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“Government alone cannot solve everything; we must take action ourselves for our rivers.” – Smt. Basanti Negi
“We must now become vocal for our rivers.” – Swami Chidanand Saraswati
“We need to move from AI to RI.” – Swami Chidanand Saraswati
“If we can save our rivers, India will become a global leader.” – Shri Savji Dholakia
19th September, New Delhi: Rivers have been central to the origins and progress of human civilization. More than just bodies of water, they symbolize life’s journey—constantly flowing, altering courses, and forging new paths. With this spirit, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts is hosting the 5th Nadi Utsav, under the theme ‘Rivers in Reverse: Making of a Lifeline.’ The Guest of Honour at the inaugural session included Smt. Basanti Negi, Former Sarpanch of Harsil, Uttarakhand, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Spiritual Head of Parmarth Ashram, Rishikesh, and Shri Savji Dholakia, Chairperson of the Dholakia Foundation. Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA, and Prof. K. Anil Kumar, HoD of Janapada Sampada at IGNCA, were also present on the occasion.
In the inaugural session, Swami Chidanand Saraswati expressed deep concern over the state of rivers, identifying the root issue as a crisis of thought. He explained that when our thinking is narrow, even small challenges seem insurmountable. Drawing from his experiences on the Ganges, he emphasized that while he has gained much from living by the river, society is failing to show the right respect and understanding towards it. He pointed out that AI can offer speed, but true direction comes from RI—Rishis’ Intelligence. As India’s global profile is changing everywhere, it is time we change our profile and perspectives. He warned that the Yamuna must not meet the same fate as the Saraswati, vanishing into history books, and urged immediate awareness, as the river’s silence now requires us to speak out for it.
Smt. Basanti Devi added that the government cannot do everything; we must act ourselves. Do not dump waste and sewage into the rivers. While it is important to keep your home clean, do not pollute Mother (the river). Savji Dholakia remarked that despite being educated, we have distorted the natural form of rivers. We have destroyed and exploited nature, and now nature is punishing us in return. In this context he shared his own experiences and said that with minimal expenses, he revived a 35-kilometer-long river that had dried up. In addition, he constructed around 150 reservoirs ranging from 10 to 100 acres. He said that the joy he experienced from working on the river was unmatched by anything else. If we can save our rivers, Bharat will become ‘Vishva Guru’ because of the rivers.
In his welcome address, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi stated that as the pace of development increased and we began exploiting nature, our connection with it weakened. Our relationship with nature has shifted to that of a consumer, which is why we no longer love or serve it but instead exploit it for our own use. He pointed out that our education system has failed to instill a sense of reverence towards rivers, further contributing to this disconnection. He emphasized that Nadi Utsav is not merely an event. An event does not evoke emotion, enthusiasm, reverence, or faith. The purpose of Nadi Utsav is to inspire feelings, enthusiasm, reverence, values and faith towards rivers.
The first day of the three-day Nadi Utsav featured a rich array of activities. The program included an exhibition of photographs of the Kansabati River by Shri Prakash, a distinctive display of boats by Swaroop Bhattacharya, and a painting exhibition created by school students, all centered around the theme of rivers. Workshops were held on matka painting and a ‘River and I’ session for children. The day culminated in a captivating Odissi dance performance by Guru Smt. Kasturi Patnaik and her team. Subsequently, the event unveiled the logo and the seminar volume of the 4th Nadi Utsav, titled Thanking the River. A notable highlight of the program was the presentation of mementos crafted from natural driftwood, shaped by the river’s flow, rather than conventional man-made items. During the Nadi Utsav, the film festival began with the screening of Abhay Mishra’s film ‘Yamuna: The River of Gods and Humans.
