Rivers Unbound: Exploring Social Currents, Legal Tides, and Stories of Flow

Rivers have long been the lifeblood of civilizations, shaping landscapes, sustaining livelihoods, and serving as silent witnesses to the unfolding narratives of human history. From the Indus to the Ganges, the Nile to the Amazon, rivers have defined communities, facilitated commerce, and inspired cultural and spiritual traditions. However, in an era marked by climate change, geopolitical tensions, and environmental degradation, rivers are increasingly sites of contestation— over access, governance, and rights. The interplay of social currents, legal tides, and ecological imperatives calls for a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and managing these vital water bodies. Rivers Unbound: Exploring Social Currents, Legal Tides, and Stories of Flow emerges from the International Conference on Rivers 2024, where scholars, policymakers, legal experts, environmentalists, and community advocates convened to engage in critical discourse on the challenges and possibilities of river governance. Edited by Dr. Ananth Padmanabhan, Prof. Nabeela Siddiqui, and Dr. G. S. Mithra, this volume brings together forty rigorously researched chapters, each shedding light on distinct yet interconnected dimensions of water law, governance, and justice. Published by Taylor & Francis, this collection seeks to advance contemporary debates, offering policy-relevant insights and fostering informed dialogue on river management in the 21st century

Dr. Ananth Padmanabhan is an expert in intellectual property rights and technology policy. He has been serving as the Dean of VMLS from July, 2023, after completing a mid-career business program (MSx Sloan Fellow ‘23) from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in June 2023. He has authored a leading treatise, Intellectual Property Rights: Infringement and Remedies (LexisNexis, 2012), and co-edited an important volume, India as a Pioneer of Innovation (OUP, 2017). His co-authored chapter on Big Data in an impactful volume on Regulation in India: Design, Capacity, Performance (Hart Publishing, 2019), is part of a continuing initiative to examine the public law and regulatory dimensions of new technologies. It builds on his understanding of the Indian State and the Supreme Court within the constitutional context, explored through chapters in Rethinking Public Institutions in India (OUP, 2017), and the Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution (OUP, 2016). He engages in broader public conversations on the impact of technology through his opinion pieces in Hindustan Times, ThePrint, Livemint, Indian Express, and other print / new media.

Ms. Nabeela Siddiqui is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Vinayaka Mission’s Law School (VMLS), Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Chennai with a strong focus on contemporary issues such as climate change, international water disputes, and cooperation. Throughout her impressive career, she has held esteemed positions at renowned institutions, including CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Dharamshastra National Law University (DNLU), and the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi. Ms. Siddiqui’s dedication and commitment to her field have been recognized with prestigious honors, such as the President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal, The Innes Prize, The Carmichael Prize, and The V. Suresham Memorial Award, all of which she earned during her master’s program at the esteemed University of Madras, Chennai. As an avid researcher, Ms. Siddiqui has authored and co-authored numerous book chapters and articles, many of which are indexed in Scopus. Her expertise in legal matters and her insights into current affairs have garnered widespread recognition and she is a regular contributor to leading national newspapers and forums, including The Deccan Herald, The Hindu, Economic Political Weekly, Financial Express, among others.

Dr. Gnana Sanga Mithra S. is currently serving as an Associate Professor at Vinayaka Mission’s Law School (VMLS), Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Chennai. She is an accomplished scholar in the field of Sociology, particularly specializing in Transgender Studies and Gender Studies.Throughout her career, She has made significant contributions to research, with numerous papers published in Scopus Indexed journals. Her accolades further underscore her research prowess, including receiving the Raman Research Cash Award from VIT and being recognized as a Situational Leader in the educational sector by Ooruni Foundation, Chennai.Her expertise has been sought after by organizations such as the TN Forest Department, where she acted as a project consultant for a scheme funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Her research projects have been supported by seed grants from VMRF, demonstrating her capability to secure funding and carry out impactful research. She has an editorial role in the Humanities and Social Science Journal and is a reviewer for Frontiers and Taylor & Francis journals.