Punyache Paani | Stories of Pune's Waters
Living Waters Museum continues to explore urban waterscapes from an interdisciplinary lens involving research-based narratives and visualizations in the city of Pune, often called the Oxford of the East. In August 2021, we developed a new collaborative platform with several academic institutes, researchers, NGOs and civil society to critically examine the water development of Pune and its environs through their history, heritage and cultural practices. Water stories ranging from the microlithic period to contemporary times were presented through photography, cartography, creative writing and digital storytelling. The online exhibition - Punyache Paani - was launched in March 2022, along with physical events - two water walks around the Mutha river and Pashan Lake, three panel discussions and one movie screening at IISER Pune and one cultural program in the city bringing together young and experienced artists in dance, drama, music and folk songs on water.
Pune, Maharashtra
Curatorial Note
Water flows through Pune and its environs as rain, rivers, streams, canals and aquifers. As Pune evolved from a hamlet, along the sacred confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers, to one of the largest cities in Maharashtra, water has often been indiscriminately harnessed for growing domestic and productive use. Punyache Paani celebrates the waters of Pune which were once revered for their sweet taste and unique properties. The exhibition traces Pune’s water heritage from early systems for storing water such as Baravs or stepped ponds, to the nahars or aqueducts built by local rulers, the famed Peshwas in the 18th century, to the colonial and post-colonial construction of dams and pipelines and the introduction of sanitary systems and hygiene measures.
Beyond utility and ritual many of the early water structures were often meritorious acts by wealthy merchants and philanthropists who valued access to water for all. However, over the years, increasing urbanisation, climate uncertainty and social inequality have reshaped many of our urban waterscapes and pose a risk to our ecology, environmental well-being and public health.
Punyaache Paani seeks to raise awareness on the inevitable question, “where does our water come from?” It is a collaborative effort with diverse partners from across this bustling city – architects, urban planners, water professionals, NGOs, artists, research scholars and academics. Using interactive and engaging content, we explore water from an interdisciplinary lens sensitive to the multiple challenges we face and the need to build a holistic and ethical water stewardship.
~ Chhavi Mathur & Sara Ahmed
Click here to explore the Punyache Paani virtual exhibition.
People - Water Changemakers
This inaugural panel explored the many challenges that Pune’s waters face, from excessive groundwater extraction to pollution of the rivers that flow through this growing city (28th March, 2022)
Places – Water Heritage of Pune
From ancient stepped wells for capturing water to the historical aqueducts transporting water, to public fountains and modern pipelines, this panel discussed Pune’s rich water heritage (30th March, 2022).
Practices – Culture and Livelihoods
This panel outlined how water shapes our everyday practices from livelihoods along riverbanks to the migration patterns of pastoral communities, and the disruption caused by extreme events (April 1st, 2022)
Credits
Click here to explore the Punyache Paani virtual exhibition.
