Gujarat’s ‘oldest’ village:Out of a population of 1100, 300 abroad, the youngest of the 57-year-old sarpanch, all eat in one kitchen

Chandanki village of Mehsana is setting an excellent example. With a population of approximately 1,100, the village has more than 300 wells in countries such as the United States, Australia and Canada. Not only this, other people of this village have settled in different cities of the state. At present only 50-60 people live in the village. Everyone living in the village is above 60 years of age, but the village sarpanch Poonambhai Patel is the youngest, i.e. 57 years old and considers himself the youngest in the village. Today no young man lives in this village. However, all kinds of facilities and cleanliness are found in the village. Divya Bhaskar Digital then visited the village on 18th December, i.e. on the occasion of International Migrants Day and interacted with all the senior citizens living here.

Picture of Chandanki village.
Picture of Chandanki village.

Chandanaki village sarpanch Poonambhai while talking to Divya Bhaskar said, “I have been living in this village for the last 3 years. Before that I lived in New York for 20 years. However, the attachment with the beautiful and beautiful village no longer leaves me. I have a house in Ahmedabad but I don’t like living there. So now I live in the village. The village has a population of about 1100 people. Of these, 300 are in countries like the US, Australia and Canada. Apart from this the villagers live in different cities including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Himmatnagar.

In this primary school located in Chandanki village, every senior citizen eats in the same kitchen.
In this primary school located in Chandanki village, every senior citizen eats in the same kitchen.

Every adult eats in the same kitchen.
Poonambhai said, “A kitchen was started in the village 8 to 10 years ago by Ratilal Somnath Patel. Which have improved over time. Today, every elderly person eats their favorite food here. The boys living outside our village also have good support in this work. We also give tiffins to the elders who can’t come for dinner. “

An elderly man sitting on the porch of a house on the street of Chandanki village.
An elderly man sitting on the porch of a house on the street of Chandanki village.

Till date no panchayat election has been held in the village.
Poonambhai further said, “We are united people of Chandanki. A village connected to each other from a distance, a village living for each other is our Chandanki village. No one ever complains. No election has been held in the village since the establishment of Panchayat state in the country. To date no police case has been registered in the village. That’s all there is to it. ”

Elders sitting on the fence in Chandanki village talking to each other.
Elders sitting on the fence in Chandanki village talking to each other.

‘If necessary’ village are also running a boy ‘
candanaki village living Pravinbhai Patel said,’ ‘Our village is already united with each other. Sometimes when such a situation occurs in the village, if we call any boy from our village, he will drop his work and run away. If anyone has any problem, other boys besides their own boy also come to the village with the same feeling.

CCTV cameras have been installed in every street in Chandanki village.
CCTV cameras have been installed in every street in Chandanki village.

“Children living outside the village are constantly striving for the development of the
village,” said Ratilal Patel of Chandanki village. Today our village is also equipped with CCTV cameras. Even though the children of our village are living in the country and abroad today, they have not forgotten this village. He often provides all kinds of facilities in the village at his own expense. ”