“The river is a thread of time that meanders through history,” - Salman Rushdie writes in The Moor’s Last Sigh.
This simple yet evocative line resonates deeply with me, for rivers have flown themselves into the very ocean of my memories.
Growing up in Lucknow, the gentle murmur of the river Gomti was a constant companion. Every year, during the festival of Chhath, our family would gather by the ghats, the air thick with the fragrance of prasad and the flickering diyas painting a golden glow on the water. As a child, I’d be mesmerized by the way the river reflected the fiery hues of the setting sun, a celestial dance mirroring the rituals unfolding on the shore.
Even beyond festivals, rivers held a magnetic pull. Family vacations invariably found us drawn to the banks of some majestic waterbody, be it the mighty Brahmaputra or the serene Narmada. These journeys weren't just geographical explorations; they were dives into the rich Indian culture, where rivers weren't simply bodies of water, but lifelines, deities, and silent witnesses to the passage of time.
This year's edition of The Chronicle of Redstockings delves into the very essence of these remarkable waterways RIVERS– their social, historical, and personal connotations. As we embark on this exploration, I urge you to consider your own experiences. For some, rivers may evoke memories of childhood laughter by the riverside, for others, stories whispered by elders about bygone eras. Perhaps for some, the very mention of a river conjures up images of bustling ports or serene meditation retreats.
Through our shared exploration in this volume, we hope to capture the multifaceted nature of Indian rivers. We'll delve into their historical significance, their role in shaping our social fabric, and the deeply personal connections we forge with them.
So, turn the page, dear reader, and let us embark on this voyage together. Let the rivers of India flow through your imagination, their stories enriching our understanding of this land and its people.
Surbhi
President
Redstockings Literary Society
English Department
Bharati College, University of Delhi
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