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Waters Close Over Us: A Journey along the Narmada
A journey to the centre of the Indian identity
The Narmada is the only river in India to merit a parikrama. The traditional journey takes more than three years and ends where it begins, having covered more than 2,600 kilometres. Bal follows the parikrama to study the stories of the clash of cultures along the river. It is here that the agriculturist encountered the forest dweller, the Indo-European north faced the Dravidian south, the Afghan battled the Gond and the dam builders confronted the environmentalists. Perhaps, then, it is no coincidence that the Adi Sankara attained the realization of Advaita – non-duality – on these banks. As the author seeks to understand whether such reconciliation is possible in every case, the stories he encounters take on a life of their own – from Osho’s relatives who still safeguard his memory in sari shops to the king of a small island who spends moonlit nights firing bullets into the river.
The Narmada is the only river in India to merit a parikrama. The traditional journey takes more than three years and ends where it begins, having covered more than 2,600 kilometres. Bal follows the parikrama to study the stories of the clash of cultures along the river. It is here that the agriculturist encountered the forest dweller, the Indo-European north faced the Dravidian south, the Afghan battled the Gond and the dam builders confronted the environmentalists. Perhaps, then, it is no coincidence that the Adi Sankara attained the realization of Advaita – non-duality – on these banks. As the author seeks to understand whether such reconciliation is possible in every case, the stories he encounters take on a life of their own – from Osho’s relatives who still safeguard his memory in sari shops to the king of a small island who spends moonlit nights firing bullets into the river.
- GenresNonfictionTravel
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 1, 2014
Not being a reader of Open Magazine, I know nothing of this author except his spat with Open's owner (disagreements about political critiques, allegations of offers to purchase silence, law suit threats, nasty tweets...), and what little I do know did not prepare me for his inimitably spiritual, compassionate, sensitive writing about the Narmada river. Without doubt, this is one of the finest most lyrical books ever written about any Indian river.
This slim 225 page volume is admirable in its brevity and spans the whole range from the river's pre-historic indigenous and 'Hindu' associations, to the ancient conflict between Buddhism and Hinduism, to the meaning of asceticism and withdrawal in our age, to the developmental issues around ingenuous people notably the Sardar Sarovar Dam, to Narinder Modi's development priorities, to the issues around 'inclusive politics' generally....and how can I forget, a critique of the approach to the Dam of variously Medha Patkar and Arundhaty Roy.
If you have the slightest interest in India, its history and its future, this book MUST be on your reading list.
This slim 225 page volume is admirable in its brevity and spans the whole range from the river's pre-historic indigenous and 'Hindu' associations, to the ancient conflict between Buddhism and Hinduism, to the meaning of asceticism and withdrawal in our age, to the developmental issues around ingenuous people notably the Sardar Sarovar Dam, to Narinder Modi's development priorities, to the issues around 'inclusive politics' generally....and how can I forget, a critique of the approach to the Dam of variously Medha Patkar and Arundhaty Roy.
If you have the slightest interest in India, its history and its future, this book MUST be on your reading list.
September 4, 2015
This book has medicinal properties. I started reading it a few days before my trip to central India. It kept me occupied through my 35 hour train journey to ujjain, it offered respite from the suffocating hotel room with no windows and it taught me new mythologies, journalism and offered a sense of familiarity with an entirely unfamiliar land, like knowing something about your host, which he intended to keep secret. Fittingly, I finished the book on my last day in Madhya Pradesh and when I fill in my travel journal, I'll owe a sincere debt of gratitude to Hartosh, for the powerful words, which will forever remain enclosed within the memories of my first solo trip to the north. and it shall remain there, in the dark recesses of my mind, flowing out of sight, but unhindered, carefully cultivating it, until harvest.
September 26, 2021
Beautiful book. Deserves to be read and spread
February 24, 2014
The book is very well written. Traveling across the Narmada river, linking stories of people, histories, religions, art, music, philosophies this book weaves stories into each other. Its an eye opener of a book and I only wish the author would have refrained from being so vehemently opposed to Arundhati Roy in an otherwise beautiful book. She may be wrong in some of her views but the book was way too nice to lay focus on her. Read it.
October 12, 2014
Absolutely under-rated.
By a journalist cumauthor who covers terrain he has grown up loving. He uncovers much for me. I, have a soft spot for this landscape too, in my intermittent exposure to it across the last three decades.
By a journalist cumauthor who covers terrain he has grown up loving. He uncovers much for me. I, have a soft spot for this landscape too, in my intermittent exposure to it across the last three decades.
July 21, 2014
Great book - a bit offbeat but takes you through the virtual journey of Narmada, its greatness and provides an insight into the cultural heritage associated with Narmada.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews