River, Society and Culture: Environmental Perspectives on the Rivers of Assam and Bengal

South Asia’s river systems are known for their multiple topographies and varied geography. There are several transnational rivers that flow to eastern and north-eastern India through Bhutan, Nepal and China. Geological and environmental changes; the construction of dams, barrages and hydroelectric power projects as well as their side effects; and massive floods, soil erosion and a rise in silt beds have changed the traditional relationship between these rivers and the civilizations settled near their banks. River, Society and Culture presents these dynamics in the context of the rivers of Bengal (both West Bengal and Bangladesh) and Assam. It focuses on four rivers—the Titash, the Tista, the Kalahi and the Raidak—to illustrate the intimate relationship, both historical and contemporary, between these life-giving rivers and their people. This volume on the rivers of Assam and Bengal focuses on one of the environmental issues covered by the ‘Reconnecting with Nature’ series—flora, fauna, river systems and urban ecology. …