History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t9.44

v1.c32.s2.t9.44

To conclude, on the basis of some literary and archaeological data, water-supply in the arid and scarcity areas in ancient India was doubtless derived from water-lifting machines. But they have survived the ravages of time despite the emergence of modern discoveries and new techniques. Particularly, the two old inventions, the buckets and levers and the wheel of pots have neither been revised nor discarded nor replaced by new ones. This is because of the fact that all these devices employed for raising water are simple, economical and effective. It is therefore, reasonable to conclude that the invention of these devices not only served to enhance the technical ability of the inventors, but also paved the way for a more intensive cultivation than the single annual crop.