Anupam Mishra: The ancient ingenuity of water harvesting

Summary

In the Golden Desert of India, a region with minimal rainfall and scarce groundwater, traditional rainwater harvesting techniques have been ingeniously developed and maintained for centuries. The locals have designed 'kunds' to capture and store rainwater, creating a sustainable source of drinking water. Structures like the Jaigarh Fort exemplify ancient engineering prowess, capable of collecting millions of gallons of water. Despite modern government interventions, these traditional systems continue to outperform, highlighting the importance of respecting and learning from indigenous knowledge.

Takeaways

• 🏜️ The Indian desert, known as the Golden Desert, receives minimal rainfall, approximately 9 inches (23 cm) per year, and has groundwater that is often saline and unfit for drinking.
• 🌦️ Traditional rainwater harvesting techniques are deeply ingrained in desert society, serving as a vital part of their lifestyle rather than just a program.
• 💧 The 'kunds' are a sophisticated rainwater harvesting system that collects water in a catchment area and directs it to a deep, waterproof reservoir, capable of storing up to 100,000 liters of pure drinking water.
• 🏠 Houses in the desert are strategically designed with raised platforms and water storage tanks to collect rainwater from roofs and courtyards, illustrating a harmonious blend of architecture and water conservation.
• 🕍 The Jaigarh Fort near Jaipur, built 400 years ago, is an example of ancient water harvesting structures that can collect up to six million gallons of rainwater in a season.
• 🌿 The desert society has an intimate knowledge of clouds, with 40 different names for them, despite the rarity of clouds in the area.
• 🚰 Government attempts to modernize water supply, such as bringing water from the Himalayas, have often been less effective and sustainable compared to traditional methods.
• 🌱 The town of Jaisalmer, established 800 years ago, is a testament to the successful use of traditional water harvesting systems to support a flourishing community in an arid region.
• 🎨 Traditional water bodies not only serve a functional purpose but are also designed with aesthetics in mind, integrating engineering with beauty and community pride.
• 🔄 The concept of 'kunds' relies on a geological feature—a gypsum belt—that allows for the extraction of moisture from the sand, showcasing the ingenuity of traditional water harvesting methods.
• 🌐 The speaker suggests that the traditional water harvesting techniques used in the desert could be applicable in other regions if the geological conditions are suitable.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Golden Desert in India?

The Golden Desert, located in India, is significant due to its extremely low rainfall, receiving only nine inches (22.86 cm) annually, and its groundwater being 300 feet (91.44 meters) deep and often saline, making it unsuitable for drinking.

Why are solar pumps ineffective in the Golden Desert?

Solar pumps are ineffective in the Golden Desert because the area seldom receives clouds, which are necessary for solar energy production.

How do the desert communities harvest rainwater?

Desert communities harvest rainwater using various techniques, including 'kunds' which are structures that create false catchments to collect rainwater, and the construction of raised platforms that channel water towards collection points.

What is the capacity of the water collected by the 'kunds' in one season?

The 'kunds' can collect up to 100,000 liters of pure drinking water in one season.

How do the traditional houses in the desert contribute to water harvesting?

Traditional houses in the desert are built with raised platforms and water storage tanks that collect rainwater from the roofs and courtyards, which can harvest around 25,000 liters in a good monsoon.

What is the historical significance of the Jaigarh Fort's rainwater harvesting system?

The Jaigarh Fort, near Jaipur, has a rainwater harvesting system that is over 400 years old and can collect six million gallons of rainwater in one season.

Why did the government's multi-million dollar project fail to provide effective water supply?

The government's project failed because it aimed to bring water from the Himalayas, which is 300-400 kilometers away, and the water often became contaminated or was not able to reach the tail-end areas like Jaisalmer and Bikaner.

How do the traditional water structures in Jaisalmer differ from the government's modern solutions?

Traditional water structures in Jaisalmer are designed to collect and store rainwater effectively, whereas the government's modern solutions, like cement tanks and piped water systems, often failed to deliver water to the areas that needed it.

What is the role of the 'kund' in water harvesting?

The 'kund' is a unique water harvesting structure that squeezes moisture from the sand using the gypsum belt below it, providing a source of water that is not dependent on surface or groundwater levels.

How do the desert communities maintain their water harvesting structures?

Desert communities maintain their water harvesting structures through a combination of respect for their traditional systems, community involvement, and a deep understanding of the importance of water conservation.

What is the message conveyed by the 2,000-year-old tattoo mentioned in the script?

The 2,000-year-old tattoo represents the centrality of water in life, with waves symbolizing water, stairs representing the steps to access it, trees providing shade, and flowers adding fragrance, encapsulating the essence of life in the desert.

Outlines

00:00

🏜️ Golden Desert's Rainwater Harvesting Techniques

The speaker begins by humorously asking the audience to turn off their 'proper English' filters and welcomes them to the Golden Desert in India, which receives minimal rainfall and has deep saline groundwater unsuitable for drinking. Despite these challenges, the desert society has developed ingenious methods to harvest rainwater. The primary technique involves 'kunds,' which are structures that create artificial catchments to collect rainwater, ensuring it flows into a well-constructed, waterproofed pit that can store up to 100,000 liters of pure drinking water. The speaker also mentions traditional rainwater harvesting systems integrated into houses and the impressive Jaigarh Fort near Jaipur, which can collect six million gallons of rainwater annually. These traditional systems are contrasted with modern, government-funded projects that have often failed to deliver water effectively to the area.

05:04

🌧️ Traditional vs. Modern Water Management Systems

The speaker contrasts the effectiveness of traditional rainwater harvesting methods with the government's modern, multi-million dollar projects to bring water from the Himalayas. These modern systems often become ineffective, with water hyacinth clogging canals and sand flowing into them where the hyacinth can't grow. The speaker emphasizes the importance of traditional systems, which have been maintained for centuries without government support, and are designed to last with a deep sense of community respect and ownership. The town of Jaisalmer, established 800 years ago, is highlighted as an example of a place where traditional water bodies and structures have sustained life despite scarce rainfall.

10:05

💧 The Ingenious Kund System and Its Sustainability

The speaker explains the 'kund' system, a unique method of harvesting water by squeezing moisture from the sand using a gypsum belt. This technique is not only sustainable but also has the potential to be replicated in areas with similar geological features. The speaker also discusses the importance of maintenance and respect for these water bodies, which have been preserved for generations without formal funding or departments. The talk concludes with a demonstration of how desert communities have creatively adapted materials, such as airplane tires, for their use, showcasing their resourcefulness and innovation.

15:07

🌿 The Desert's Message of Life and Water

In the final paragraph, the speaker shares the desert's message of life and water, symbolized by beautiful waves, stairs, trees, and flowers. The audience is left with a sense of admiration for the desert's ability to sustain life through its water management practices. During the Q&A session, the speaker confirms that the principles of water harvesting used in the desert can be applied elsewhere, depending on the terrain and geological conditions, but the specific kund system is dependent on the presence of a gypsum belt from three million years ago.

Keywords

💡Golden Desert

The Golden Desert, also known as the Indian desert, is characterized by its scarcity of rainfall, receiving only nine inches or 16 centimeters annually. It is a central theme of the video, illustrating the harsh conditions in which the desert communities live and their innovative solutions for water management. The desert's environment is so dry that traditional methods of collecting water, like digging wells, are not feasible due to the saline groundwater.

💡Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is a key concept in the video, referring to the various techniques used by desert communities to collect and store water during the rare rainfalls. It is central to their survival and is exemplified by structures like 'kunds' which are designed to capture water and channel it underground, preventing evaporation and ensuring a supply of drinking water.

💡Kunds

Kunds are traditional rainwater harvesting structures mentioned in the script. They are a type of well that collects water from the surface and channels it into an underground reservoir. The video describes how these structures are built with a focus on proper slopes to guide the water flow and are waterproofed to prevent seepage, showcasing the ingenuity of the desert dwellers.

💡Saline Water

Saline water is water that contains a high concentration of salts, making it unsuitable for drinking or irrigation without treatment. The script mentions that the groundwater in the Golden Desert is saline, which is why the desert communities have developed methods to harvest and store rainwater, which is fresh and potable.

💡Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is a city in the Indian desert mentioned in the script, known for its historical significance as a terminal point on the silk route. The city is an example of how traditional water management systems have been integral to its survival and prosperity in an arid region. It is highlighted for its 52 beautiful water bodies designed to collect and store rainwater.

💡Water Bodies

Water bodies, as discussed in the video, refer to the man-made structures like ponds and tanks that are used to collect and store rainwater in the desert. They are designed not only for functionality but also for aesthetic appeal, integrating with the landscape and serving as community focal points.

💡Private Public Partnership

Private Public Partnership is mentioned in the context of the collaborative efforts between different stakeholders to build and maintain water bodies in the desert. This concept underscores the collective responsibility and the shared benefits of traditional water management systems in sustaining life in the harsh desert environment.

💡Gypsum Belt

The gypsum belt is a geological feature referred to in the script, which plays a crucial role in the functioning of 'kunds'. It is a layer of gypsum that lies beneath the desert and helps to retain moisture, allowing the 'kunds' to collect and store water. The presence of a gypsum belt is a prerequisite for the construction of such water-harvesting structures.

💡Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a type of aquatic plant that can proliferate in water bodies and canals, as mentioned in the script. It is cited as a problem in the large canals that were part of a government project to bring water from the Himalayas, illustrating the challenges in maintaining modern water infrastructure compared to the traditional systems that are the focus of the video.

💡Zero B Type of Water

Zero B type of water, as humorously described in the video, refers to water that is so pure it is akin to distilled water. The script uses this term to highlight the exceptional quality of water collected through traditional methods, such as the ancient Jaigarh Fort's rainwater harvesting system, which has been providing clean water for centuries.

💡Sustainable Water Management

Sustainable water management is a recurring theme in the video, emphasizing the importance of using local resources and traditional knowledge to ensure a reliable supply of water. The various traditional systems described, such as 'kunds' and water bodies, are sustainable because they are designed to work with the environment, requiring minimal maintenance and having low environmental impact.

Highlights

The Indian desert receives only nine inches (22.86 centimeters) of rainfall annually.

Groundwater in the desert is 300 feet (91.44 meters) deep and often saline, unfit for drinking.

Traditional rainwater harvesting techniques are integral to desert life.

Kunds are a unique rainwater harvesting structure used in the desert.

Desert communities have developed a sophisticated system for water catchment and storage.

Jaisalmer, a desert town established 800 years ago, is a testament to the effectiveness of traditional water management.

The Jaigarh Fort near Jaipur can collect six million gallons of rainwater in one season.

Ancient water management systems are more reliable than modern infrastructure in some areas.

Desert communities have 40 different names for clouds, reflecting their deep connection with the weather.

The government's multi-million dollar project to bring water from the Himalayas has had mixed results.

Traditional water structures are maintained by the community without external funding.

The concept of 'respect' is crucial for the maintenance of water bodies in the desert.

The desert society has a deep understanding of water conservation and utilization.

Innovations like using a tire from a jet plane on a camel cart showcase the desert society's resourcefulness.

A 2,000-year-old tattoo symbolizes the centrality of water in desert life.

The speaker suggests that traditional water management techniques could be applied elsewhere.

The importance of utilizing water that falls on one's own area is emphasized.

Transcripts

For emotions, we should not move quickly to the desert.

So, first, a small housekeeping announcement:

please switch off your

proper English check programs

installed in your brain.

(Applause)

So, welcome to the Golden Desert, Indian desert.

It receives the least rainfall in the country,

lowest rainfall.

If you are well-versed with inches, nine inches,

centimeters, 16 [centimeters].

The groundwater is 300 feet deep, 100 meters.

And in most parts it is saline, not fit for drinking.

So, you can't install hand pumps or dig wells,

though there is no electricity in most of the villages.

But suppose you use the green technology, solar pumps --

they are of no use in this area.

So, welcome to the Golden Desert.

Clouds seldom visit this area.

But we find 40 different names of clouds in this dialect used here.

There are a number of techniques to harvest rain.

This is a new work, it's a new program.

But for the desert society

this is no program; this is their life.

And they harvest rain in many ways.

So, this is the first device they use

in harvesting rain.

It's called kunds; somewhere it is called [unclear].

And you can notice they have created

a kind of false catchment.

The desert is there, sand dunes, some small field.

And this is all big raised platform.

You can notice the small holes

the water will fall on this catchment,

and there is a slope.

Sometimes our engineers and architects

do not care about slopes in bathrooms,

but here they will care properly.

And the water will go where it should go.

And then it is 40 feet deep.

The waterproofing is done perfectly,

better than our city contractors,

because not a single drop should go waste in this.

They collect 100 thousand liters in one season.

And this is pure drinking water.

Below the surface there is hard saline water.

But now you can have this for year round.

It's two houses.

We often use a term called bylaws.

Because we are used to get written things.

But here it is unwritten by law.

And people made their house,

and the water storage tanks.

These raised up platforms just like this stage.

In fact they go 15 feet deep,

and collect rain water from roof,

there is a small pipe, and from their courtyard.

It can also harvest something like 25,000 in a good monsoon.

Another big one,

this is of course out of the hardcore desert area.

This is near Jaipur. This is called the Jaigarh Fort.

And it can collect six million gallons of rainwater in one season.

The age is 400 years.

So, since 400 years it has been giving you

almost six million gallons of water per season.

You can calculate the price of that water.

It draws water from 15 kilometers of canals.

You can see a modern road, hardly 50 years old.

It can break sometimes.

But this 400 year old canal, which draws water,

it is maintained for so many generations.

Of course if you want to go inside, the two doors are locked.

But they can be opened for TED people.

(Laughter)

And we request them.

You can see person coming up with

two canisters of water.

And the water level -- these are not empty canisters --

water level is right up to this.

It can envy many municipalities,

the color, the taste, the purity of this water.

And this is what they call Zero B type of water,

because it comes from the clouds,

pure distilled water.

We stop for a quick commercial break,

and then we come back to the traditional systems.

The government thought that this is a very

backward area and we should bring

a multi-million dollar project

to bring water from the Himalayas.

That's why I said that this is a commercial break.

(Laughter)

But we will come back, once again,

to the traditional thing.

So, water from 300, 400 kilometers away,

soon it become like this.

In many portions, water hyacinth

covered these big canals like anything.

Of course there are some areas where water is reaching,

I'm not saying that it is not reaching at all.

But the tail end, the Jaisalmer area,

you will notice in Bikaner things like this:

where the water hyacinth couldn't grow,

the sand is flowing in these canals.

The bonus is that you can find wildlife around it.

(Laughter)

We had full-page advertisements,

some 30 years, 25 years ago when this canal came.

They said that throw away your traditional systems,

these new cement tanks will supply you piped water.

It's a dream. And it became a dream also.

Because soon the water was not able to reach these areas.

And people started renovating their own structures.

These are all traditional water structures,

which we won't be able to explain in such a short time.

But you can see that no woman is standing on those.

(Laughter)

And they are plaiting hair.

(Applause)

Jaisalmer. This is heart of desert.

This town was established 800 years ago.

I'm not sure by that time

Bombay was there, or Delhi was there,

or Chennai was there, or Bangalore was there.

So, this was the terminal point for silk route.

Well connected, 800 years ago, through Europe.

None of us were able to go to Europe,

but Jaisalmer was well connected to it.

And this is the 16 centimeter area.

Such a limited rainfall,

and highest colorful life flourished in these areas.

You won't find water in this slide.

But it is invisible.

Somewhere a stream or a rivulet

is running through here.

Or, if you want to paint, you can paint it blue throughout

because every roof which you see in this picture

collects rainwater drops

and deposit in the rooms.

But apart from this system,

they designed 52 beautiful water bodies around this town.

And what we call private public partnership

you can add estate also.

So, estate, public and private entrepreneurs

work together to build this beautiful water body.

And it's a kind of water body for all seasons.

You will admire it. Just behold the beauty throughout the year.

Whether water level goes up or down,

the beauty is there throughout.

Another water body, dried up, of course,

during the summer period,

but you can see how the traditional society

combines engineering with aesthetics, with the heart.

These statues, marvelous statues,

gives you an idea of water table.

When this rain comes and the water starts filling this tank,

it will submerge these beautiful statues

in what we call in English today "mass communication."

This was for mass communication.

Everybody in the town will know that this elephant has drowned,

so water will be there for seven months or nine months,

or 12 months.

And then they will come and worship this pond,

pay respect, their gratitude.

Another small water body, called the [unclear].

It is difficult to translate in English,

especially in my English.

But the nearest would be "glory," a reputation.

The reputation in desert of this small water body is

that it never dries up.

In severe drought periods

nobody has seen this water body

getting dried up.

And perhaps they knew the future also.

It was designed some 150 years ago.

But perhaps they knew that on sixth, November, 2009,

there will be a TED green and blue session,

so they painted it like this.

(Laughter)

(Applause)

Dry water body. Children are standing on

a very difficult device to explain.

This is called kund. We have, in English, surface water and ground water.

But this is not ground water.

You can draw ground water from any well.

But this is no ordinary well.

It squeeze the moisture

hidden in the sand.

And they have dubbed this water as the third one called [unclear].

And there is a gypsum belt running below it.

And it was deposited by the great mother Earth,

some three million years ago.

And where we have this gypsum strip

they can harvest this water.

This is the same dry water body.

Now, you don't find any kund;

they are all submerged.

But when the water goes down they will be able

to draw water from those structures throughout the year.

This year they have received only six centimeters.

Six centimeter of rainfall,

and they can telephone you

that if you find any water problem in your city,

Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Mysore,

please come to our area of six centimeters, we can give you water.

(Laughter)

How they maintain them?

There are three things: concept, planning,

making the actual thing, and also maintaining them.

It is a structure for maintain,

for centuries, by generations, without any department,

without any funding,

So the secret is "[unclear]," respect.

Your own thing, not personal property,

my property, every time.

So, these stone pillars

will remind you that you are entering into a water body area.

Don't spit, don't do anything wrong,

so that the clean water can be collected.

Another pillar, stone pillar on your right side.

If you climb these three, six steps

you will find something very nice.

This was done in 11th century.

And you have to go further down.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words,

so we can say a thousand words right now,

an another thousand words.

If the water table goes down,

you will find new stairs.

If it comes up, some of them will be submerged.

So, throughout the year

this beautiful system will give you some pleasure.

Three sides, such steps, on the fourth side

there is a four-story building

where you can organize such TED conferences anytime.

(Applause)

Excuse me, who built these structures?

They are in front of you.

The best civil engineers we had, the best planners,

the best architects.

We can say that because of them,

because of their forefathers,

India could get the first engineering college

in 1847.

There were no English medium schools at that time,

even no Hindi schools, [unclear] schools.

But such people, compelled to the East India Company,

which came here for business, a very dirty kind of business ...

(Laughter)

but not to create the engineering colleges.

But because of them, first engineering college was created

in a small village, not in the town.

The last point, we all know in our primary schools that

that camel is a ship of desert.

So, you can find through your Jeep,

a camel, and a cart.

This tire comes from the airplane.

So, look at the beauty from the desert society

who can harvest rainwater,

and also create something

through a tire from a jet plane,

and used in a camel cart.

Last picture, it's a tattoo,

2,000-years-old tattoo.

They were using it on their body.

Tattoo was, at one time,

a kind of a blacklisted

or con thing, but now it is in thing.

(Laughter)

(Applause)

You can copy this tattoo. I have some posters of this.

(Laughter)

The center of life is water.

These are the beautiful waves.

These are the beautiful stairs

which we just saw in one of the slides.

These are the trees.

And these are the flowers which

add fragrance to our lives.

So, this is the message of desert.

Thank you very much.

(Applause)

Chris Anderson: So, first of all, I wish I had your eloquence, truly, in any language.

(Applause)

These artifacts and designs are inspiring.

Do you believe that they can be used elsewhere,

that the world can learn from this?

Or is this just right for this place?

Anupam Mishra: No, the basic idea is to

utilize water that falls on our area.

So, the ponds, the open bodies, are everywhere,

right from Sri Lanka to Kashmir, and in other parts also.

And these [unclear], which stored water,

there are two type of things.

One recharge, and one stores.

So, it depends on the terrain.

But kund, which uses the gypsum belt,

for that you have to go back to your calendar,

three million years ago.

If it is there it can be done right now.

Otherwise, it can't be done.

(Laughter)

(Applause)

CA: Thank you so much.

(Applause)