Search for ancient Saraswati river finally ends. It’s a miracle! The Saraswati river you read about in ancient religious texts... is now in front of you! Prime Minister Modi’s government boosted the search for the river. Haryana government allotted $7 mn to dig the course of the river. <i>Village Mughalwali Saraswati River Digging Project</i> SAHIRAM KASHYAP Farmer Mother, You flowed here thousands of years ago. And have appeared again... in my farmland. I pledge... that until you flow again... I will wait here in worship. GOPAL DAS Hindu Priest All the media noise... just for this little pond! Born a Brahmin and a priest... I came to worship the Mother. And you? I pledged to serve the Mother when She gave me a darshan. I had visions. The visions led me here. The government promised to make the river flow. But I also want glory for this place. First, let’s build local support. Let’s have programs and meetings in the village. The rebirth of Mother Saraswati is our blessing. It is our pride. And as Mr. Trump claims to “Make America Great Again”… so, devotees of the Mother let us pledge... that with the blessings of (rivers) Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati... we will make India the world leader again. Take the holy Saraswati water. Nobody should miss out. <i>Praise Mother Saraswati.</i> <i>Mother! May Your waters rise eternal.</i> <i>The blind call out to you.</i> <i>We cry out for you.</i> JARNAIL SINGH Farmer When this water was discovered during digging... we didn’t believe (this is the river). “Even our tubewells have a higher water level.” So scientists sampled this water. The water matches their hypothesis (that this is Saraswati). Where is the report? We haven’t seen it. So how can we be sure? The river is mentioned in ancient texts. They followed those old maps. Sure, She is mentioned in scriptures. But there is no river without water. In a river you see its ebb and flow. This water stands still. As Hindus, we believe the scriptures. As high caste Hindu Brahmins we believe in it. This not the water of Saraswati. There is no river here. This is mere groundwater. Have governments... ever resurrected mythical gods and rivers? How many are on their list? Will they also bring back Lord Ram and Ravan? Or Bhishm (from ancient texts)? I haven’t seen any (mythical character) come to life. A tough moral question. PRASHANT BHARDWAJ Chairman, Saraswati Heritage Development Board Haryana Government The appearance of Saraswati proves... India is the oldest culture and civilisation in the world. What is the budget and expenditure? Very little has been spent. Say, less than $150 000. Bulk of the work remains. Once the plan is final we will know the budget. We heard more than $43 mn has been spent. Can you see it? That’s why I ask... - I’m asking you. What do you see? <i>Saraswati Procession 2017</i> <i>The story of Saraswati in the language of science.</i> People often ask me: “Can humans create a river?” I assure you... next year... we will perform this worship... by the banks of Saraswati. Non Official Member Saraswati Heritage Development Board DR. M. R. RAO Saraswati is misrepresented. Western archaeologists, historians and scientists wrote... Saraswati is a mythical river. Only found in people’s imagination. But our holy scriptures were written on its banks. She is our great river. I hope you all... dream of restoring the greatness of our ancient civilisation. <i>Saraswati in Rig Veda</i> Look, a Trust is different from a Charity. A Charity can operate abroad. Out of district, out of state, out of country... A Trust can’t be supported by the government. But it can donate to a Charity. So we will register a Charity. So it is tax free and we can accept donations. Your support means a lot. Otherwise, us locals could not have succeeded. The Mother sent you as a medium. Well, that’s between me and the Mother. Forgive our follies, Lord. Forgive us. The discovery of Mother Saraswati... is historic for your village. It will be developed... for international tourism. The state and central governments... are excited about this project. If this is Saraswati why is She a mere pond? Where’s the flowing water? She’s not flowing yet. - She doesn’t even flow! If only we dig ten feet more... Just ten feet... I have faith She will flow. She will, She really will. Even scientists have confirmed this is Saraswati. The sick came, even lepers... Hemraj, from our village... His leprosy is cured! Drinking this water? - Of course! We were going to alert the newspapers. Even his son is sick. In the neighbouring town... a girl had a hole in her heart. We gave her the water to drink. She came back and said: The doctor was shocked, what is this wonder drug? It is a miracle! Can you heal the mute man in our village? - Of course! This water will heal you. Mother Saraswati cures all diseases. Glory to God. Dear devotees... mothers and sisters who are childless... will be given holy fruits. Aruna, wife of Naib Singh <i>The village celebrates...</i> <i>as Lord Krishna is born of a miracle.</i> $170, secret donor! My illness is undiagnosed. You are anxious, depressed? - Yes. What are these records? I’ve made records since I camped here. Which diseases were treated and are the results positive or negative? See for yourself. Those who drank the water are cured. If this is about faith... take this water to the hospitals. Feed it to the patients. If it is medicinal it will heal anywhere. We can save on medicine and surgery. If this water heals everyone, why not his sick wife? Is she not a believer? Or does the water not work on her? I had to take his wife to the hospital for surgery. Ten (dug up) villages are suffering. Was this plain before? - Yes, we grew crops here. My farmland is on both sides. If the government pumps out groundwater... to pour into these trenches and make Saraswati flow... our fields will go barren. P. P. KAPOOR Right to Information Activist The water level will reduce. The government made tall claims in the media. But had no response to my Right to Information query. Claiming a 5 000 or 10 000 year old history... is for specialists. Only geologists, scientists and historians can tell. You and I cannot speculate. It can’t be based on myths. Yes, it must have verifiable proof. My main question was: “In claiming to find lost river Saraswati...” “supply us all correspondence with Archaeological Survey of India...” “Indian Space Research Organisation, NASA and other agencies.” “And all the responses from them.” The district government responded: “This information is not available in this office.” It is tough to push them to confess the truth. I persisted more than a year. Sent them 10-15 kilograms of letters! Finally, they conceded they have no proof of authenticity. And cannot confirm this is Saraswati river. It is a matter of research and will take time. If this is the official response... why are they misleading the public? They must have an agenda. Governments and politicians are calculative. They do not want wise citizens. If people have knowledge they will ask questions. They will call out the government. Governments want unquestioning subjects. Hindu nationalism is their philosophy. Employment, education, inflation... safety of women, these don’t concern them. They just want to assure citizens... that this government is good for your religion. They’re building your nation. They dug out a holy river lost for 5 000 years... made Sanskrit language compulsory... introduced Holy Gita in the syllabus... celebrated International Yoga Day... banned beef. They’re unifying the public (in the name of religion). Everyone must know our ancient heritage... about our sages... and how advanced our science was. They want us to be proud of our culture. I agree, we should be proud. Heard jackals scream at night? I have. One jackal lets out a cry. Others respond. The first jackal cries out: “My father was king.” Others respond: “What of you? What of you? You remain a jackal.” If we revere the Mother She will be kind to us. She will bless Her sons. Mothers love and protect their sons. But if a son turns rogue... the Mother will punish him. (American astronaut) Kalpana Chawla was from our town. She went into space to collect facts of the Universe. She was going to reveal secrets but before landing on Earth... God exploded her space shuttle. God says, my secrets will remain hidden. Collect facts, or try as much as you can. Those who question God cannot prosper. The Mother gives me wisdom. I survive by drinking Her water. I must be mad. A madman consumed by Her love. She let me sit at Her feet. This glory is not mine alone... but for the world. I only pray to Mother Saraswati... “Mother, You have appeared before the world. Can You flow soon?” And once She flows we will become like America and other nations. Because of Saraswati we are going to be a rich nation. Mother, I need to hear You flow. I want to prove it by experience. Mother, give me a sign.