ABSTRACT
A dialectical view of the interaction between modernization and tradition has been revealed in extensive scholarship on the Indian social system, based on diverse case studies. Recent geopolitical narratives based on confidence have generated global interest in post-liberalization economies. There remains the question of whether traditional wisdom can withstand aggressive urbanization, growing inequality of wealth, and, perhaps most importantly, environmental vulnerability. Using a combination of studies from various disciplines and approaches within scholarship, we can map the shifts and changes in the relationship between modernization and tradition. Research on water infrastructure is one of these areas. Specifically, this paper explores traditional water systems in the arid region of Rajasthan, particularly Jodhpur. Despite paradigm shifts in management and procurement processes due to modernization, this study attempts to assess the resilience of traditional water harvesting systems. In the aquifer, the well is the smallest element. Despite crisis situations, well water is always available, unlike regulated water supplies. It is a daily ritual to worship the auspicious peepul tree by the well. It provides much-needed shade from the harsh sun. An otla (i. e., plinth) at the well is used by local men as a place to gather. Almost all households in the area are supplied with fruit and vegetables every day.
