Imagine a village where the story of every family is a global tale, yet their heart remains firmly rooted in one place. This is Dharmaj, a village in Gujarat's Anand district that has rewritten the rulebook for what rural life in India can be.
The journey to becoming India's richest village began not in a boardroom, but with a spirit of adventure in 1895. That was the year the first sons of Dharmaj, like Jotaram Kashiram Patel and Chaturbhai Patel, set sail for Uganda. They were pioneers, followed by others like Prabhudas Patel, who went to Manchester and became known fondly as "Manchesterwala" back home, and Govindbhai Patel, who started a tobacco business in Aden. This tradition of going abroad created a vast global family. Today, an estimated 1,700 families from Dharmaj live in Britain, 800 in America, 300 in Canada, and 150 in Australia and New Zealand, with many more across Africa and the world.
But here is the unique twist. Instead of forgetting their roots, these global citizens became the village's greatest strength. A successful experiment started in 2007 to formally bring everyone together for development, and the results are breathtaking.
Drive into Dharmaj and you will see paved RCC roads with blocks on both sides. You will not find garbage piles or muddy water pits anywhere. The cleanliness is a sight that city dwellers would find hard to believe. The Panchayat ensures regular cleaning, and every villager understands their responsibility to keep their surroundings spotless.
This commitment to development is visible everywhere. For entertainment, there is Surajba Park in Gouchar, where young and old enjoy a swimming pool, boating, and beautiful gardens at a modest rate. Understanding the needs of all its residents, the village dedicated 50 bighas of land to grow green grass, ensuring the local shepherds have green fodder for their animals all year round. An underground drainage system has been functioning since 1972, a facility many Indian cities still struggle to provide.
The economic power of this village of 11,333 people, spread over just 17 hectares, is staggering. It is home to 11 bank branches, including nationalized, private, and cooperative banks. The deposits in these banks have soared past Rs. 1000 crore, making Dharmaj a true "investors' village" and a business center for the banking sector. The banking history here is deep, starting with the first branch of Dena Bank on December 18, 1959. The Gram Sahakari Bank was started on January 16, 1969, under the founding chairmanship of Mr. H.M. Patel, a son of Dharmaj, who rose to become the Finance Minister of India.
The prosperity is evident on the roads, where luxury cars like Mercedes, Audi, and BMW are a common sight. The architecture tells its own story, with houses named "Rhodesia House" and "Fiji Residence," standing as proud monuments to the families who built them. Even in the village cemetery, donation plaques are written in shillings, a lasting reminder of the African connection that helped build the community.
What makes Dharmaj a model studied by people across the country is its successful Panchayat system. It proves that when a Panchayat has its own resources and the unwavering support of its people, even those living thousands of miles away, true self-governance is possible. Every year on January 12th, this unity is celebrated as Dharmaj Diwas, a grand homecoming where NRIs return in large numbers to celebrate the home they have all built together.
Dharmaj is not just a village with money. It is a village with a mission, a powerful example of how global success and local love can come together to create something truly extraordinary.
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