Water Management System in the Desert Region of Rajasthan (Thirteenth - Eighteenth Centuries)

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Water harvesting and irrigation techniques in Phalodi. 3. Technique of irrigation and agricultural production in Nagaur. 4. Water bodies and harvesting techniques in Bikaner. 5. Water harvesting techniques in Churu, Chhapar and Bidasar. 6. Water harvesting and irrigation techniques in Jaisalmer. Conclusion. Appendices. Glossary. Bibliography and index. The present book celebrates the people of the desert region of Rajasthan, who succeeded in developing new techniques to preserve water for their agricultural requirements, notwithstanding the dearth they had faced year after year. The most commendable contribution towards water management was by the Paliwal Brahmins, called as ‘The men with scientific knowledge about water management in deserts’, they cluefully managed preservation of both surface and groundwater. The science of underground water movement was well understood by the planners of the wells. Since the water bodies were located at the slope of tanks, water percolated in ground and probably created an underground passage known in the local parlance as guptnadi. This passed through the wells raising water tables. It was an exceptional technique of storing rain water through percolation process. This availability of water also promoted tourism and the traders frequently visited such qasbas where water could be had. The book also attempts to interpret the available data regarding the efforts of peasants to evolve an indigenous dam technology in the pre-modern era. This enabled the farmers to grow maximum number of crops, including sugarcane, rice and wheat which needed extra water. Besides, many water bodies were constructed to procure drinking water in towns and villages. A technique called Khadeen for irrigation purposes was evolved in rural areas. It can be safely argued that the inhabitants of Rajasthan indigenously and successfully collected, managed and utilized each drop of water for both drinking and irrigation in several pockets of the Thar region.…