From Crisis to Collective Action: The Restoration of Mesar Kund [Animated Film]
- Deepika Nandan
- Mar 26
- 6 min read
Mesar Kund ki Kahaani is an animated film that tells the multi-layered story of Mesar Kund, a pond in Munsiari, Uttarakhand, combining local folklore with community-led conservation efforts. Co-created by storytellers, singers, and writers from both the local community and beyond, this film centres on the folk tale of Mesar Devta, the pond's deity, who cursed the Barpatiya people following a tragic conflict. This ancient story has been passed down through generations, with village women coming together each year to sing the song in remembrance. However, by 2003, the pond had continued to dry up due to deforestation and soil erosion, prompting local residents to take action. Led by the women, the residents of the village united to halt further damage, restore the water source, and prevent future water shortages. Mesar Kund ki Kahaani celebrates this inspiring community-led effort to revive the pond, while also highlighting the power of women breaking patriarchal barriers.
Story, Research, & Experiences: Bina Nitwal, Malika Virdi, Maati Sangathan, Deepika NandanSong: Chandra Thakuni, Basanti Tolia, Chandra Sumtiyal, and Maati women
Narration: Malika Virdi, Bina Nitwal, Deepak Parchai
Art Direction: Deepika Nandan Illustration: Gautam Shanbhag
Animation: Yashna Soni
Facilitation: Mayank Shah, Sambhavi VPJ, India and Bharat Together Foundation (now Margshala Foundation), Grounded Imaginaries
In this blog, Deepika Nandan writes about the collaborative co-creation process of ‘Mesar Kund ki Kahaani’, an animation that shares the multi-faceted story of a local pond in Munsiyari, Uttarakhand.
With a clear view of the majestic Panchachuli peaks, I woke up to a nice, warm day in Sarmoli - a small but energetic village in Munsiari, Uttarakhand. It was the perfect weather to trek down to Barnia Gaon. As I finished the last bits of my rajma and roti, I heard Beena di’s voice outside, calling my name. We set off to Barnia, walking through narrow grassy mountain paths and using rocks to break open the akhrots (walnuts) we found along the way. We walked by Himalayan langurs enjoying the sunshine, by streams and even a tiny waterfall, and past houses that offered us chai and gud. An hour later, Beena di and I had reached Barnia Gaon and were feeling good about our mission – to hear and document the folk song that narrates the tale of Mesar kund.
As we entered the village, we met an elderly woman at a store and asked her about the song. She was hesitant to share it, as she didn’t know all the words. We thanked her and continued on deeper into the village to speak with other community members. We learned that this was true for many others. Eventually, five women, each knowing parts of the song, came together to remind each other of forgotten parts and recreate the full song—a great example of how traditional knowledge is communal, shared, and preserved across people.
The song recounts the story, which goes something like this – Mesar Devta, the God of the Mesar kund or the Mesar pond, fell in love with two girls from Barnia Gaon and took them for himself. The girls’ parents worriedly sought the help of the village community. The Bharpatiya people of Barnia went to see Mesar Devta and demanded the safe return of their daughters. The Devta, so deeply in love, didn’t want to give up the girls but offered the village anything they wished for in their place. The village refused the offer – they just wanted the girls to return. In anger and frustration, people began to break the walls of the pond. Mesar Devta, outraged by the villagers’ actions, returned only the lifeless skeletons of the girls and cursed the Bharpatiya tribe – for every Bharpatiya birth, there would be a Bharpatiya death, hence making it impossible for the Bharpatiya lineage to increase in number.
Since then, the people of Barnia have come together each year to hold a Jagran (prayer), seeking forgiveness and praying to the Devta. Every year, the women sing this folk song in remembrance and respect of the past.
This folk song tells the story of Mesar Kund’s past, but as the years went by, the ponds’ future grew uncertain—ravaged by the consequences of deforestation, soil erosion and the relentless flow of soil into the shrinking pond.
The Turning Point: Mesar Kund in Crisis
Now that you know the history of Barnia and Mesar Kund, let’s turn to more recent times.
It is now 2003. Above the pond, deforestation and soil erosion of the slopes had been intensifying over the years. With the forests stripped of their protective cover, excess mud and silt from the bare slopes were flowing into the pond, causing it to gradually dry up. The once vast Mesar Kund was now shrinking, and the residents of Sarmoli began to wonder if Munsiari would soon face the same water shortages already affecting other parts of Uttarakhand.
Would Munsiari, once rich in water, have to rely on Sintex tanks to store and save water? Was this the future that awaited them?
The people of Sarmoli decided to intervene. Recognizing the looming water crisis, they took collective action. They worked together to reduce deforestation, combat soil erosion, and restore the pond's precious waters. That year, a small group of women and children took the initiative, voluntarily gathering to dig and build a pond. Despite facing cynicism, mockery, and the constraints of a patriarchal society, their efforts gradually inspired others. With the Sarpanch of the Sarmoli-Jainti Van Panchayat taking the lead, more women, children, and eventually men joined in through shramdaan—voluntary labour. Together, their shared determination brought them closer to their goal. By 2007, the human-made reservoir was complete, marking the culmination of years of hard work. The reservoir was inaugurated with a traditional puja, followed by a forest fair—a celebration that continues to this day, honouring their collective achievement.
Each year, the communities gather for the Mesar Van Kauthik festival to celebrate their ponds, their collective efforts, and the strength of their community. The festival features a variety of events, from birdwatching to marathons, along with games and activities for everyone to enjoy. Being part of the mela in 2023 was a truly special experience. I watched as adults and children from the community splashed around in the water, posed for pictures by the pond, and engaged directly with their vital water source—a reminder of the bond they’ve nurtured with the land and each other.
The Creative Process
As part of the Grounded Imaginaries project, India and Bharat Together (IABT Foundation, now Margshala) collaborated with Maati Sangathan, Himalayan Ark, and the communities of Sarmoli, Shankadhura, and Barnia to create an animated film that serves as a testament to the community’s restoration efforts and achievements.
I travelled to Sarmoli and stayed with the wonderful Deepa Di for 15 days. During my stay, I visited Maati Sangathan and met with various members of the community to learn about the landscape, culture, and restoration process. After many conversations, I began to understand the story of the Mesar Kund and started shaping it into a narrative. Taking this back to my close collaborators, Beena Di, Malika Di, and the community, we crafted a flow that captured the story well. Then came the most amazing part.
Three women from the community, Chandra Thakuni, Basanti Tolia, and Chandra Sumtiyal, along with the Maati women, joined us to help turn the narrative into song. It was incredible to watch them develop lyrics and compose a tune that perfectly matched the story. Within a few hours, we had several stanzas and melodies, and some beautifully sung songs were ready. With the songs in place, we began filling in the gaps and outlining the voice-overs we needed. Unfortunately, my 15 days in Sarmoli came to an end, and it was time to return home.
From there, we continued working separately—Maati Sangathan took charge of the narration and voice-overs, skillfully conveying the story to reach a broad audience, while I collaborated with an illustrator and animator to bring visuals to their words. Once everything came together, we had a film that united many people, stories, and artistic expressions to share the journey of the Mesar Kund’s restoration.
Through this film, we not only documented the restoration of Mesar Kund but also honoured the resilience and creativity of a community working together for a better future.
Read more about the Mesar Kund and the Mesar Van Kautik
Challenging a Patriarchal Tradition to Revive a Reservoir, story by Pushpa Sumtiyal
हिमल कलासूत्र 2024, The Himalaya Collective
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