Mikhail Sholokhov, the great Russian writer of The gift flows calmlyMaybe I never knew that there are rivers that do not flow in silence, whose roars are heard in heaven. RIG veda glorifies the Indo as:
“Sindhu in could exceed all the currents that flow.
His roar rises to heaven on earth,
He with his wealth makes both worlds fertile,
Even as Guerrero, conquering in the field of battle. “
The Indo, known as Sindhu in Sanskrit, Sengge Chu (Lion River) in Tibetan, abashed (the father of rivers) in Pashto and Shendu in Chinese, has been more than a river, is the soul of civilization. He has fostered great empires, poets inspired and sustained the cultures that flourished along its banks. From the cities of Harappan de Mohenjodaro and Harappa to the prosperous ports of Medieval Sindh, the Indo has witnessed the rise and the fall of human efforts.
Today, the powerful Sindhu is being forced to join.
Ironically, Pakistan, a country whose name is synonymous with the Indo Valley, is now committed to precarious manipulation with the river. It is as if the nation had forgotten that this river is not simply a body of water but a sacred entity, venerated since time immemorial. In the Rig Veda, the river is praised for its unlimited flow and its divine blessings:
“You, Sindhu, like a bold warrior, Dost Dost against the hills.
Rugating, you hurry like a bull with fast and powerful waves. “
Indo veneration is not limited only to ancient texts. The river is still sacred in the traditions of southern Asia. It is believed that the Muslim saint of Khawaja Khizr, often represented as the protector of the waters, resides in the Indo near Rohri, where he is venerated as Zinda Pir by the Muslims. Meanwhile, Hindus of Sindhi reveal it as Jhoolay Laal. These lasting spiritual connections show that Indo is not just a river, it is an identity, a legacy and a force that shapes faith and culture.
But the Indo is also known by its challenging nature. Unlike the quiet Don, the Indo has never been still. Throughout history, courses with little warning have changed, drowned cities, submerous fields and alteration of commercial routes. The last important change occurred in the nineteenth century; In 1819, when a powerful earthquake in Kutch caused the Indo to change its course dramatically. Previously it flowed towards the Kutch ran, the river was redirected west, altering the geography of the region permanently.
Today, with poorly planned dams, climate change and unsustainable water management, the powerful Sindhu is forcing to join. But the story warns us: the Indo does not forgive. Do not forget it. Roars in heaven, and when it rises, the earth reorganizes as it has done for millennia. Perhaps it is time to listen to the hymns of the past, respect the natural course of the river and remember that it is not for humans to dictate the will of Sindhu.
When Alejandro Magno first found the Indo during his campaign in the subcontinent (327-325 BC), according to the reports, he was beaten by his greatness and vastness. Ancient accounts suggest that he compared the Indo with the Nile, pointing out its immense size and fertility that it brought to the surrounding lands. Some sources even mention that he believed that Indo and Nile could share a common origin.
Ironically, the six controversial channels planned to be taken from the Indo to the Cholistan desert are almost in the course of the old Hakra or Sarasvati river, which is said to be dried 5,000 years ago. If a river of the size and glory of the Indo could disappear forever, what climatic disorders should have taken to it?
Some experts believe that the changing sands of the Cholistan desert played a paper, slowly drowning the river bed with sand by the wind, while the increase in temperatures caused excessive evaporation. Imagine a prolonged drought that lasts a decade or more, followed by years of reduced rain, implacable desert winds that remodel the terrain and the accelerated impact of extreme heat, such combination could even eliminate even the most powerful rivers.
RIG VEDA GLORIFIES Sarasvati Thus:
“This Sarasvati current with promotion current comes, from the mountains and the ocean. She, in truth, extends with her powerful splendor, overcoming all other waters in her greatness.”
If the great Sarasvati or Hakra could not be revived by nature itself, can we really believe that some artificial channels will rejuvenate the desert? However, unlike Sarasvati, which vanished in the myth, the Indo remains a lifeguard for millions. Like the Nile, the Euphrates, the Amazon and the Yangtze, it will flow, feeding civilizations that depend on its powerful current. While history can witness changes in its course, its legacy remains eternal.
The writer is an expert in climate exchange and development and founder of the urban forest of Clifton, Karachi.
mlohar@gmail.com
UNKNOWN: @masoodlohar
Posted in Dawn, April 7, 2025
