Water Wives: When Water Scarcity Redefines Marriage, Womanhood, and Survival in Rural India
W ater is often described as the foundation of life. It nourishes ecosystems, sustains agriculture, supports industries, safeguards public health, and makes human civilization possible. Every society, regardless of its level of development, depends upon a reliable supply of freshwater for drinking, sanitation, food production, and economic activity. Yet despite its importance, water remains one of the world's most unevenly distributed and unequally accessed resources. For millions of people, obtaining water is so effortless that it barely enters their daily thoughts. A simple turn of a tap provides clean drinking water, hot showers, functioning toilets, and enough water for cooking, cleaning, gardening, and countless other activities. Modern infrastructure has transformed water into an invisible service that quietly supports everyday life. For others, however, water is neither convenient nor guaranteed. It is a journey. It is physical labour. It is time lost. It is an everyday stru...
