BOOK REVIEW: The river runs high, runs deep, runs wild

The Brahmaputra evokes a certain solemnness that no other river does. Probably, it is in the name or its sheer mightiness that gives the river a personality that weighs down on mortal existence. And yet, for centuries, the Brahmaputra has nurtured life and civilisation through its course and along its banks. If it had to be personified, then ‘he’ (the Brahmaputra is considered a male river, or nod) would be a mysterious traveller, silent but unpredictable, who cares less about geo-political boundaries.

With its source in Tibet, the Brahmaputra flows through India, China and Bangladesh. Each geographical boundary gives the river a unique identity — Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang/Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra or Bar Luit in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh — and each identity defines the civilisation, history and culture of the place.

The riverine history of the mighty Brahmaputra, the literature that it has inspired, the socio-politico-economic fabric that is has created over centuries, the ecological diversity that it helps thrive and the mayhem that it causes time and again have been captured through a collection of academic essays published recently in the form of a book titled The Brahmaputra: Lifeline of Northeast India.

The essays in the book, published by Dibrugarh University, have been carefully curated and edited by Jyoti Prasad Saikia, a bilingual writer and professor at the university, and Paramananda Sonowal, a social activist and university registrar. The 14 insightful articles delve into diverse aspects of the Brahmaputra — geographical, political, cultural, literary and developmental.

The articles reflecting on the geographical and morphological aspects of the river help readers understand the changing course, its major tributaries as well as the sub-tributaries and their “morphometric characteristics”, the basin and the potential of the Brahmaputra.

Two chapters — Exploring Interactions on the Brahmaputra: Riparian Relations between India and China, and Dams on the Brahmaputra Valley: Perspectives on ‘Hydraulic Capitalism’ and Livelihood Security — give a perspective on the cross-border water crisis and the political upheavals over it. The subjects in the chapters take cues from history and gradually explain contemporary problems.

In terms of water politics, China and India need to act fast on their freshwater strains but every action has to be in coordination with their neighbours and lower riparian nations. At this juncture, neither of the two cannot, and should not, arm-twist the smaller nations to get a vantage point. As the author rightly points out that it is “urgent for China and India to defuse riparian tensions and ensure that water resources are managed in the most efficient and ecologically sound manner”.

The mighty Brahmaputra, especially in Arunachal Pradesh, has great potential for hydroelectricity. However, the dam projects proposed so far will inundate the lower regions and devastate settlements in the plains areas. The projects will also lead to large-scale displacement. In this context, the author emphasises the need for redesigning “development policies taking into account the environment protection and protection of human rights”.

Aquatic Biodiversity of the Brahmaputra Basin: Threats and Remedies focuses on the diverse local flora and fauna that are being threatened by various factors, including urbanisation. The thorough research on the aquatic abundance gifted by the Brahmaputra gives readers a clear idea about the ecological importance of the river and its basin.

Among the interesting chapters are those which focus on the cultural development along the Brahmaputra in Assam. For instance, the chapter The Bard of the Brahmaputra gives an insight into legendary singer and songwriter Bhupen Hazarika’s contributions to making Lauhitya (as the river is known in the state) an integral part of Assamese history and heritage. His collection of songs sings paeans about the river and how, over decades, it has become the confluence of many ideas and ideologies.

Every chapter in the book is based on thorough research and succeeds in bringing out a new facet of the mighty river, which is not only a source of sustenance but also the cause for devastation. The Brahmaputra defines the cycle of life and the process of constant change that shapes geo-political and socio-economic courses along the river.

Besides being a valuable academic collection, this book is also an important addition to one’s personal library as a source of great information about a major riverine system in the northeastern part of the country.

Book: The Brahmaputra: Lifeline of Northeast India; Editors: Jyoti Prasad Saikia & Paramananda Sonowal; Publisher: Publication Division, Dibrugarh University; Pages: 176; Price: Rs 500