Chapter 6: Every Drop Counts
बूँद-बूँद, दरिया-दरिया (घड़सीसर, अल-बिरूनी एवं बावडियां)
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- King Ghadsi of Jaisalmer constructed Ghadsisar lake 650 years ago with the collective participation of local citizens ('Sar' means lake).
- 9 Interconnected Lakes System: When one lake filled to capacity with rainwater, surplus water drained through underground channels into a lower lake, filling nine connected lakes that retained water year-round.
- Al-Biruni (अल-बिरूनी): A historic traveler from Uzbekistan who journeyed to India over 1,000 years ago. India Post released a postage stamp in 1973 to celebrate his 1,000th birth anniversary.
- Al-Biruni praised Indian engineering: He noted that Indians construct massive raised platforms (chabutras) and long staircases (Bawris/Stepwells) with separate stairways for ascending and descending so people never collide.
- Bawri (बावड़ी / Stepwell): Traditional subterranean multi-story well with descending stone steps that enable people to reach the water level rather than pulling water with buckets.
- Darki Mai (दरकी माई) and Tarun Bharat Sangh: Darki Mai lived in a water-scarce village in Alwar district, Rajasthan. She collaborated with the NGO Tarun Bharat Sangh (led by Waterman of India Rajendra Singh) to construct a community lake (talab), revitalizing village agriculture and cattle.
- Trap: CBSE claims Al-Biruni arrived from Afghanistan or Persia. Correct: Al-Biruni arrived from Uzbekistan (उज़्बेकिस्तान).
- Trap: CBSE states Ghadsisar was built by King Ghadsi alone for military defense. Correct: King Ghadsi built it 650 years ago with public schools, verandas, and 9 connected lakes for drinking water.
- Trap: CBSE claims Darki Mai is from Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh. Correct: Darki Mai is from Alwar district, Rajasthan (राजस्थान का अलवर जिला).
NCERT Core Facts: Traditional Water Conservation & Al-Biruni
Chapter 6 explores historical water harvesting systems in arid regions like Rajasthan and the accounts of international travelers who documented ancient Indian hydraulic engineering.
1. Ghadsisar Lake in Jaisalmer (650 Years Old)
- Creator: Built by King Ghadsi of Jaisalmer around 650 years ago with the active involvement of the local populace ('Sar' means lake in local dialect).
- Architectural Layout: Surrounded by beautifully carved ghats, verandas, large halls, and public schools where children gathered for education.
- The Interconnected 9-Lakes Network (CBSE Question):
- Rainwater collected over a vast catchment area flowed into Ghadsisar.
- When the first lake was filled to the brim, excess water automatically overflowed into a second lake constructed at a lower elevation.
- When that filled, it drained into the next, until all 9 interconnected lakes were brimming with water.
- This collected rainwater lasted local communities for an entire year without water shortages.
2. Al-Biruni's Observations on Indian Stepwells (1000 Years Ago)
- Over a thousand years ago, an Islamic scholar and traveler named Al-Biruni arrived in India from Uzbekistan.
- He recorded acute observations about the hydraulic techniques of Indian masons in his famous travelogue:
"The people here are very skilled at making ponds. My countrymen would be surprised to see them. They pile up huge blocks of stone and join them with iron rods to build chabutras (raised platforms) all around the lake. Between these, there are rows of long staircases, going up and down. The steps for going up and coming down are separate. So there is never any crowding or bumping into each other!"
- India Post Postage Stamp (1973): In 1973, the Government of India released a commemorative postal stamp on the 1,000th birth anniversary of Al-Biruni.
3. Bawris (Stepwells) & Social Customs
- Stepwells (बावड़ी): Instead of drawing water up from a deep well using ropes and buckets, a Bawri features tiers of descending stone steps allowing travelers and villagers to walk straight down to reach the natural aquifer level.
- Water Reverence Customs in Uttarakhand:
- In the Himalayan villages of Uttarakhand, a newlywed bride bows respectfully and offers prayers at the natural mountain spring (Dhara) or village tap.
- Tarun Bharat Sangh & Darki Mai (Alwar, Rajasthan):
- Women in dry Rajasthani villages historically spent the entire night hauling water from distant dried-up wells for animals.
- Darki Mai of Alwar district partnered with Tarun Bharat Sangh (a voluntary water conservation group) to dig and restore community lakes (talabs), ensuring permanent water for crops and milk-yielding cattle.
Test Your Mastery: Every Drop Counts
Authentic CBSE exam questions tested directly from this NCERT chapter.
About a thousand years ago, a traveler came to India named Al-Biruni. He came from which country?
लगभग एक हजार वर्ष पूर्व एक यात्री भारत आया जिसका नाम अल-बिरूनी था। वह किस देश से आया था?
Consider the following statements about 'Ghadsisar' lake: (A) 'Sar' means a lake. (B) It was made by King Ghadsi of Jaisalmer 650 years ago. (C) It was interconnected with 9 lakes to store rainwater for the whole year. Which of the above statements are correct?
'घड़सीसर' झील के विषय में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए: (A) 'सर' का अर्थ तालाब होता है। (B) इसे जैसलमेर के राजा घड़सी ने 650 वर्ष पूर्व बनवाया था। (C) इसमें पूरे वर्ष पानी के लिए 9 आपस में जुड़े तालाब थे। सही कथन हैं:
'Tarun Bharat Sangh' is an organisation that works for water conservation. The head of this group is:
'तरुण भारत संघ' एक ऐसी संस्था है जो जल के संरक्षण के लिए कार्य करती है। इस संस्था के प्रधान हैं:
From which country did the historical traveler Al-Biruni arrive in India in CTET?
According to NCERT Class 5 EVS Chapter 6, Al-Biruni came to India from Uzbekistan (उज़्बेकिस्तान) over 1,000 years ago. In 1973, India Post issued a postage stamp on his 1,000th birth anniversary.
What is unique about the Ghadsisar lake built in Jaisalmer?
Ghadsisar was engineered 650 years ago by King Ghadsi of Jaisalmer with 9 interconnected lakes. When one lake overflowed, the water flowed automatically to a lower lake, retaining rainwater for the entire year.
Who is Darki Mai mentioned in NCERT Class 5 EVS?
Darki Mai lived in a water-deficient village in Alwar district, Rajasthan. She teamed up with Tarun Bharat Sangh to build a community lake (talab) to resolve long-standing drinking and farming water shortages.