Devika Devaiah is a founder member of the Save River Cauvery Foundation: A group of working professionals dedicating their time to riverine issues. The River Cauvery is the lifeline of South India and the foundation is actively involved in advocacy, knowledge building, a creation of new networks across the states that depend on the river and a revival of heritage and culture of the peoples who live under the shadow of the Cauvery.

Devika has found that her involvement with the life of Cauvery has brought new perspectives to the end-to-end ecosystem of the river as it flows from source to sea. And in this journey of discovery, opportunities to create new futures have now become a passion and a purpose that along with all the members of the Save River Cauvery team, she is also now pursuing, to the end.

Talk Synopsis – ‘River Cauverys: Past, Present and Future Existences’

In this talk, Devika will explore the many meanings of River Cauvery and how these meanings have resulted in various ways in which the river is treated; whether as a resource to be exploited or a treasure for future generations, and therefore, to be preserved. She will discuss why the Cauvery is where it is currently, with reference to how it is treated by its stakeholders and also look at how a historic reference point of the river has changed over time. Her talk will close with where the future opportunities lie with a hope that the audience will join in saving the river that has so blessed their lives in South India.