Gharats: Ancient Technological Marvel at the Verge of Extinction

Indian sub-continent has abundant source of fresh water which flows in the form of rivers, streams and khuds. These fresh sources of water are not only used to meet the requirements of water flowing through the villages but have been harnessed for centuries by the people living in the mountanious region as a source to meet the demands of the people in a sustainable way. One of the ancient technological innovation was the establishment of Gharats which served the people of the mountanious region for centuries by grinding the flour. This article studies the need and importance of Gharats, the challenges these Gharats face due to the industrialization. The paper proposes to conserve these ancient technological masterpiece from being extinct and suggests the upgradation of these Gharats for the conservation of these heritage sites.