Rivers are the essence of our culture and civilization. Our lives are incomplete without rivers. However, due to our adverse environmental practices, many great rivers across the country, like the Niranjana (Falgu) River, which carries a legacy of great traditions, are drying up. If this continues to happen then the day is not far when we will yearn for every drop of water. In this regard Niranjana {Falgu} River Recharge Mission was founded by the social worker Sanjay Sajjan Singh and team in Bodh Gaya on August 22, 2021 to make this river perennial.
Our mission’s aims to revive the 310 km long river- Niranjana (Falgu) as our long-term goal, which holds historical and religious significance- as the place where Lord Buddha meditated to achieve enlightenment under the peepal tree in Bodh Gaya, Hindus from all around the globe offer Pind-Daan rituals for the salvation of their ancestors, and Lord Mahavira traveled for years on its banks.
The revival of this river will provide livelihood to millions of people as well as save the dying river, a pilgrimage site for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus around the world. The source of the river is located at the Belghadha site in Simariya block And at the Suhawan site in Lawalong block of Chatra district in Jharkhand, flows through Gaya and Jehanabad districts in Bihar, and merges into the Ganga in the Mokama tal area of Patna district.
There is a need that in order to bring this river, the carrier of great traditions, into the main discussion and efforts to make it alive. Dozens of countries across the world who believe in Buddhism are as associated with the water and sand of this river as the religion of Islam consider the water of Abe-Zamzam holy.This endeavor involves spreading water consciousness among the people. Our organization is a voluntary effort and a social mission that aims to rejuvenate the river through four main approaches- Individual efforts, Social initiatives, Government / National collaborations and International endeavors.
If we want to see our river as before, the four main works have to be done
1. Water conservation through rejuvenation of fragmented/dead water sources & creation of new water bodies,
2. Afforestation & better forest management,
3. Increasing the amount of carbon in the soil through natural farming & better crop management, And
4. To Increase Jal Chetna (water consciousness) for these three previous points.
Just 20 to 25 years ago, water would come out just by digging a small pit with the palm of hand in this river. But today the situation is such that even if a pit is dug using a JCB, water hardly comes out. If we are able to bring this river back to its previous state, it will be a victory for all of us. Now, gradually we are moving in this direction and the situation is constantly improving.
