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Once in my college hostel lift, I bumped into a fellow hostel-mate who was wearing a T-shirt that showed a village couple dressed in traditional Rajasthani attire and sporting farming tools in their hands. While I complemented her on that T-shirt, her reaction hurt me a little. She said it depressed her that people are making money by selling T-shirts showing backward side of India.
I could not retort to her then, but I guess this list will make her and others who think less of our beautiful countrysides, understand that if anything at all, we should feel proud of living in a country with such amazing villages that are doing exponentially well for themselves and for India at large. Indian villages are deeply rooted in their traditions and some are dangerously blinded by them, agreed. But then that does not mean we should overlook the ones that are flourishing at a faster pace than some of the most famous of Indian metro cities.
So here goes.
1. Kasol- The Mini Israel of Himachal Pradesh
– The scenic beauty, pristine hills, pleasant climate, and low habitation are the reasons why it is becoming one of the favourite destinations for backpackers. And the increasing number of tourists has finally led to the installation of an ATM machine in the village.
-The village is flooded with bars, internet cafes, and guest houses. But regardless, the beautiful scenery of the village remains intact and breathtaking.
-It witnesses a large firangi crowd consisting mostly of Israelites and owing to this fact, it is also informally referred to as the mini Israel of Himachal Pradesh.
2. Hiware Bazar (Maharashtra)- Possibly the richest village in India!
-Hiware Bazar has transformed its sad history into a successful present under the able guidance of Popatrao Baguji Pawar, who came to power as the sarpanch (village head) of the village in 1989.
-The village was hit by a severe drought in 1972 because of which villagers had started to shift out from Hiware Bazar to other neighbouring areas. But when Pawar came to power, the village started to experience good changes like ban on addictive substances, and  encouragement of rainwater harvesting and cattle farming.
-It is thanks to this good transformation, the per capita income of the village increased from Rs 840 in 1995 to about Rs 30,000 in 2012, and this development has now resulted in as many as 60 millionaires in the village.
3. Punsari (Gujarat)- A village with all the essential modern facilities
-All the people of the village are provided with a 24 hour Wi-Fi facility.
-Schools are equipped with CCTV cameras and digital technology is used to impart education.
-The villagers are given accidental cover of Rs 1,00,000 and medi-claim cover of up to Rs 25,000.
-A 20-litre can of clean drinking water can be availed for just Rs 4!
-The impressive model of the village has also been appreciated by the delegates of Nairobi who are planning to replicate and implement the model design of Punsari in the villages of Kenya.
4. Mawlynnong Village (Meghalaya)- Asia’s cleanest!
-The waste matter in the village is dumped in dustbins that are made of bamboos. The waste is then thrown into a pit, and finally ends up being used as manure.
-Plastic bags and smoking- strictly banned.
-People who litter around are fined. Those who cut trees are also fined (although that is a rare sighting here).
-The Khasi society in the village follows the matrilineal system whereby, property and wealth are transferred from the mother to the youngest of her daughters, who is also entitled to keep mother’s surname. Also, it is not an unusual thing to see women running shops here while their men tend farms.
-Literacy rate- 100%
5. Chappar (Haryana)- Birth of girl child is celebrated with sweets here
-It is an extremely happy change considering the fact that Chappar is located in Haryana, the Indian state notorious for having the lowest girl ratio.
-After many years of facing suppression, the women of the village have stopped hiding their faces in long ghoonghats (veils).
-And yes, the sarpanch here is a woman known by the name Neelam. 🙂
6. Ziro- Included in India’s tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
-Pine trees decorate the hills in this region and mountain rice cultivation is rampant across the entire town.
-It is home to Sidheshwar Nath Temple. The linga in this temple, which was discovered by a wood-cutter named Prem Subba in the year 2004, is a whopping 25 ft in length and 22 ft in width. It is one of the many key attractions of this beautiful town.
-Ziro is home to the interesting people of Apatani tribe, who unlike most other tribes are non-nomadic. The old women belonging to the tribe can be seen sporting facial tattoos and extraordinarily big sized nose plugs. And their this kind of get up has a back story dating back to pre-modern times.
-It is believed that decades ago women from Apatani tribe were considered most beautiful in all of Arunachal Pradesh. So beautiful that apparently men from other tribes had started to steal the Apatani women. And so the women took refuge in tattoos and big nose plugs, which made them less attractive. Today however, this custom is not practiced.
7. Dharnai (Bihar)- It is Solar powered!
-With the efforts of Greenpeace India, a 100 KW solar-based micro grid was installed in the village, which now provides 24 hour electricity to homes and commercial operations.
-Having survived as many as 30 years of dark nights, Dharnai is now India’s first fully solar powered village.
8. Tarkarli (Maharashtra)- Has the state’s only scuba diving training centre
-Tarkali is increasingly becoming popular as a picturesque beach destination. The sea water is so pristine that on some clear days, one can easily see up to depths of 20 ft in the waters.
-Dolphins are a usual sighting here.
-Ramnavmi Utsav is famously celebrated in Mahaparusha temple of the village each year.
-The village has the state’s only scuba diving training centre!
There is a lot of beauty in our own home. It is about time we noticed and appreciated it.
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