Audio Play: Gurgle of Gregarious Ganga

Om Namoh Bhagvatey Vasudevay

 

The title of the play:  Gurgle of Gregarious Ganga

 

Scene 1 (grand palace court of king Varuna)

 

Narrator: Varuna, the king of the Cosmos, is sitting in his grand palace with his queen, Varuni.

Varuna: Everything in our kingdom is so divine. There is always abundance. Thanks to the great Lord of preservation, everything is running so smoothly.

Varuni: Yes, my lord, you are correct in your observation. It’s the blessings of your celebrated father sage Kashyap, and the divine mother Aditi, who is the mother of all Gods.

Varuna: I agree. It’s the fruit of their penance that we are enjoying today. I owe a lot to you my pious wife and many other devas (auspicious divine people) here.

However, the contribution of two great rivers in our kingdom cannot be discounted. The Ganga is the source of transcendental water to all the celestial beings.

[ Everyone nods in agreement with a smile]

Narrator: Same day Varuni is in a private conversation with lord Varuna, her husband in another location of the palace.

Varuni: You seem to give a lot of importance to that river Ganga. I’ve seen your special affection towards her for years now. However, a word of caution for the lord of lords; please refrain from open appreciations heaped at her at all occasions.

Varuna: You seem to be jealous of Ganga my dear Varuni. Please consider her as the second mother to your children as well as all the children in heaven. She nourishes them with her pure cool mineral-rich water. Not only does she quench their thirst but also quenches their parched souls.

Varuni: No, revered husband, I am not jealous of her however I do think that praising her so much may make others jealous of her and it may affect your relationship with her.

(Varuni paused and went into reflective silence that ended with a sigh )

Narrator: Varuna retires into his bed.

In the morning Varuna gets up with an agitated mind and calls upon Varuni.

Varuna: I can feel the strong call of a sage doing meditative penance to ask something precious from me.

Varuni: Who can he be? And what precious thing do you have that he wants from you?

(Varuni looked puzzled)

Varuna: It will be quite clear in some time when the power of his penance will start penetrating within me.

Varuni: I pray he asks something that you would be happy to part with.

(She folded her hands in prayer and closed her eyes)

Narrator: Varun got ready to go to the celestial garden where his favourite river Ganga flowed in the form of a spring. He sat there and spent a lot of time playing with its gurgling water. He even sips a few handfuls of the pristine water. He feels rejuvenated and stood to go back to his administrative duties.

Suddenly, he saw a face in the crystal-clear water of Ganga. He recognized it immediately. It was King Bhagirath pleading with closed eyes and folded hands. He gave all his attention to his prayers and was shocked at what he heard.

Bhagirath’s voice reverberating: Please grant me Ganga, O mighty Varuna Deva. She can only give liberation to the dead remains of my ancestors lying for ages in the form of ashes.

Narrator: Varuna stood dumbstruck there. He could barely utter anything and lost in his thoughts; he left the place in a huff. Ganga kept calling from behind.

Ganga: O my benefactor, please listen to me.

(Varuna didn’t turn back)

Narrator: Back in his private chamber in his palace.

Varuna (in annoyance): You were right Varuni. People are indeed jealous of my association with Ganga. Someone is conspiring to send her away from our kingdom to that wretched earth.

Varuni: My lord, please do not put me in agony anymore. Quickly let me know what conspired and who did that.

Varuna: My dear queen, Bhagirath, the great sage king, the son of great king Dilip is praying to call Ganga on earth.

Varuni (trying to hide her happiness): Oh…! Is It? Please do not be so attached to her as her propensity is to just keep flowing. She will be stifled and lose her potency being in one place. Please let her go.

Varuna (looking disappointed): You mean to say she is not happy here so she should better go. I have given my utmost affection to her.

Varuni (cutting him short): No, no my revered husband it was not what I mean to say. She is most happy to be here but who knows the future. Moreover, divine king Bhagirath must have had a great purpose to call her on earth.

Varuna: whatever you say however I don’t feel like sending her to Earth. I doubt that that wretched earth is even conducive for her.

(Varuna looked worried)

Varuni: Do not worry my lord. Ganga is not an ordinary river. She is an atonement for sinners. Her scared touch will purify human being’s hearts and minds. She is enough to even make stones feel alive.

(Varuna was surprised to listen to the exalted praises for Ganga from Varuni’s mouth for the first time. He was pleased by her appeal to send Ganga from heaven to earth in greater good of the dwellers there.)

Varuna: In that case let me ask even Ganga what she decides to do. She is as sacred as the divine mother so she will have her divine reasons to decide on further course of actions.

Varuni:  Yes, my lord, you must ask Ganga about her wish to go or stay. This place belongs to her. She has spent all the phases of her life here since her birth. I feel as if we are marrying her off.

Varuna: Well said queen, we will prepare her departure with great pomp and show. There will be all devas of heaven and earth invited to celebrate her final departure to earth.

Varuni: All said and done, O king, please try to look in the mirror of her heart before you arrange anything regarding departure.

Varuna: Your request has a genuine concern for another woman, Varuni. I am glad.

Narrator: Varuna and Varuni left the place in contentment.

 

Scene 2 (Ganganjali , a garden dedicated to Ganga)

Narrator: King Varuna went to meet Ganga at Ganganjali Vatika (royal garden’s name)

Varuna greets Ganga.

Varuna: Greetings and obeisance to the queen of all rivers, Ganga.

(Ganga folded her hands to return the greetings.)

Ganga: Please let me know how can I serve you, O king of kings.

Varuna: You have served us a lot and wholeheartedly too. We are obliged for your favours. I think it is time for you to go to other realms of the universe and oblige them too.

Ganga: I think you are not happy with my presence here. Have I not been able to serve you and your kingdom, well?

Varuna: No, my dear. Please do not say that. We all have flourished in your holy water. However, the great sage king Bhagirath is doing a hard penance to call you upon earth to seek liberation for the souls of his ancestors. Will you not play your part in the great scheme of things envisioned by the Supreme Lord?

Ganga (in deep thoughts) Yes, my lord obeying your command is an honour for me however give me a boon to come back to heaven when I wish to.

Varuna: I cannot falsify sage Durvasa’s curse however I can give you a boon to come back here at your wish once you are reduced much in size by human activities on earth.

Please think peacefully and reveal your decision after much discern.

Narrator: Ganga and Varuna greeted each other with folded hands and Varuna departed leaving behind Ganga in great thoughts.

Meanwhile, there was a buzz in King Varuna’s court that the sacred river of the heavens would soon leave it and go to the earth forever.

(Setting: At King Varuna’s Court)

King Varuna (addressing the court): It is a matter of great pride for all of us that our very own Ganga has been chosen by sage king Bhagirath to descend on earth for an important work.

Suddenly, a sage appeared there. Everyone stood in reverence to welcome him.

(He was Lord Shiva in disguise as a sage.)

Sage (Lord Shiva): I know that you are sending Ganga to Earth. However, is Earth ready to bear her force and intensity. It may be a devastating decision for all the creatures on Earth.

Varuna (in deep worry): I pray to you with folded hands, O sage, please let us know the solution to this genuine challenge.

Sage (Lord Shiva): I can let her pass through my matted hair to intercept its speed and force.

Narrator: At that moment Varuna noticed the trident of the sage. He recognized it as the trident of Lord Shiva. Varuna then bowed down in reverence and put his head on His feet. He received the blessings from Him.

On Earth, Bhagirath is in deep meditation on Lord Brahma when He appears before him.

(Setting: A dense forest on the foot hills of Himalayas, under a huge banyan tree)

Lord Brahma: I am happy with your years of meditation upon me. Please ask for a boon.

Bhagirath: O lord of creation, please help me to bring down mother Ganga on earth.

Lord Brahma: My son, you must penance upon Lord Shiva for that.

Bhagirath: As you say O lord. (fold hands)

Lord Brahma: When you do so I promise you to bring Ganga to your doorstep. The last three generations of yours have been living a life of ascetic and meditating to bring down Ganga but have failed. However, this time I will order her not only to come to earth but follow you till the pataal (underground world) where the ashes of your ancestors lie.

Bhagirath: Thank you very much, my lord. I am hopeful now that my penance will make mother Ganga happy and she will grant solace to my ancestors.

 

Scene 3 (Setting: Ganganjali Vatika (garden) in the kingdom of King Varuna)

Narrator: Brahma appeared in front of Ganga inside the kingdom of Varuna.

Ganga bows down and is surprised at His arrival.

Ganga: My humble obeisance to you, respected father. What brings you here today? You could have called me.

Brahma: I have arrived here for a special cause. It is time for you my dear daughter to descend on Earth to redeem the ancestors of Bhagirath.

Ganga: I know very well father.

Narrator: Just then King Varuna also entered the Ganganjali garden.

Varuna: I am happy to see you both here. However, my happiness is infested by the germ of worry. I am concerned about the purity of Ganga. Once she redeems Bhagirath’s ancestors and solves the purpose of her being on earth, she should return immediately. Earth is not a conducive place for her after all.

Brahma: Thank you so much for your concern for my daughter, O King Varuna however, she must be there for some time. Ganga is going to Earth to serve a bigger purpose.

She is going to irradicate the sins of all the creatures of Earth who will take a dip in her holy water or will use her water in the devotional service.

Varuna: O lord Brahma, do not curse your daughter. The creatures on earth especially humans are sinful. Ganga will lose her sanctity very soon and she will be in great despair.

Moreover, I am certain that more sins will take place on Earth as the dwellers of that planet will be assured of their redemption after knowing Ganga as their saviour. This in turn will create more mayhem there.

Even demons will seek her asylum to be free of their heinous acts.

Narrator: Brahma after listening to Varuna intently for a while, thus spoke.

Brahma: I have a solution for this. Only the pure devotees of Ganga who will commit some sin unknowingly or are genuinely remorseful about that later would be redeemed by her. Moreover, the ones who will commit intentional sins and thereafter would take a dip in her water to redeem themselves will cause her water to be reduced by an ounce.

Narrator: Varuna felt happy and relieved listening to these words of Brahma. He remembered that he had already given a boon to Ganga to return as and when her water is reduced to mere stream.

Varuna: (in monologue to himself): This is the surest way for Ganga’s return to where she belongs. I must let her go happily. Let me prepare for her departure.

Brahma: What are you thinking O king Varuna?

Varuna: Nothing my lord. Just a fleeting thought about Ganga’s departure. We must prepare for her farewell too.

 

Scene 4 (Setting: Ganga’s mansion in Varuna’s Kingdom at heaven)

Narrator: Ganga was alone in her mansion and preparing herself mentally for her long journey towards Earth, leaving behind her birthplace, kins and kith. She was musing over her birth, childhood, and the curse of sage Durvasha in her youth.

Thousands of years ago the demon king Vali was enthroned as king of heaven. He was atrocious. The angels and the actual ruler of heaven, Indra together went to the Lord of Preservation – Lord Visnu. He disguised himself as a Brahmin child and asked for three steps of land from King Vali to which he agreed upon readily. As the young child was Lord Vishnu himself, one step taken by him, he took away the entire earth and the second step reached heaven and the abode of Lord Brahma. There Lord Brahma washed the feet of Lord Vishnu and the water turned into the river Ganga. As a child, Ganga was as naughty as she could be. When she grew up, one day it so happened that Ganga met Rishi Durvasha along with her friends. That time a strong wind blew and the clothes of the sage’s body got disheveled. It caused embarrassment to him and Ganga started laughing looking at the sage’s condition.

(Below is what Ganga mused over…)

(Setting: A garden of heaven)

Ganga (to her friends): Look at that sage there. How funny he looks when his clothes are flying away from his body. Aww… (laughs)

Friend: Yes, you are right however please do not laugh as he is great sage Durvasha known for his anger.

Durvasa (looking angrily at Ganga): Wretched girl! You do not have the etiquette to live in heaven. I curse you to have to go to Earth one day and eventually become a dirty river there.

Narrator: Those words were still echoing in the subconscious mind of Ganga as she returned to her present consciousness at that moment with tears in her eyes. (She looked forlorn)

(Setting: Ganga’s mansion)

At that very moment, Varuni came to meet her.

Varuni: Why do you cry, dear Ganga? I know you do not want to leave this place.

Ganga: It is not like that sister. I know my destiny is to go to Earth however, I cry as I doubt, I may not come back to this wonderful place again; the place of my birth and my revered people’s land.

Narrator: Varuni embraces her out of the natural compassion that she had hidden for Ganga in her heart for so long.

Varuni: O my dear, do not say like that. We all love you so much and you have always reciprocated the same. I believe you should go to the Earth for the pious work that awaits you there. King Bhagirath will shower lots of blessings on you. And those will bring virtues to you wherever you live.

Narrator: After that Varuni and Ganga embraced each other and kept weeping as if two long-lost sisters had met after a long time. At that moment Varuni forgot all her insecurities regarding Ganga.

 

Scene 5 (Setting: Mt. Kailash, Lord Shiva’s abode)

Narrator: Ganga was dressed up as a queen. She arrived at Shiva’s abode, Mount Kailash with Varun, Varuni, many angels, and their animal consorts.

She was still sobbing and was inconsolable. Just then Lord Brahma, her father appeared there.

Brahma (in a consoling voice): Stop crying, dear daughter. You know it is destined and you must bow to this curse of sage Durvasa. It may be a blessing in disguise.

Ganga: It is not because I have to leave the comforts of heaven that I cry for. However, I worry that the inhabitants of earth will make me impure and I will become unfit to come back to heaven forever.

Brahma: My darling Ganga, I cannot wipe the curse of sage Durvasa. Nevertheless, I can reinforce the boon of king Varuna that when you will become impure and will be reduced to a mere stream, you will naturally come back to heaven in your previously majestic and pure form.

Narrator: Hearing that Ganga had mixed emotions of happiness and sadness. Tears kept flowing from her eyes as if all her sacred water was not enough to cool her flaring emotions.

Then Lord Shiva opened his bun made up of matted hair into long strands. He gestured to Ganga to come nearer. Ganga folded her hands and bowed before each of the angels and celestial creatures standing there. Then in the spur of the moment, she whirlpooled as water and started flooding Shiva’s hair. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event witnessed by the celestial beings. Everyone was overwhelmed by emotions of reverence for Ganga and Lord Shiva.

In a few moments, Ganga’s water became peaceful and started flowing towards the earth. Everyone who was present there started chanting slogans in praise of Ganga.

Everyone raised voice in chorus: Namami Gange (salutation to mother Ganga)

 

Scene 6 (Setting: Various locations on Earth)

Narrator: On earth, the river fell at Gaumukh, located at the base of the Gangotri and Khatilang glaciers in the northern Himalayan mountains of India.

Bhagirath who was already waiting for her, welcomed her and hence the river followed him wherever he went in his chariot. He took her through the hills and plains of the regions along the Himalayan stretch from North towards South East.

As Ganga is considered unpredictable by nature, it so happened that she entered Sage Jahnu’s hermitage in Jahnudvipa.

Sage Jahnu: Ganga you are a naughty child of Lord Brahma. Look what you have done by drowning me in your water.

Ganga: Pardon me O great sage. I got excited and was swayed away. However, I desired to touch your lotus feet and I did. Thank you so much.

Jahnu: Ganga, you cannot trick me with your sweet words. You certainly have to pay a cost for offending me.

Narrator: Then the sage swallowed the whole water of Ganga and Lord Bhagirath could not do anything but panic. He pleaded in front of the sage to release Ganga. He was almost in tears.

Bhagirath: Please ignore the follies of this ignorant girl of yours, O sage. She does not know the importance of the work she has to do for the earth. My ancestors’ ashes are waiting to be absolved by her touch and she has entangled herself here.

The whole Earth is also parched for twelve long years and needs water to survive. The oceans are dry. It is Ganga who must replenish all the sources of water. That will help the water cycle to commence and will bring rain.

Jahnu: Yes, she does not understand the importance of her arrival on Earth. She is too adamant so let me teach her a lesson. However, I respect your great penance you and to bring her to Earth. Your aspiration would be fulfilled.

Narrator: Thus, saying so sage Jahnu released Ganga from his right ear. She flowed gently towards her normal course behind the chariot of Bhagirath.

Ganga: I thank sage Jahnu for his merciful act.

Bhagirath: From now onwards Ganga, you are a daughter of sage Jhanu too as he gave you a second life. Thus, you will be called Jahnavi by all on earth and in heavens.

Narrator: Ganga traveled around 1560 miles behind King Bhagirath before falling into the sea. Wherever she flowed, she brought prosperity to humans and life. There was greenery and a richness of soil. From there Bhagirath took her to Pataal lok (underground world) where the ashes of sixty-five thousands of his ancestors were waiting for that day.

As soon as he arrived there, Ganga fell with its full force on the ashes and there was a shower of flowers on Bhagirath and Ganga from the celestial Gods. The ancestors of Bhagirath got liberation by the sacred waters of the Ganga. There was reverberation of celebration in the air with the slogans, “Namami Gange” from every direction.

Sounds reverberating from the background: Namami Gange, Namami Gange

Bhagirath (addressing Ganga): O mother Ganga, I am so indebted to you for doing this favour on me and my ancestors by providing them salvation through your sacred and divine water.

Ganga: I bless you with peace, solace, and prosperity, O great sage king Bhagirath. Your penance of thousands of years has culminated as this day in your life. All the celestials and your ancestors in heaven are blessing you today.

 

Scene 7 (Setting: Bank of river in a forest)

Narrator: After giving redemption to the ancestors of Bhagirath, Ganga was famous as an ‘absolver of sins’ among the inhabitants on earth.

One day as she was flowing through a forest, she waited for King Shantanu there. He came there in search of water during his hunting expedition.

He saw a beautiful lady strolling over there. It was none other than Ganga. The king fell in love with her instantly.

Shantanu: Will you marry me, O beautiful damsel?

Ganga: Yes, however, you cannot ask me any question regarding my actions after marriage. Else I will go back leaving your kingdom and you behind.

Narrator: Shantanu agreed to this condition of Ganga and they both were married. They as a couple had eight sons. Every time a son was born, Ganga went away to drown him in river water. It happened seven times, and the king, bound by his vow, could not do anything. However, at the time of the birth of the eighth son, Shantanu stopped Ganga and asked her the reason for killing her sons.

Shantanu: Ganga please do not drown this eighth child. Let me know from you the reason to drown your sons.

Ganga: I am sorry, my husband. Now I have to go back to my abode. You have broken your promise by questioning my actions. However, before going back I would reveal to you the story behind killing our sons. All the eight sons of ours were Vasus in the previous birth and due to the curse of sage Vashistha, they were born as humans only to be redeemed by me.

I would like to take this eighth baby along with me for a few years. He will be returned to you as a great custodian of your clan and kingdom.

Narrator: After this episode Ganga disappeared from Shantanu’s life forever.

Ganga has been flowing since time immemorial and she has absolved people from their sins in every Yuga(age). She has given liberation to the earthly souls and even heavenly who have strayed from their path of righteousness, ever.

 

Scene 8 (Setting: Haridwar city in Uttarakhand, India)

Narrator: Time leaps and Ganga flows in 21^st century India, leaving the ancient Ganga that flowed on earth some five thousand years ago, behind.

A Delhi University, college student named Jhanvi comes to Rishikesh, Uttarakhand to do research on projects launched by the government and private sectors to save river Ganga from its nightmarish condition.

She meets the ‘Namame Gange’ Project Director and asks various pertinent questions about the program.

Jhanvi: What are the main pollutants of Ganga that have choked this sacred river over time?

Project Director: The main pollutants plaguing river Ganga are untreated sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and religious activities.

Jhanvi: Please explain each one of them and how they choked the river Ganga over time.

Project Director: Untreated sewage from cities and towns along the river is the biggest contributor to its pollution.

Sewage contains organic matter, nutrients, toxic chemicals, and pathogens.

Jhanvi: Don’t you think this untreated sewage problem can be fixed easily? Why are we not making the public aware of the treatment of sewage at their level?

 

Project Director: You are right however people still think this is not their responsibility but the government’s, in our country.

However, Sewage plants should be built and managed on an individual user’s level. There should not be any sewage that can escape directly into the river that too into our most sacred river, Ganga!!

Jhanvi: How can the chemical industrial waste be ridden off?

Project Director: There are already measures that are suggested to the industries by the state and central pollution boards. There should be follow-ups and stringent imposition of fines and shut down where industries do not comply.

Jhanvi: I have an interesting observation that though people worship the river Ganga for ages however they do not think for a moment before throwing waste in its water. Why is this paradox?

Project Director (looking annoyed): I think they believe the river still has its magical properties carried over from ages that will convert even garbage into gold or something sacred!

Jokes apart, we are growing into an apathetic society that worries just about oneself, hardly realizing that our survival depends upon the survival of our natural resources.

Jhanvi: I take your leave today however I will drop in again with a few more gruesome questions. Thank you.

Project Director: (smilingly)You are welcome.

 

Scene 9 (Setting: A village by the banks of Ganga)

Narrator: The next day, Jhanvi decided to visit some of the villages on the banks of the river Ganga to know what they feel about the polluted Ganga flowing just by their homes. She was on a boat ride and after sailing upstream for around 3 miles with a local boatsman, she reached the village ‘Kotileshwar.’

She walked in the narrow street of the village. Everything was quite clean in the village, the streets, the common gathering place, and animal shelters too. The most striking feature was that there were three public toilets in a relatively small village by area.

She saw a gathering of village men, mostly elderly coming from some important place. She greeted everyone when a middle-aged man was ready to have a conversation with her. He was the Sarpanch. (village head)

Sarpanch: Welcome to our village ma’am. How can we serve you?

Jhanvi: I have come to research on ‘Namami Gange’ river restoration plan by the government of India.

Sarpanch: You have come to the right place then. Our village is a model village among all the villages selected under the ‘Ganga Gram’ program.

Jhanvi: Please tell me all the schemes of the Namami Gange project implemented in your village.

Sarpanch: Our village now is unlike it was a few years ago. You must have observed many welcome schemes being implemented here that are not visible in a typical village around. I am also surprised by the way we cremated one of the elderly persons today.

It was an electric cremation that we witnessed today at our village cremation ground and we have decided not to let the remains be flown into the Ganga rather they will be spread in the agricultural land owned by the family. We all have decided to cooperate with the cause of clean Ganga.

Jahnavi: It is commendable. I saw that your village is quite clean and there are facilities that are less seen in any village. How did this transformation take place?

Sarpanch: Our village was also quite backward a few years back. However, due to funding and support of experts working under the ‘Namami Gange’ project, we developed a modern cremation facility, a waste management unit and development of the ghats in a way that waste disposal in Ganga remains at its bare minimum.

Jahanvi: Great to know that. How did you orient the villagers towards these changes? I understand that many virtuous government schemes fail due to people’s resistance to change.

Sarpanch: Initially there was a lot of resistance from the local people as they wanted to stick to their old habits. When we started by requesting segregated waste from home, we had to face a lot of resistance. However, after the initial teething problems, the practice picked up momentum. Now each of our houses willingly contributes to the cause.

Jahanvi: What changed their minds? Will you spill the beans on it?

Sarpanch: We developed a socio-economic awareness pogramme. We played nukkad nataks (street plays) to make the women and children aware. A system for sharing information on digital and mass media about the ill effects of a polluted river flowing by one’s side was created. They come to know the health hazards. Knowledge was shared about the loss of flora and fauna of the river ecosystem and how it affects their lives. That also meant the loss of finances for the villagers.

Jhanvi: Please elaborate on this connection further.

Sarpanch: Sure. Villagers are dependent on the river for fishing, and irrigation of their crops which entails the quality of their produce. In case the water is polluted, it will slowly kill the aquatic life. Thus, fishing will be unprofitable. Likewise, chemical-laden water for irrigating crops and horticulture will kill the plants too, or will cause less production. In both cases, the farmers’ earnings will reduce.

Jhanvi: How easily you explained everything in the simplest of words! Thank you so much.

Sarpanch: Out of 206 villages chosen for running the pilot project of ‘Namame Gange’, 24  are in chosen from our area. These 206 villages lie along the entire stretch of Ganga across the states of Uttarakhand, UP, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal.

Let me show you other recent developments in the village you may be interested to see.

Jahanvi (excitedly): Yes, please.

Narrator: They both took an electric auto rickshaw to go around the village.

Jahanvi saw the renovation work going on in the village pond.

Jahanvi: What is the utility of this pond when the banks of the river are so close by?

Sarpanch: (smilingly) Even we thought the same way sometimes ago. However, we realized that there was a lot of dirt going inside the river due to the domestic animals bathing on the ghats, along with other activities like laundry and even defecating.

Thus, this pond is being reinvented aiming at reducing the dependency on the direct waters of Ganga, saving it from being dirty.

Jhanvi (with curiosity): How does it matter? The dirty water of the pond will still go into the river eventually.

Sarpanch :(with a trustful smile) No chance! The water is treated before its inlet from the Ganga and at its outlet too, thus preventing any dirty water from making its way into the Ganga. Open defecation and even washing clothes are discouraged and even penalized in our village.

Jhanvi: Oh wow, this is mind-blowing. You people are doing great work to restore Ganga to its pristine self.

Narrator: After that wonderful sojourn to an ideal ‘Ganga Gram’, Jhanvi took the Sarpanch and other villagers’ permission to go back home as the sun was then shining vertically over their heads.

 

Sarpanch: Please have lunch with us cooked from organic veggies grown at our farms. They are irrigated by the mineral-rich water of the Ganga after treatment at the village plant. I wish that one day we can grow our crops with direct irrigation from Ganga water, only when it will be crystal clear.

Narrator: Jhanvi went with Sarpanch to his house on his insistence. She had a sumptuous lunch over there served lovingly by his family members.

 

Scene 10 (Setting: In deep waters under river bed)

Narrator: Jahnvi reached her home in the evening and was quite tired after the day’s routine. She retired early to bed. She slept as soon as she lay down There was a commotion and queer sounds of animals in the background. Jhanvi slept still.

There was a scheduled meeting deep in the water of Ganga where the representatives of various aquatic animals had come to share their concerns about their living place, Ganga.

Dolphin 1: Friends, we have gathered here in the silence of night to discuss some pertinent issues regarding our survival in our oldest and divine abode, the Ganga.

It is a matter of great pride that we dolphins and riverine turtles are the most reliable indicator of the health of the whole Ganga River ecosystem.

Hey, help I am choking. I cannot breathe in this water. I need to go to the surface of the water. Please bear with me.

(Dolphin 1 vanished from the scene gasping and reappeared after a few minutes.)

However, I feel when our health is deteriorating day by day, what can be said about the health of Ganga? We share a symbiotic relationship with her.

Dolphin 2: Are you all right sister? Oh…there is much dirty water here. I heard that our friends and relatives in Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagalpur, and Chambal Sanctuary are quite happily living there. This water at Prayagraj is really getting worse and more inhabitable for us. Let us decide quickly to migrate before we die.

Dolphin 3: Wait my dear friends. I have some comforting news for all of you. I have heard that the World-Wide Fund has taken up projects to save us all from these horrendous times. They have adopted various children; I mean aquatic species living in the waters of our mother, Ganga.

Dolphin 1: Really! I do not know how many days I will survive but can think of better days for the calf in my womb.

Narrator: Just then a swarm of turtles swam in and gathered there to attend the “All Ganga Convention of Endangered Aquatic Animals”. These were freshwater turtles who were the last batch of surviving ones and worried about their existence every day.

Soft Shell Turtle: Hurry! I heard something good in years. I think Lord Varuna still looks after us. From heaven He has sent his divine messengers to save us in the form of workers of World Wild Fund India and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

Indian Tent Turtle: Thank God. We are categorized as the least-risk turtles because of our hardiness to withstand harsh water conditions as of Ganga. However, who can tell if things would escalate further and even, we can become endangered looking at the way things have been going?

Brown Roofed Turtle: In our case thanks to Mitras, the farmers from riparian communities who through WWF-India’s community-led conservation initiatives have become active caretakers of our nests, found in their fields near the river bank.

Soft Shell Turtle: I have heard that Mitras have also volunteered to set up a hatchery, identified nests, and collected and installed the eggs in their hatchery.

Indian Tent Turtle: That way our offspring are born safely and our future generations as well as we can play a significant role in balancing the ecological pyramid of freshwater ecosystems. After all, we are the top predators in the Ganga water.

Narrator: At that time, there came an army of the majestic crocodiles. (ghariyals and muggers) Every other creature in the meeting welcomed them as the king of the waters.

Ghariyal: We are pleased with the efforts of the officials of organizations like WWf-India who are involved in releasing captive-reared gharials into the Ganga, to establish a breeding population.

The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department (UPFD) has operated the Kukrail Gharial Breeding Centre in Lucknow since the late 1970s. The UPFD collects gharial eggs from the banks of the Girwa and other rivers, and these are hatched artificially within the Centre. After being reared for two to four years, the juvenile gharials are then released back into the wild.

All these efforts have saved us from the tyranny prevalent for many years when the destruction of nesting and basking sites due to sand mining had shrunk our population.

Mugger: Good for your population bro however we have been poached for years for our skin and meat that are used for making medicines by humans.

The Chambal River Sanctuary in the present time is helping to restore our population. The data findings suggest that the mugger population has notably increased and colonized the Sanctuary.  We enjoy a moderate level of genetic diversity that is helping us to adapt better to the changing environment of the Ganga.

Protecting areas like Corbett Tiger Reserve and Baan-Ganga wetland, considered potential habitats, is crucial. Monitoring, especially during breeding seasons (February-June) is done by the Ganga Praharis, the volunteers from the local population under the guidance of WWA-NMCG.

Ghariyal: I listened to the status of the population of each family and their respective species, their challenges, and the restoration measures of the government of the country. Thus, I conclude today’s fruitful meeting by lauding the spirit of conservationists who have kept us alive till now.

 

Narrator: Then everybody dispersed from the site to go back to their respective areas along the long stretch of Ganga and its tributaries.

The commotion in the background again surfaces before dying down slowly.

 

Janhavi woke up suddenly listening to the commotion of animals returning to their respective homes. She realized soon that she was in her dreams when she heard the voices of all the aquatic animals. She was thrilled by the thought that however it was a dream, it seemed to have a connection with reality. She remained affirmed about the work being done by various stakeholders to save the aquatic flora and fauna.

 

Jhanvi’s monologue: I am certain now that the Ganga River will no longer be reeling under the trauma of the past. The whole world has come to know the importance of Ganga, thus international conservationists have joined hands with local government in India to work on projects of research, implementation, and monitoring of the Ganga River water.

 

Scene 11 (Setting: Kingdom of Varuna in heavens and banks of river Ganga in Rishikesh, the holy city in India)

Narrator: In the heavens one day, Varuna is saying something to Varuni.

 

Varuna: I am astonished that Ganga has spent five thousand-odd years on earth and still did not wish even once to come back to the heavens to meet us! However, she was so distraught while leaving all of us here, back in time.

Varuni: My lord you are missing her, I know. Though I too miss her. I suggest you should go once to check on her well-being.

Varuna: This is a brilliant idea. I will go to the earth in the garb of a crocodile.

Varuni: As you wish my lord.

Narrator: Varuna then vanishes from the scene.

A crocodile is seen in the river Ganga near Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. He spewed poison from his snout in the water. Many organisms started dying. When Ganga saw this, she was taken aback and decided to confront the crocodile.

Ganga: Hey, you venomous organism! Why do you need to kill the innocent co-habitants in your own home?

Crocodile: You should not interfere in their karmic account. They did some bad deeds in the past so they are meeting the same conditions for themselves, now.

Ganga: Who are you to punish them when God is there to punish them or redeem them for whatever they had done in the past? He is all merciful and can pardon them as well. Don’t you think you are creating bad karma for yourself, here?

Crocodile: O wise woman, look carefully. I am God’s messenger. Please have a glimpse at me once more.

(When Ganga looked at him closely, she came to know that the crocodile in front of her was none other than Lord Varuna himself.)

Ganga: I bow before you lord Varuna. Sorry, I could not recognize you in this garb.

Varuna: It seems you have forgotten the heavens completely. Remember, you were so sad to leave it once fearing that the humans would dirty you.

Then I blessed you that sinners who will commit intentional sins when will bathe in your water with a wish to reduce their sins, will remain unaffected however your water will decrease by an ounce.

And look you have shrunk so much. This is your time to come back to the heavens. Your tenure here is over.

Ganga: My lord, I know the earth dwellers are ignorant beings who do all sorts of malicious things to pollute me however the pure devotees do pray for me too. Some of my devotees think sacredly about me. I am their greatest hope to bring them redemption.

Varuna: What about you? Who will redeem you? They have made you a ditch of stench – O once beautiful Ganga. I think they do not deserve you.

Ganga: (with folded hands) I beg your pardon, my kind lord. I know you care about me day and night, however, these people have lately started making amendments to their actions. Now they think twice before dumping any garbage into me. They realized their mistakes before it was too late.

Please go around and see what the ‘Namami Ganga’ project and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) hand in hand have done for me. It is no less than a miracle.

Varuna (said feebly):  Surely, I have already seen however that means you do not want to come back home. I expected that you would come back yourself and start living in your comfortable palace again. However, you seemed to be determined not to leave Earth.

You have redeemed many generations of human beings and other creatures as well. What an action of generosity!

Ganga: No, my lord, there is not a great deal done by me. I was born to absolve the sins of humans and redeem anyone who comes my way with devotion.

Varuna: You are quite a modest Ganga. Anyhow, you have become quite old now. Please take good care of yourself till your children are redeemed by you and their generations to come as well. I wish they understand their duty towards you. I bless you that you will be here on earth till all life forms exist. May the heavens bless you. May you remain nurturer on Earth.

Ganga: Thank you, my lord, for letting me do my duties on Earth. Please come as and when you feel free to come to meet me.

Varuna: Sure, now I will often come to meet all the major rivers under my patronage; the Yamuna, Kaveri, Brahmaputra, Narmada, and the oceans.

Then I will go to the West as I am the king of the West direction to check on rivers Thames, Rhine, Mississippi, Rio Grande and many more.

Ganga: Please convey to the people in the heavens; especially Lord Shiva a big thanks for supporting me and giving me a new leash of life.

Varuna : Sure, I will convey Ganga. I so wish that all human interventions with all rivers and other sources of water remain divine and that there should not be any negligence towards them. Humans should consider Ganga as their mother. The way they have grown up drinking the nectar of their mothers in their childhood, the same way they have grown adult by drinking the nectar of their second mother, the Ganga. And they need her as much as their biological mother, their whole life.

Ganga: I also pay my obeisance to King Bhagirath and his sixty- five thousand ancestors; sage Jhanu who not only gave a new leash of life to me but made me even purer. They acted like my guardians and guided me throughout my course.

Varuna: I bless you that people on earth will continue to absolve their sins in you for posterity and still you will remain a pristine and pure river.

It is time to say a final goodbye to you now.

Ganga: Not before you attend the evening Ganga’s worship (aarti) on the ghats here in Rishikesh. You will be mesmerized.

Narrator: Varuna stands by, leaving Ganga musing over her past when her transition from a transcendental river of heavens to a redeemer of earth, occurred.

 

(The play ends.)

 

Om Namoh Bhagvatey Vasudevaya