and unless there is serious, rational systemic thought and action, our future will truly be an uncertain one. To begin preparing today, this book provides a fine starting point.’
– MAHESH RANGARAJAN,
Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Ashoka
Mridula Ramesh
The brilliance of the book lies in its convincing reasoning, evidence and research-based arguments, and a well-organized discourse providing a 360-degree view of the important water issues of India.’
Financial Express
‘I am delighted that Mridula Ramesh’s excellent book Watershed is now out in paperback. Our water economy is under great strain, and our development practices over the decades have encouraged highly water-intensive methods of production with little effort towards sustainable use of water. Water is no longer an easily available commodity, and the impending threat of climate change is set to worsen the situation. Well-researched, fascinating and lucid – Watershed is ideal to understand and frame the solutions to tackle India’s water crisis. A wider appreciation of these issues is also a precondition for politicians to be able to push difficult decisions.’
– MONTEK SINGH AHLUWALIA,
Former Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India
‘Water is the defining challenge in India’s battle with climate change. Watershed rigorously unpacks how we got to this crisis point, outlining the risks and the changing realities that farmers, cities and businesses need to contend with. It lays out workable, scalable, natural and technological solutions that can secure water resilience while creating the jobs India desperately needs. This is compelling material. A must-read.’
– ANAND MAHINDRA,
Chairman, Mahindra and Mahindra
‘Watershed reveals in clear, gripping language how close to the abyss we have come. Grounded in science, with a sound and subtle appreciation of traditional and modern technologies, Mridula Ramesh shows every concerned citizen, particularly the next generation, how to build water security in their lives and, importantly, highlights the role of communities in managing their water.’
– DR RAJENDRA SINGH,
The ‘Water Man of India’
‘In Watershed, Mridula Ramesh lucidly and masterfully explains the science behind India’s hydrology, how we traditionally managed it well, how we got into the current crisis, where we are headed, and what we can do to use and conserve India’s waters better in a warmer world.’
– DR J. SRINIVASAN,
Distinguished Scientist, Indian Institute of Science
‘Mridula Ramesh has written the definitive book on water. Fuelled by deep research, her engaging and insightful book takes us through India’s waterscape, in all its diversity and complexity, its richness and vulnerability. Highlighting traditional solutions and emerging technologies, Mridula shares approaches that could lend both flexibility and pragmatism to the solutions we need in our greatest crisis. With its easy accessibility, Watershed will interest all Indian citizens who want to develop their ecological intelligence – even as it informs practitioners, academics and policymakers alike.’
– ROHINI NILEKANI,
Founder–Chairperson, Arghyam, and Water Philanthropist
‘This is a riveting book marked by meticulous attention to detail yet never losing its central thread, namely that water is ubiquitous in national life and unless there is serious, rational systemic thought and action, our future will truly be an uncertain one. To begin preparing today, this book provides a fine starting point.’
– MAHESH RANGARAJAN,
Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Ashoka
About the book
Watershed : The Story of India’s Water in the Age of Climate Change
India is facing its worst water crisis ever, and some believe that by 2030 it will fail to meet half its water demand. As the climate heats up, it is likely that swathes of land will be submerged, water-related extremes will reshape industry and famine will revisit the country.
Watershed takes us through 4,000 years of history to track how India’s water has reached this critical point. With stories from across India it uncovers how India’s fate is gradually being sealed by the extremes of drought and floods.
Armed with this understanding, Mridula Ramesh lays out pragmatic, scalable solutions that can work for both India’s temperamental water and its democratic exigencies. She describes how determined water warriors from across India are showing the way forward and asserts that managing our water will usher in not just resilience but also the jobs India needs.
Sobering and persuasive, Watershed is a powerful call to action for every Indian to protect our shared future.
Select Praise
The narrative is simple and engaging,..The book takes on all the trajectories related to water …seamlessly and seemingly effortlessly to make the reader understand how the various strands weave and come together shape India’s water destiny.The book is a veritable mine of information and so well referenced. The book is a must read for creating awareness and suitable policy and action.
‘The book cuts across several disciplines and passes a powerful message that we are responsible for our water and we need to manage it. Loaded with facts, narratives, ground realities and texts from the scripture, it comprehensively explains India’s water history, the present and future trajectory. Watershed is a must-read for those concerned about India’s depleting resource and burgeoning water crisis, especially for professionals, policy-makers, academicians, and organizations which work on the ground to resolve the problem at local levels.’
‘It is everything about water that one should know.’ – Business Standard ‘Insightful and thought-provoking.’
‘The brilliance of the book lies in its convincing reasoning, evidence and research-based arguments, and a well-organized discourse providing a 360-degree view of the important water issues of India.'
Ramesh, however, makes it [water] dance in a myriad way to her narrative. Her chapters are replete with anecdotes, sometimes personal, often some nuggets from history that are largely unknown. many books rolled into one. It is a travelogue, as it takes the reader from the deserts of Rajasthan to the wettest spot on earth, Meghalaya. It is a historical read as it jumps from one millennium to another. At one point, Ramesh has taken us back in time to the Indus Valley Civilisation; at another, we join her in unravelling the various layers of Delhi's history, till we finally discover Anangtal Baoli, supposed to be Delhi's oldest step well. The Baoli in Meherauli Archaeological Park is obscured by a “battlefield of garbage”, a telling image of how India's relationship with water has changed from reverence and respect to shabby disregard and insult.
Watershed…powerful follow-up to Mridula Ramesh’s earlier work. Ramesh’s book is part history, part anecdote and part exhortation for change. The research underlying it gives it particular power, and she chooses her stories with care. Puts inequality at the heart of India’s Water Crisis.