| Event Title: | Modi and the Ganges: Governance in India |
| Topic: | ISAS Seminar |
| Date/Time: | 04 October 2018 | 15:00 - 16:30 |
| Venue: | ISAS Board Room, 29 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Block B, Singapore 119620 |
| Speaker/s: | Mr Victor Mallet |
| Chairperson: | Professor Robin Jeffrey |
| Description: | On 4 October 2018 the ISAS Seminar “Modi and the Ganges: Governance in India” discussed the latest book “River of Life, River of Death: The Ganges and India’s Future” (OUP) by Mr Victor Mallet, author, journalist and editor with more than three decades of experience in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The seminar developed around the main themes of the book: an assessment of the failures of Modi’s Swachh Bharat campaign; the nature of the water body of the Ganga, including the issue of anti-biotic resistant super-bugs; questions of religious practice and belief; and the effects that technologies have had on the river. According to Mallet the Ganga/Ganges is one of the main Asian waterways, in fact arguably the world’s most important river, and cradle of the Indic civilization. Despite all environmental issues which characterize its current situation and which did take a toll on its ecosystem, Mallet maintains that the Ganga is still alive, a river of life, as proved by the continuity of its worship as well as by the rich Gangetic wildlife which still inhabits some of the river tracts. |
| Youtube: | https://youtu.be/o-eBuLX47mY |