Virtual exhibition ‘Punyache Paani’ celebrates Pune’s water history

‘Living Waters Museum’ will host its first collaborative virtual exhibition ‘Punyache Paani – Stories of Pune’s Waters’ from March 27

PUNE The Centre for Water Research, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), in a unique initiative titled ‘Living Waters Museum’ will host its first collaborative virtual exhibition ‘Punyache Paani – Stories of Pune’s Waters’ from March 27 in the city.

‘Living Waters Museum’ celebrates the history of Pune’s waters and how that has intersected with countless everyday lives. (HT)

Sara Ahmed, founder and adjunct professor at IISER, Pune, said that it the exhibit is about viewing water from a multi-dimensional and human perspective. “We associate water with quenching our thirst and using it for other domestic chores. But water brings life. As human beings, water has interacted with us at every step. It has shaped our cities and is at the heart of economic development. We consume virtual water in the food we eat and the clothes we wear. Our bodies are almost 60% water and so the connection we have with this liquid runs deep,” said Ahmed.

“Through Punyache Paani, we are trying to explore Pune’s water heritage right from early systems for storing water such as step wells to transporting water through underground aqueducts and later through pipelines, and the ecological and public health challenges associated with these over time,” Ahmed said.

She added that this has been a collaborative effort with diverse partners from across this bustling city including architects, urban planners, water professionals, NGOs, artists and several Ph.D. scholars and faculty advisors from the humanities and social sciences department at IISER Pune.

“Using interactive and engaging content, we explore water from an interdisciplinary lens sensitive to the multiple challenges we face and the need to build holistic and ethical water stewardship,” said Ahmed.

Ahmed said that this begins with another project. “Chhavi Mathur, a researcher, is developing water classrooms for middle schools which will look at water from an inclusive lens focusing on ourselves, our shared waters and the challenge of sustainability,” she said.

‘Living Waters Museum’ was launched in 2017 and based at the Centre for Heritage Management, Ahmedabad university, for the first three years.