Mo Ganji: Hump-Backed Mahseer | Buckel-Mahseer | Tor remadevii | No. 099/250 from work group 8/99

Mo Ganji’s single line engages the Hump-backed mahseer — a large, powerful freshwater fish with a distinctive arched back adapted to fast-flowing river systems — through a gesture of reduction that foregrounds presence over description. The continuous line offers a restrained indication of form, enough to suggest a being while remaining open to meanings beyond the category of “fish.” By setting aside surface detail, the drawing allows essence to surface before recognition hardens into definition.

Tor remadevii is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Endemic to the Cauvery River system in southern India, the species was long confused with related mahseer until its formal identification in 2018. Once abundant in deep pools and strong currents, its population has declined dramatically and is now believed to be extremely small.

The principal threats include dam construction and river regulation that alter natural flow regimes, overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution. Changes in water temperature and sediment load disrupt spawning and feeding habitats, while fragmentation prevents movement along the river corridor. The species’ late maturity and dependence on intact river dynamics further limit its capacity to recover.

Ganji’s single line opens a space in which the mahseer can be encountered beyond strength, scale or sport-fishing mythology. It invites attention to a presence shaped by current and continuity, quietly reminding us that rivers are not merely resources to be controlled, but living systems — and that recognizing ourselves as part of those systems is essential to allowing such ancient forms of life to endure.