Water Bodies of Jodhpur - A Lost Identity

Abstract

The cities in India are blessed with greatest assets in terms of natural and built spaces, spirited communities and cultural and architectural heritage. Nevertheless they don’t realise the value of these assets and are the poorest users of these. Jodhpur City, situated in Rajasthan, is one of the biggest example of this. Situated on a rocky undulated terrain and amidst the Thar Desert, the geography of the place has allowed the people of Jodhpur to depend entirely on the groundwater for the day to day water needs. Due to scarcity of water in the desert region, people living there had to find ways in which every drop of water that falls can be collected and reserved. This is how the lakes, talabs, tanks, ponds, jhalras and baoris came into existence in the fabric of Jodhpur City. As other cities, modern technology has also invaded Jodhpur and the city is falling towards urbanisation fast. The central water supply system has been beneficial in terms of user friendliness but has also started the depletion of water bodies present in the city. This paper will be an attempt to study the importance of water and water bodies in the lives of people of Jodhpur living in the vicinity of these water structures. The aim is to study how water and water structures were a part of the lives of people living there in the past. It will also be an attempt in bringing back that relevance of these structures in today’s life, may be with a little different purpose and a purpose which is more relevant to today’s situation and modern lifestyle.