Dharmaj

Dharmaj
—  town  —
Coordinates
Country	India
State	Gujarat
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)

Dharmaj is a town in Gujarat.

Early history

The history regarding the settlement of Dharmaj is very ancient. Some^[who?] say it was settled by Dharma Rabari in 1130 A.D. Dharma Rabari found Shiva Ling, while digging in the remote area of the jungle. He used to take his cows there for grazing. The name of the town Dharmaj refers to Dharma. In 1155 A.D. Narsinhbhai Patel, originally from Jargal^{[disambiguation needed ]}, came to Dharmaj to settle down. The house in which he used to live is now called Juni Khadki Rangaji Patel from Virol (near Sojitra) came to Dharmaj to settle in 1675A.D. Rangaji Patel’s descendents are the Patidars of the five Khadki’s:

• Athamani Khadki - formed Sundardas Rangadas.
• Vachali Khadki - Tadjandas Surdas.
• Kaduchini Khadki - Kaduchi Nathji Tadshidas.
• Kakani Khadki - Ratandas Surdas.
• Solamagjini Khadki - Solidas Bhavandas.

The Patidars of Dharmaj have very thorough knowledge of agriculture. Even while the maximum crop was extracted, the land had remained fertile. Tobacco is the main crop of the town. Nicotine was processed from tobacco by Urvakunji Nicotine Industries in Dharmaj. The town is not only agricultural, but industrial too.

The Patidars of Dharmaj took on a leading role in the Independence Movement. They provided shelter to the freedom fighters. A young man named Ramanbhai Purshttambhai was shot during firing at ADAS.

The town had a dedicated social worker, Chimanbhai Kishorbhai Patel, who was elected surpunch for number of years. Shri Hirabhai Muljibhai Patel was a special pride to Dharmaj. Shri H.M. Patel, an I.C.S. officer was appointed as the Finance Secretary of the Indian republic. He was the finance, Home and Deputy Prime Minister during the Janta Rule. He was also awarded the world famous Albert Sweitzer Medal for his work on the preservation of the Natural Wealth and Wildlife Foundation. he was appointed as the President of the Indian Board for Wildlife. Shri H.M. Patel was also the chairman of different educational institutions of Charotar Vidyamandal at Vallabh Vidyanagar.

Shri H.M. Patel has successfully completed the cream of architects.^{[peacock term]} Shri Bhaikaka and Shri Bhikhakaka of Vallabh Vidyanagar by starting and completing the Medical College and hospital at Karamsad. Shri H.M. Patel was the Chairman of Kelavni Mandal started the “H.M. Patel English Medium School Complex” like Public Schools in India. Chandrakant Ambalal Patel of World Bank of USA works at International Monetary fund in Washington, D.C. Rameshbhai Purshottamdas Patel is one of the five world’s best physicians.^{[citation needed]} He is residing in Australia. Kantibhai Ambalal Patel and Kanubhai Ambalal Patel of Patel Printing Press at Ahmedabad had achieved maximum numbers of awards^{[citation needed]} in Print Industry. Kumari Krupaliben N. Patel received Sardar Patel and Arjun Award in the field of Gymnastics at National level. Jashbhai Gordhanbhai Patel, Surendra Ratilal Patel, Ravindra (Raja)Purshottam Patel, Chandrakant S. Patel and Chandrakant Chhotabhai Patel must be remembered for their services rendered towards the progress of the town.

The town has various institutions in the fields of education, social, and religion. These institutions were established by generous donations from the Patidars of Dharmaj, both from the homeland and abroad. Mr Rajabhai Patel has contributed a great deal to the village despite residing out of Dharmaj, he has built an old peoples home and a temple complex which has become a meeting point for the whole village.

Modern history

Today,The great dollar dream has created a stir in the land of White Revolution, and turned Dharmaj into a village with world class facilities, rubbing shoulders with any top city, totally on NRI money. Now, this little village wants the country to adopt the Dharmaj model.

Where can one see a village, with a population of 5,000, running a vibrant English medium school for children and a college, ultra-modern medical facilities, water park, recreation zone and state-of-the-art civic infrastructure?

The medical facilities include a kidney centre, a cancer research facility, a maternity hospital, a polio and orthopaedic hospital, an eye hospital that has operated on 1.47 lakh patients, a glaucoma research centre, a dental hospital and a mineral water plant provides 20 litre treated water at just Rs 2 to the economically backward.

It is a silent revolution that has seen NRGs from the village, which are now spread across the globe, pitching in just to assure that their relatives get all the facilities that any city can boast of.

External links

• GlobalDharmaj