Our first excursion in India involved visiting the lakes accompanied by a lake expert, Rohan D’ Souza. Besides being surprised by his martial arts and disco knowledge, I was not expecting that he was going to tell us that all of the lakes in Bengaluru, commonly referred to as "water bodies," are man made. The lake he took us to in Bengaluru, Puttenahalli, was surrounded by a gate, beautiful vegetation, and was formed into a bowl-like shape with a path built around it in order to accommodate recreational activities for the nearby community. Oddly enough, there were specific times you could go in and out of the space, noted by the hours placed on a sign at the entrance stating (6am-10am & 4pm-7pm). Notably, we were informed that these were usually times for middle class people to go and walk/workout, before and after work. It made me think about what bodies this space was intended for, and the impact that has on the nearby communities.
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| Photo of the Puttenhalli Lake by Gayatri Reddy |
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| Photo of the man-made recreational path around the lake by Nia Kennedi Cunningham |
As a water body on public land, I would think it would be open, free and accessible to all other bodies, regardless of status, caste, class, or occupation. Interestingly enough, on the opposite side of the entrance of the lake there was a settlement of people who decided to build their semi-permanent houses within the boundaries of the lake. We were told this was technically illegal, but that there must have been a relationship between them and the people in charge of the space who let it happen. So, this space can be accessible, through loopholes perhaps. But what is accessibility if you have to figure out where the loopholes are? And how can a space truly be used for conservation? What is the space conserving? Who and what bodies are included in that process? For the Puttenahalli website to highlight the lake as a community-led conservation project makes me question what community they are trying to preserve. But then they are allowing for “illegal” settlements. What are they gaining from those bodies being there? Is it a mutually beneficial relationship? Why are these settlements even deemed illegal, why is there a gated boundary around the lake? It is manmade, created to fulfill human desires, but not for all living things, or even all humans.
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| Photo of the clothesline from the settlement by lake by Anna Guevarra |
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| Photo of a motorcycle that belongs to the settlement around Puttenhali lake by Anna Guevarra |
It made me think about Lake Michigan. For such a long time Lake Michigan was deemed inaccessible, especially for black and brown people. Historically, the lake and its beaches were segregated, a history that much of Chicago's landscape continues to reflect today. I grew up hearing stories of the race riot in 1919, when a black boy swam across the "race line" in this water body. Borders within water bodies. Because he swam across this invisible boundary, the boy was then stoned to death on the shore line. This is one of many stories that was passed down to me. The lake, like many other spaces, was created to be more accessible for certain bodies. Why is this a trend? Why are borders and boundaries around water so normalized? Today, the lake is a space that is a lot more accessible, and there are even initiatives that have created spaces for people to connect to their cultural backgrounds, and other people and cultures.
This reminds me about the Public Trust Doctrine. The Doctrine speaks to the principle that certain public spaces and resources are held in sovereign trust for public use regardless of private ownership. This doctrine is usually overlooked in modern times, but why? This trust is what could uphold the commons and promote public spaces for use by all living things in a way that is mutually beneficial and sustainable. In what ways can conservation models and organizations reflect this idea? How can spaces be created to be more accessible, and in what ways does inaccessibility not allow people to connect to nature and further understand how climate change is affecting the spaces that sustain them.
Man Made Lakes In India
An “urban dystopia”
Boundaries put on water bodies
Biodiversity could involve the inclusion of all living beings
not some
Conservation or Gatekeeping
Transformation of the commons
What bodies thrive here
What bodies are allowed
Man Made Lakes In India
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