Bhubaneswar, January 21: "A river is not just a body of water; it is a reflection of life," said Prof. Pralay Kanungo from Leiden University, during a special academic lecture held in Bhubaneswar today. The lecture, titled“River and Development – A River is Not Just a Body of Water,”was organized by the Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS),
The event brought together scholars, researchers, students, and policymakers to engage in a thoughtful discussion about the multifaceted role rivers play in development, ecology, culture, and governance.
Prof. Kanungo, who chaired the session, conceptualized rivers as “places of imagination.” He emphasized that rivers transcend their physical form, inspiring memories, creativity, and reflection. According to him, rivers symbolize life, continuity, change, and time. Referred to as "Mother," rivers hold deep cultural significance, and Prof. Kanungo stressed society’s ethical responsibility to protect them. He asserted that caring for rivers is not just about preserving natural resources, but also about safeguarding life, culture, and the well-being of future generations.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Peter Ronald deSouza, former Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla. Prof. deSouza proposed an interdisciplinary framework for understanding rivers, urging a perspective beyond traditional hydrological viewpoints. He referenced real-world examples such as the Narmada River disputes to illustrate the complex relationships between rainfall patterns, biodiversity, species survival, and the ecological foundations necessary to sustain healthy rivers. By introducing the concept of time as a third dimension, Prof. deSouza highlighted that rivers are dynamic entities shaped by historical, political, and developmental forces.
Prof. deSouza also elaborated on eleven distinct ways of appreciating a river. These included viewing rivers as repositories of memory, witnesses to history, biodiversity hubs, providers of ecosystem services, sources of livelihoods, cultural resources, and political sites. Emphasizing that rivers are deeply tied to the cultural fabric of communities, he called for greater public awareness, community involvement, and stricter enforcement of environmental laws to protect them. He also noted that Odisha has significant potential to replicate and scale sustainable river governance models.
The event began with the screening of a documentary titled“The River Mhadei,” which provided a visual and contextual backdrop for the discussions that followed.
In her Vote of Thanks, Rashmi Kabi, Secretary of NCDS, drew a parallel between the theme of the lecture and NCDS’s broader mission. She likened the centre to a river that nurtures and sustains knowledge, helping guide Odisha on its path towards "Viksit Odisha 2036." Smt. Kabi also acknowledged NCDS's recognition as a Centre of Excellence and its inclusion in the state's fifteen priority agendas, as outlined by Smt. Anu Garg, the First Woman Chief Secretary of Odisha.
Kabi expressed her gratitude to Prof. Peter Ronald deSouza for his insightful lecture, Prof. Pralay Kanungo for chairing the session, and Prakash Chandra Mohanty, Director of NCDS, for his leadership and continued encouragement. The event was further enriched by the presence of distinguished faculty members, including Prof. Mitali Chinara, Chairman of the PG Council, Prof. Surya Narayan Mishra, Dr. Raj Kumar Khosla, Dr. Sandhya R. Manapatro, and Dr. Biswabas Patra. She also thanked the faculty members of NCDS, scholars, and ICSSR Doctoral Fellows for their active participation.
