Saraswati Shodh Abhiyan
Search for the Lost River Saraswati
Rivers have always played a central role in the evolution of civilizations. Many ancient cultures flourished on river banks, yet today their river systems have disappeared or shifted.
Indian civilization is often referred to as the Indus (Sindhu) Valley Civilization due to discoveries of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro on the banks of the Indus River.
However, Vedic literature repeatedly refers to another mighty river — Saraswati, described as Naditama, meaning the greatest of rivers.
Over time Saraswati came to be considered mythical since the river is no longer visible today.
These questions led scholars to investigate whether Saraswati was indeed a historical river whose course had vanished.
Saraswati Shodh Abhiyan
Scholars and archaeologists formed the Saraswati Shodh Abhiyan.
The expedition was led by Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar.
The objective was to understand the civilization that flourished along the Saraswati river.