Lupt | लुप्त (work-in-progress)

2026

To witness the death of a river sounds mythical, but this is no myth. The Yamuna has been officially declared 'biologically dead' in much of its stretch in Delhi. Which means the water here can no longer sustain aquatic life. Which also means the water body we see flowing beneath the Yamuna bridges beyond Wazirabad, is actually a dead body, a corpse. Isn't that strange? Yet, the same river appears fiercely alive to me when a red alert flashes on my phone navigation system during the peak of the monsoon while crossing those very Yamuna bridges. What does it mean to live with the death of a river? Is the river dead like the dinosaurs are? Or is there any hope for its reincarnation? I ask myself.

Reflecting on this collectively experienced yet ignored crisis, this multimedia exhibit invokes a poignant sense of loss, vanishing and nostalgia. This body of work invites viewers to ponder the fragile, lingering existence of the river Yamuna.

7th Nadi Utsav

24–26 September 2026 (upcoming)

Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi

Concept & Visual Art: Ishita Debnath Biswas

Sound Design: Rahul Jigyasu