Career
He travels to villages across several Indian states, especially Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, describing the value of time-tested systems of water harvesting. He advocates conservation of traditional water structures in India as well as abroad. He has written books, like Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab (Lakes are still Standing, 1993) and Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boondein (Radiant Raindrops of Rajasthan, 1995), landmark works in the field of water conservation.
Mishra was born in Wardha, Maharashtra state, India in 1948.
He has worked at the Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi in varying capacities since completing his college education in 1969. He promotes the use of indigenous or traditional knowledge to solve water problem via preservation, maintenance and regeneration of ponds, water management and rain water harvesting.
Working with Chandi Prasad Bhatt, he was one of the early chroniclers of the Chipko movement that flourished through the 1970s in Uttarakhand, and published Chipko movement: Uttarakhand women"s bid to save forest wealth in 1978. In 1993, he published Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab, written after eight years of field research on traditional pond and water management.
Soon, it became a handbook for many non-governmental organizations (Non-governmental organizations) working on water-harvesting projects.
Subsequently, it was translated into 19 languages, including Braille, in 100,000 copies, out of which the National Book Trust published 13 languages, including English. His next book, Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boondein, also documented water harvesting and water management in Western Rajasthan. All his books are copyright free.
He spoke on the topic "The ancient ingenuity of water harvesting" in 2009 TED conference.
He is the recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for the year 2011. He is the editor of the bi-monthly Gandhi Marg, published by the Gandhi Peace Foundation.
The journal is known for the clarity of its writing and editing, and has a small and committed readership.
