AND QUIET FLOWS THE GANGA

摘要

The river Ganga, or Ganges in its anglicized spelling, has recently been declared by the Government of India as our National River. The tag, however, does not make much difference to many Indians to whom the Ganga represents more than just a river-it is a respected and sacred symbol of nature that is needed in every aspect of their lives. Most Westerners, used to associating a river with trade or beauty, may be unable to appreciate the existential connection that many Indians enjoy with the Ganga, but I recently came across an account by Bella Bathurst in the book The Weekenders: Adventures in Calcutta that seemed to capture the essence of this relationship: "without it [the Ganges], nothing exists; no birth, no death, no regeneration, no God".