In a city of a million people, water is more valuable than gold. And Minni just saw someone stealing it.
Varsha Bajaj’s “Thirst” is a gripping middle-grade novel that tackles water inequality through the eyes of twelve-year-old Minni in Mumbai’s slums. Minni’s life revolves around waiting hours for communal tap water, navigating her mother’s illness from contaminated sources, and balancing school, until her older brother, Sanjay, flees after witnessing water mafia theft. Forced to work in a high-rise where water flows freely into pools and faucets, Minni confronts stark disparities: her neighborhood, home to 40% of Mumbai’s population, receives just 5% of its water. Bajaj weaves in Minni’s poetic reflections on water’s dual role as lifeline and source of conflict, deepening the emotional resonance of her journey to expose corruption despite personal risks.
This book is a standout for exploring SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Minni’s story vividly illustrates how broken systems like corrupt water distribution and inadequate infrastructure disproportionately harm marginalized communities. Minni’s shock at the high-rise’s water waste will spark discussions on global access issues or inspire STEM projects designing equitable solutions.
Minni demonstrates being both Caring and Principled through her loyalty to her family and her courage to challenge injustice. Role-playing scenarios where students weigh risks of whistleblowing can deepen ethical reasoning, while comparing Mumbai’s slums to global cases (e.g., Flint water crisis) builds critical empathy.
Bajaj’s accessible prose and relatable protagonist make complex themes tangible, empowering students to see themselves as advocates for equitable infrastructure and sustainable change.
