Slaking thirst for connections

There was a time when village wells were not just a source of water but also an important part of everyday life and happiness. For many, some of the sweetest childhood memories are connected to the well. After playing for long hours under the hot sun, running in open fields, climbing trees, or playing cricket and hide-and-seek with friends, we would go near the well feeling thirsty and tired. Someone would pull up a bucket of cool water, and we would drink happily from a steel tumbler. That water felt fresh, sweet, and comforting in a way that is difficult to explain today. Modern bottled water may be clean and convenient, but it rarely carries the feeling of those simple moments.

The well was never just a structure made of stone and water. It was a living place where people met, spoke, laughed, and shared life. In many Indian villages and small towns, wells stood at the centre of community life.

Beautiful mornings

Early mornings near the well had a beauty of their own. Women gathered with buckets and pots, talking about family matters, festivals, village news, and daily life while drawing water. Elders sat nearby discussing farming, weather, and local happenings. Children played around freely, filling the place with energy and laughter.

For us children, the well was also a place of fun and friendship. After drinking water, playful moments often started. One friend would suddenly splash water on another’s face and soon everyone joined in the running around to escape getting wet. During hot afternoons, even a few drops of cool water on the face felt refreshing and joyful. Those moments looked ordinary then but today they return as beautiful memories. Looking back now, we realise how happiness often came from the smallest things.

The well also silently taught lessons about togetherness and responsibility. Since the water belonged to everyone, people naturally cared for it. Families ensured the surroundings remained clean. Leaves and dirt were removed and waste never entered the water. Everyone understood that if the well became dirty, the whole community would suffer. Without formal lessons, people learned the importance of care and respect for nature.

However, times slowly changed. With modernisation, borewells, water pipelines, and overhead tanks, access to water became easier and faster. Slowly, dependence on traditional wells reduced. In many places, wells were closed or abandoned. Some disappeared completely to make space for roads, buildings and houses. In cities and towns, many children today may never experience drawing water from a well or gathering around one with friends.

Forlorn structures

With the passing of time, many old wells now stand quietly, forgotten in corners or hidden behind growing plants and walls. Yet, for those who grew up around them, seeing an old well often brings back memories of another time of summer afternoons and laughter shared with friends and those small joys remain deeply remembered. The vanishing wells of our communities remind us that progress should not mean forgetting the past. Modern life is important, but preserving traditional wells can help protect our environment and community spirit. In saving wells, we save the closeness, and innocence of those beautiful days.

dons@am.amrita.edu