The Shape Of Water

Water takes the shape of any vessel it is poured into. But a water crisis such as the one in India takes the form of a social evil, the form of a water wife. Called a Pani Bai, her role is of a woman betrothed for the purpose of fetching water for the family in a largely polygamous set-up.

Shocking but real is the weight of India’s water crisis on the country’s women. Her Circle launches a social insight series spotlighting how the women of India bear the burden of this water scarcity. Our very first in the series will focus on Denganmal, an area in Maharashtra barely two hours away from Mumbai where men practice polygamy to get extra helping hands and ensure that water from far-flung water bodies is available for the family. Narrated by acclaimed actor Sonali Kulkarni, we walk along with the women on their arduous trek to see how it impacts them, their bodies and the future of the girl children of the area. Dreams that may sink because she may want to be a doctor but her school books will be replaced with a water vessel soon.

Thirsty, stark, dry and desperate--the climate crisis and its impact on access to clean water will threaten the progress of women in rural India.

Next time we romanticize pitter patter, drip drop, splish splosh as expressions to describe water, let’s remember that the biggest expression for water is life. To not have access to this basic human need is simply put, unjust. To be crushed under the weight of this reality is but a woman’s burden.