In Alwar, the day begins early at Kunj Bihari Sharma’s home. A veteran water conservationist since 2004, and a key force behind the revival of the Nanduwali river, his work is woven into the everyday lives of people around him.
By morning, visitors have already gathered. Some singing songs, some come seeking advice on medbandis, others arrive for saplings, and a few for heirloom seeds. There is little distinction between home and workspace—both flow into each other, just like the work itself.
For Kunj Bihari, being a karyakarta (social worker) is not a role, but a way of life. It demands complete submission—to the land and to the people. He often reflects on how this spirit is changing. Many now enter such work seeking livelihood, but, as he believes, this work cannot sustain itself without a deeper commitment.
The day stretches beyond his home. At a wedding, in a gram sabha, or even during a brief stop for water, the conversation returns to the same themes—soil, seeds, water, and organic farming.
Yet, amidst all this, there is a quiet worry. Passing on this way of working, this depth of commitment, remains a challenge.
For a karyakarta, the work never pauses—it simply flows, much like the river it helped bring back to life.
Link to the Flickr album used here.