On January 11, hundreds of people, environmental activists, and prominent saints gathered in Sirsi. Together, they demanded that rivers too should be given the "right to live"—just as humans have rights under the Constitution. They urged that laws be enacted to ensure the natural, uninterrupted flow of rivers.

The rally was held at the Marikamba Temple grounds. About 500 people attended—farmers, tribal community members, students, and environmental enthusiasts. They carried placards that read: "Rivers also deserve rights" and "Save our lifelines."

Read in Hindi: आओ नदियों को संवारें, पवित्र नदियों को लौटाएं अतीत का गौरव...

Several eminent saints delivered speeches, including Swami Vidyadheesh Teerth of Kukke Subrahmanya Math. He said, "Rivers are not just water; they are the veins of Mother Earth. If humans have the right to live, rivers too must have the right to live in their natural form."

Environmental activists also voiced their concerns. Dr Anjali Patil argued that rivers should be granted the legal status of "living persons," similar to the Whanganui River in New Zealand. Her demands included an uninterrupted natural flow of rivers, Protection from dams and pollution, Appointment of legal guardians for rivers who can advocate for them in court, and Strict punishment for violations. Farmer Raju Gowda shared, "Our rivers are drying up, crops are failing. If rivers get rights, our future too will be secure."

The rally featured folk songs, and participants took an oath to protect rivers. The organisers announced they would send the proposal to the Chief Minister of Karnataka and the Union Environment Minister.

This rally reflects that people no longer see rivers merely as resources, but as part of life itself. If such a law is enacted, it could bring a major transformation in river protection in India.

Rivers are not just streams of water; they are the arteries of our culture, civilisation, and life. Unfortunately, today, sacred rivers like the Yamuna suffer severe neglect and pollution. Once pristine and life-giving, the Yamuna has now turned into a drain. The river flowing beside the Taj Mahal has turned black—a sight that wounds the pride of our civilisation.

The River Connect Campaign in Agra has been striving since 2014 to expose this neglect and shake society awake. Their demands are clear: cleaning the Yamuna, dredging, desilting, constructing a barrage near the Taj Mahal, and restoring the river’s lost glory. Driven by this resolve, activists organize daily Yamuna aarti at Etmad-ud-Daula View Point Park. This aarti is not just a religious ritual but a public movement for river conservation. The message is clear: rivers must not only be worshipped but also protected. This movement continues today and calls for the participation of every citizen.

India’s rivers are the lifelines of the nation. Saving them is also our constitutional duty. Agra, the city of the Taj, cannot stay silent while watching the Yamuna on the verge of death. Environmentalist Dr Devashish Bhattacharya says, "We appeal to all of you—we demand policy support from public representatives, concrete steps from policymakers, and active involvement from ordinary citizens. Let us come together to restore the Yamuna to its clean and vibrant form once again."