On a scorching day in 2022, wildlife photographer Sharvan Patel stood near a parched waterhole at Tal Chappar Sanctuary. Blackbucks hovered around the cracked pit, thirsty and hesitant. That moment changed everything.

What started as a photographer’s silent promise soon became a mission to revive Rajasthan’s drylands. Sharvan built his first tiny pond with friends — just half a foot deep. At first, nothing happened. Then, one night, his camera trap captured blackbucks drinking, mongooses darting in, and birds flocking.

The video went viral. Soon, villagers, influencers, and nature lovers began asking for more ponds in their regions. Sharvan launched a simple campaign — Re 1 a day for wildlife — and hundreds joined.

Today, over 130 khailis ponds across Rajasthan provide lifelines to blackbucks, peacocks, mongooses, and migratory birds. Summers remain harsh, tankers still expensive, but the sight of a peacock dancing near the water makes every effort worthwhile.

Sharvan now dreams of every village having its own pond and mini-forest — a future where deserts turn into living oases.