Water is not merely H2O

It is often said that 'Water is Life'. The reason(s) may vary from person to person and from user to user.  Unfortunately, my bare eyes could not find any life in water. As I looked into a classic dictionary of science and technology I got more disappointed for not finding any word that could convince me to believe that water too possesses life, as do trees and plants. The dictionary spells out water as "colourless, odourless, tasteless liquid and it yields two molecules of hydrogen and one of oxygen".  The dictionary further says that water has its maximum density of 1000 kg/m3 at a temperature of 4 degree centigrade. The substance, in chemistry, is denoted or symbolized as H2O. Such a simplification of an important natural resource further strengthened my search for life in water. I looked for in all forms of water bodies and got continuously frustrated till I brought the biosphere and its nexus with the hydrosphere. Though the entire biotic world depends on water for survival I thought of making a deep observation on interplay of human variable in this nexus.
We already know that in the distribution of world water oceans and seas contain 97% which is saline. And only 3% falls under the category of fresh water, 79% of which are in the form ice caps & glaciers, 20% groundwater. The easily accessible surface water amounts to only 1% which is further shared by lakes (52%), soil moisture (38%), atmospheric water vapor (8%) accessible water in plants (1%) and rivers (1%). This distribution, given by Lean & Hinrichsen, may not be taken as unchallenged as other sources also present different data. Nevertheless, it is uniformly voiced that 97% of world water is saline and 3% are fresh.  There is also a consensus that the world's fresh water supply is not evenly distributed in the earth, throughout the seasons or from year to year.  In some cases water is not where we want nor in sufficient volume.  We have too much water in an undesirable place and at undesirable time or no water when we strongly need it at certain area. Possibly for this reason Hydrologist Malin Falkenmark said that we live under the tyranny of the water cycle. Still I could not find life in water and, therefore, trying to look for it in the hydro-human framework.
Since time immemorial human beings have been dependent on water for quenching their thirst, washing and for other basic necessities.  With the advent of civilization and increase of population the need for water is increasing at a parallel pace. New dimensions of water use are becoming obvious and thus drawing attention of scholars, researchers and scientists to examine from their respective perspectives to make the resource an interdisciplinary subject of inquiry.  Here the focus is more anthropological and, nevertheless, oblique references are made on other branches of science.
While looking at different mythologies, we come across names of several Gods and Goddesses attached to water, its function and dysfunction. To mention a few, the Greek mythology tells about Hydros as the God of fresh water. Possibly, the etymological root of the water can be traced here. Armetia is the water Godess in British mythology.  In Aztec mythology the water God is Atl while the Sumerian mythology says about Abzu as the water lord.  In Hindu mythology Varuna is described as the lord or deity of oceans, water and aquatic life.   In fact, in most cultures and societies a supernatural attribution of water persists due to the very importance of this chemical compound i.e. H2O.  
Historically, there are instances of fights, wars and conflicts over water sharing and owning. The Pacific Institute has developed a data base that lists conflict and violence over water tracing back 5000 years. Most of these conflicts are related to both fresh and saltwater. Nevertheless, the conflicts over freshwater significantly supersede the incidents related to saltwater because of extreme importance and less availability of the former. These conflicts are not always inter country but within the country and nation as well. The Rwandan Genocide or the war in Sudanese Darfur is believed to have strong link to past water conflicts. In the book titled 'Water, Peace, and War: Confronting the Global Water Crisis' Chellaney says that yesterday, nations went for land. Today, our conflicts involve energy. And tomorrow the battles will be over water. Chellaney further rightly quotes Mark when he said "Whisky is for drinking, water is for fighting over". It is also apprehended that the Third World War will be on water issue as there is a silent water rivalries is an covert phenomenon in many countries and within countries framework. Interesting to mention that the word "rival" is derived from the Latin 'rivalis" meaning one who uses the same stream or flow of water. Due to past and ongoing conflicts over water it is said that the situation is paving the way towards a major hydrological or H2O War.
Besides mythological significances and minor or major conflicts, there are many other dimensions to look at this liquid compound. Every religion considers water as essential element in rites and rituals. For its mighty necessity in maintaining sustainability of the world the existence of spirit in water is widely acclaimed by the animists. The institutionalized religions place a high value in water. Buddhist monks, while preparing funerals, pour water on the dead body and chant "As the rains fill the rivers and overflow into the ocean, so likewise may what is given here reach the departed." The importance of water in Christianity is depicted with its symbolic values in three ways : it cleanses and washes away dirt, fills everything it enters as God fills those who are immersed in Him and need water is needed to survive physically as  God is needed to survive spiritually. Water in Hinduism has a special place as it is believed to have spiritually cleansing powers.  To them water is sacred, especially rivers, and there are seven sacred rivers: the Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.  Although Hinduism encompasses so many different beliefs among those that most Hindus do share is the importance of striving to attain purity and avoiding sins.  This relates to both physical cleanliness and spiritual well-being.  In Japan, Shinto is an indigenous religion and is based on the adoration of the kami (supernatural power inhabiting mountains, trees, rocks, springs and other components of nature).  Worship of kamis, whether public or private, always begins with the all important act of purification with water.  Inside the many sacred shrines troughs for ritual washing are placed.  Waterfalls are held sacred and standing under them is believed to purify.  The Nihongo or Japanese word for water is Mizu but all Japanese use "O" before Mizu to show respect to water. In Islam water is important for cleansing and purifying.  Muslims must be ritually pure before prayer.  In Islam, a shower is prescribed before touching the Holy Quran and a dead body must be given shower prior to placing in the grave.
Treatment with water has become a relatively new branch of medical science, known as hydrotherapy, though it has a long historical root. Different forms of hydrotherapy have been recorded in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greco-Roman, Chinese and Indian civilizations.  Pain relief and release of body temperature remain the fundamental principles of water therapy. Modern hydrotherapy has given a scientific explanation and organized the prescription in a way to get optimum benefit.  This particular branch of medical science has also identified the kind of complications that may arise if the prescribed dose is not followed.
Water also has a juristic function.  Many land disputes are resolved with the use of water flow path as a demarcation line.  Water bodies like ponds and lakes call for communities to unite and use the content for social harmony and cohesiveness.  In many cultures water is worshiped for its hidden but wide range of practical usage.
People also attach aesthetic value to water. Accordingly, they have developed several musical instruments (jaal Taranga in the subcontinent and hydraualis or water drums in the west) sound of which resembles that of water falling and dripping.  Besides, songs have been composed to admire water and express the need for it.
A concern at the onset about the meaning of 'water is life" and subsequent search for life in water has now possibly made a sense.  Given the purposes and functions that water performs it may not be unwise to say that "Water supports life" not it is life itself. Life, in science, is defined as a physical entity that passes through different stages from fertilized ovum to the fertilised ovum of the next generation, be it a plant, an animal, fungi and a human being with carbon and water based cellular form with complex organisation and heritable genetic information. Thus, in strict sense, water is not life as its cohorts i.e. fire, air, soil, sunlight etc., are not.  But there cannot be life without water. Water has the omnipotent strength to support physical, social and spiritual living, if used properly. For such multiple functions it goes beyond merely saying "H2O".  
Dr. Shahed Hassan is Professor at the Department of Anthropology, University of Dhaka. He can be reached at shahedhassan@yahoo.com