Bhubaneswar: The Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Bhubaneswar, organized a special academic lecture titled “River and Development: A River is Not Just a Body of Water”, bringing together academicians, researchers, students and policy scholars to deliberate on the multifaceted role of rivers in development, ecology, culture and governance.
The session was chaired by Prof. Pralay Kanungo of Leiden University, the Netherlands, who conceptualized the river as a “place of imagination.” He emphasized that rivers transcend their physical existence, inspiring memory, creativity and reflection, while symbolizing life, continuity, change and time. Referring to rivers as “Mother,” Prof. Kanungo underscored society’s ethical responsibility to protect rivers, asserting that safeguarding rivers is inseparable from protecting life, culture and future generations.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Peter Ronald deSouza, former Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla. Presenting an interdisciplinary framework, Prof. deSouza urged participants to move beyond conventional hydrological perspectives in understanding rivers. Drawing on empirical examples, including the Narmada river disputes, he highlighted the intricate linkages between rainfall patterns, biodiversity, species survival and the ecological foundations essential for sustaining healthy river systems.
Introducing time as the third dimension of rivers, Prof. deSouza stressed that rivers are dynamic entities shaped by historical processes, political negotiations and future development choices. He elaborated on eleven ways of appreciating a river — as a repository of memory, a witness to history, a site of biodiversity, a provider of ecosystem services, a source of livelihoods and institutions, a cultural and cosmic resource, and a site of politics. Emphasizing that rivers belong to cultural communities, he called for enhanced public awareness, community participation and strict enforcement of environmental laws. He also observed that Odisha holds significant potential to replicate and scale sustainable river governance models.
The programme began with a documentary screening on “The River Mhadei,” which set a compelling visual and contextual backdrop for the academic deliberations.
In her vote of thanks, Rashmi Kabi, Secretary, NCDS, reflected on the strong alignment between the lecture’s theme and the institution’s broader vision. Drawing an analogy between rivers and knowledge institutions, she noted that, like rivers, NCDS continues to nurture and sustain intellectual growth while guiding Odisha’s journey towards Viksit Odisha 2036. She highlighted NCDS’s recognition as a Centre of Excellence and its inclusion among Odisha’s fifteen priority agendas, as articulated by the state’s First Woman Chief Secretary, Anu Garg.
Kabi expressed her gratitude to Prof. Peter Ronald deSouza for his thought-provoking lecture, Prof. Pralay Kanungo for chairing the session, and Prakash Chandra Mohanty, Director, NCDS, for his visionary leadership and continued encouragement.
The programme was attended by several distinguished faculty members, including Prof. Mitali Chinara, Chairman, PG Council; Prof. Surya Narayan Mishra; Raj Kumar Khosla; Sandhya R. Manapatro; and Biswabas Patra, whose presence enriched the academic exchange. Appreciation was also extended to NCDS faculty members, participating scholars and ICSSR Doctoral Fellows for their active engagement.
The lecture reaffirmed NCDS’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and evidence-based scholarship on critical issues of development, sustainability and environmental governance.
