In a creative step toward raising awareness about water conservation, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has released a unique musical composition that features the names of 125 rivers in Tamil Nadu. This initiative, spearheaded by the International Centre for Clean Water (ICCW)—an organization founded by IIT alumni—aims to rekindle the connection between people and their traditional water bodies.The song has been composed by Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran, an IIT Madras alumnus known for blending classical music with meaningful narratives. Lending their voices to this cause are renowned Carnatic vocalists P. Unnikrishnan and Srinivas, along with their daughters Uttara Unnikrishnan and Saranya Srinivas, making it a collaboration that bridges generations and reinforces the significance of cultural and environmental heritage.
ICCW, committed to sustainable water management and clean water innovation, sees this musical initiative as a way to instill pride and awareness about the state’s river systems. The organization believes that by naming and remembering the rivers—many of which are lesser-known or forgotten—communities can become more engaged in their preservation and restoration.
This song follows an earlier project by ICCW that highlighted rivers across India. That version featured celebrated voices including Bombay Jayashree, her son Amrit Ramnath, Kaushiki Chakravarthy, and Rishit Desikanth, capturing the vastness and diversity of the country’s river systems through music.
By combining art and environmental advocacy, IIT Madras and ICCW are using the power of music to foster a deeper emotional and cultural connection to rivers, inspiring people to protect them for future generations.
