TanyaBertrand6 at 03:03, 23 December 2025

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{{Short description|Indian agriculturalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Chandi Dan Detha
| image = File:Chandi dan detha.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Borunda]]
| death_date =28 July 2024
| constituency =
| office = [[Sarpanch]] <br/>of <br/>[[Borunda|Borunda Gram Panchayat]]
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| residence = [[Borunda]], [[Jodhpur district|Jodhpur]]
| otherparty =
| country = India
| parents =
| children =
| relations = [[Vijaydan Detha]]
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Agriculturist|Politician}}
| office1 =
| predecessor1 =
| office2 =
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (1967)
| term = 1955–1975
| honorific_prefix = Padma Shri
}}
'''Chandi Dan Detha''' (died 28 July 2024) was an Indian [[Agriculturist|agriculturalist]] and [[Padma Shri]] recipient who is known for pioneering work in the field of agriculture and transforming the desert village of [[Borunda]]. Chandi Dan was elected the first [[Sarpanch]] of the village panchayat in 1955 and served four terms till he retired.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017 |title=जनसंपर्क कर भाजयुमो ने वटवृक्ष सम्मान समारोह का दिया न्यौता |work=Dainik Bhaskar |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/RAJ-JOD-HMU-MAT-latest-jodhpur-news-044507-1852749-NOR.html/}}</ref> He is also known for founding the premier [[Rajasthani languages|Rajasthani]] [[folklore]] institute, Rupayan Sansthan. He was also a member of the Research Advisory Committee (GOI).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004 |title=PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH MEETING OF RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) AND THIRD MEETING OF RECONSTITUTED RAC UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF DR E A SIDDIQ AT NBPGR, NEW DELHI ON 14–15 MAY |url=http://www.nbpgr.ernet.in:8080/old/pdf/6thRAC.pdf |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajasthan (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2_Nmp2U5Jn8C |title=Rajasthan Gazette |date=1965 |language=hi}}</ref>

== Agricultural revolution in Borunda ==
Chandidan had heard many traditional proverbs indicating that the well whose water is free from [[algae]] and smell or stink is supposed to be an artesian well (''patalphod kua''), with unlimited store of water.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |date=1967 |title=Rural Resurgence – Borunda's Bold Bid |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Df4nAAAAMAAJ |journal=Enlite |publisher=Light Publications |volume=2 |pages=17 |quote=Borunda might have been still groping in the dark, had not a son of the soil, now a household name, Chandi Dan, turned a new leaf. Chandi Dan was dunce at school in his boyhood but he was steeped in his mind with village-lore. Rajasthani couplets and sayings on the weather and the crops were his hobby-horse. The never-to-do-well young man was back home without much formal education but dreamt of trying a hand at agriculture. He drew up a plan only to be scoffed by people groaning under the dead weight of feudal traditions.}}</ref> Later on, he was inspired by news of a group of scientists discovering water 100 ft. below the sandy level, which gave him an idea to explore old wells in his village in search of such artesian well with an unlimited store of water.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ym7pAAAAMAAJ |title=Panchayati Raj Volume 8 |date=1967 |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |language=en}}</ref>

=== Reaching the water (1948–50) ===
Chandidan tested the water of his inherited well and found it suitable, so he decided to install a diesel pump set at a depth of 110 ft.<ref name=":4" /> These attempts of Chandidan and his seven brothers were met with disbelief and criticism when they began to dig a well in the [[basalt]]-filled land, with religious men warning them that it would bring the wrath of God upon their heads.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Keshokov |first=Alim |date=1972 |title=As Vital as Water |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZspfAAAAMAAJ |journal=Soviet Literature |publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House |issue=1–6 |pages=100–106}}</ref>

Chandidan had an idea to install a diesel engine in a [[Room|chamber]] constructed at the depth of 100 feet in the wall of the well.<ref name=":4" /> But, the [[Detha]] brothers quickly realized that they lacked the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve success. So, Chandidan hired an engineer from [[Jodhpur]], using the last of his funds. The brothers worked day and night under the engineer's direction, and on a good day they could dig through 50 or 60 centimetres. However, the advance began to slow down even more after the first few metres. They then had to hire some workers. A man who was lowered 100 metres into the depths of the well would demand to be brought up almost immediately due to lack of air and fear of the pitch darkness. The engineer left, for there was no more money to pay him, and one of the rocks they had to penetrate to get to water was impregnated with [[sulfur]]. The temperature was just as high as on the surface. Nevertheless, the brothers succeeded in reaching the water – pure and surprisingly delicious.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |date=1958 |title=Triumph of Co-operative Endeavour – How Water Came to an Arid Thirsty Village |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wlFdyexLXF8C |journal=The Bombay Civic Journal |volume=5 |quote=Acting on his own inspiration and taking the risk involved in working the engine at such depth he was successful with the help of his zealous co – workers in constructing an underground chamber, 18x20 feet, five feet above the water level in the well and installing and starting the engine with a capacity of 75,000 gallons per hour. The total capacity of all the three sets combined now is 1 lakh gallons per hour through four pipes ranging from 2(1/2)” to 6" diameter. This single well has now converted Borunda into one of the greenest spots in all Marwar and no less than 1,500 bighas around are at present covered with wheat, gram, cotton, sarson and rai on holdings which have almost been consolidated by the villagers themselves during recent settlement operations.}}</ref>

Priests warned against drinking the water from the well, but Chandidan was able to pump it out and irrigate the land, proving the sceptics wrong as the barren desert became incredibly fertile with luxuriant vegetation.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>When the water started rushing out, this sight filled me with a unique sense of pride and joy. The village folk who till the other day used to discourage me, were taken aback and were inspired to follow suit.<ref name=":4" /></blockquote>

=== Elected as Sarpanch (1955) ===
New enthusiasts joined Chandidan and began to settle on any plot of land they found. The Detha brothers started working on more wells. Across the fields, water mains and irrigation channels were built. In no time, 400 families had settled in the village, and Chandidan was elected chairman of their Panchayat in 1955 and later awarded Padma Shri in 1967 for his services.<ref name=":0" /> Chandidan had initially started his experiment in 1950 by installing a 29 H.P. diesel pump to lift underground water and eventually more than a dozen pump sets were installed in the village. This assured the village of water supply throughout the year and the irrigated area in Borunda, in time, was raised from 4,000 bighas to 23,000 bighas.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Jagannathan |first=R. |date=1956 |title=The Story of Borunda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fFcWrqkq0mMC |journal=Kurukshetra |publisher=Ministry of Community Development, India. Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Community Development, and Cooperation, India. Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment |volume=5–6 |pages=19–20}}</ref>

In carrying water from the well to distant fields, Chandidan showed great enterprise through the construction of a 3000 feet long 6" pipe line and various channels, as well as reclaiming a low lying area known as 'Sar' by digging out an existing [[canal]], which has released a vast area for dry cultivation of wheat and gram. Soon afterwards, a 6,000 foot long pipeline was laid and taps were installed in the streets and houses in order to solve their drinking water problem.<ref name=":5" />

Agriculture in Borunda included production of various crops including [[Paddy field|paddy]], grapes, wheat, [[Pearl millet|bajra]], [[Sorghum bicolor|jowar]], and other cereals. Almost all of the land holdings were consolidated and 7,000 bighas of land was irrigated through pucca and kutcha channels, 3 miles and 25 miles away respectively.<ref name=":4" />

To promote irrigation work, Chandidan organized a [[Cooperative|cooperative society]] and sought assistance from the state government. The youths provided voluntary labor to construct irrigation channels, and new varieties of seeds and fertilizers were purchased collectively.<ref name=":4" />

He also introduced [[High-yielding variety|high-yielding varieties]], fertilisers and modern implements to the farmers, transforming the [[Barren vegetation|barren]] land into a green verdour.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Kothari |first=Kalyan Singh |date=1968 |title=A Desert Village Blooms – Borunda Works "Wonder Wells" |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H31CAAAAYAAJ |journal=Yojana |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. |volume=11 |issue=26 |quote=On the eastern fringe of Marwar, in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, is situated a village named Borunda with a population of 4,000. The names Borunda and Chandi Dan Charan, a young farmer of the village, cannot be viewed separately, since Mr Chandi Dan Charan has transformed this desert village into a smiling garden.}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

== As Sarpanch of Borunda ==
Chandidan won the first [[Panchayati raj|panchayat]] elections of Borunda held after the [[Independence Day (India)|Indian independence]]. After two years of planning and effort as the first Sarpanch of Borunda, Detha constructed an elaborate [[Water supply|water-supply]] system in Borunda, consisting of three power-fitted wells, a huge reservoir, and a wide network of [[Transport in India|pipelines]] with taps fitted in every street and house. By 1957 Chandidan was described as a youthful Sarpanch of Borunda, highly efficient and a [[Progressivism|progressive]] leader, who had transformed the village into one of the most prosperous and progressive of the two hundred and odd villages in the [[Bilara Tehsil|Bilara Block]]. Encouraged by its success, authorities in Bilara block also tried replicating successful Borunda programme in other villages.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=1957 |title=Community Development Programme – Bilara Community Project (Rajasthan) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_v_RAAAAMAAJ |journal=The Modern Review |publisher=Prabasi Press Private, Limited |volume=102}}</ref>

Earlier the village of Borunda was very poor and had a lot of problems. Every year, famine would come and the farmers and cattle moved from [[Malwa]] to [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay]] and even upto Delhi in search of food and [[fodder]]. People also got sick with [[smallpox]] and other diseases, and those who could afford it would go to [[Jodhpur]], which was sixty miles away, for medical treatment. Only one crop was grown each year, making the situation even worse.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />

Early in his administration of the Borunda panchayat, in 1957, responding to the question of progress of Community Development programmes running block-wide, despite difficulties and failures, expressed optimism and Chandidan said,<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>"We have given the people wells and [[seed]]s and new implements. It is alright. We should now give them new ideas and values. We are bound to run up against prejudices....Look at the number of young village leaders that are coming up, look at the increasing power and prestige of our [[Panchayati raj|Panchayats]], look at the decrease in the fear of [[authority]] among ordinary people, and the new spirit of self-reliance that is coming up; and above all, how could we have so many new buildings for schools and Panchayats and so many new roads without the willing participation of the people. Come again after a few years and you will see for yourself what I mean."</blockquote>

=== Administrative and Infrastructural advances ===
Chandidan recounted the remarkable transformation of his village between 1950 and 1967. This period was a time of tremendous progress, with many [[Tube well|tube-wells]] being fitted with [[diesel engine]]s, the village being electrified, an area of 7,000 bighas of land coming under irrigation, and the annual income of the village jumping from Rs. 50,000 in 1950 to a staggering Rs. 2.5 million in 1967. In 1962, the village was electrified and out of 17 wells 11 were installed with electric pump. It was a period of unprecedented growth and development in the village, which resulted in a substantial rise in the quality of life of the villagers.<ref name=":4" />

By 1972, Borunda had around 200–250 wells, with 30–35 of them using two or three motors to draw water from a 170-foot deep pipe of 8 inches [CONVERT].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |date=1972 |title=Mera Gaon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AN1NAAAAYAAJ |journal=Dinaman |language=Hindi |volume=8 |issue=3 |quote=इन सभी विकासशील योजनाओं को कार्यान्वित करने का श्रेय चंडीदान देथा को है . वह ही पंचायत के प्रथम चुनावों से अब तक सरपंच का कार्य कर रहे हैं . उन्हें ग्राम के इस विकास के लिए व कृषिकार्य के लिए भारत सरकार ने ' पद्मश्री ' से विभूषित किया है .}}</ref> It provided unrestricted access to water, and in the span of 20 years, the villagers' incomes had grown from 50,000 rupees to 11 million rupees.<ref name=":1" /> The village paid 6–700,000 rupees per year to the [[Public electricity supplier|Electricity Board]] for the electricity used to power the wells, which ran for 24 hours a day, and the Electricity Board had laid a separate 33 thousand kilowatt line to meet the village's needs.<ref name=":2" />

A market was developed including 10–15 shops selling essential items, tea, bidi, cigarettes, and liquor, with a total monthly income of 6–15 thousand rupees.<ref name=":2" /> Due to the rising economy of Borunda, some 2,000 people from nearby villages had temporarily settled in Borunda for employment.<ref name=":2" />

To facilitate the advanced resources of agriculture, the [[Central Bank of India]] opened a branch here in 1969. This branch further helped in improving the economic condition of the farmers here with its loan facility. In the short period of two years, the branch had provided a loan facility of 1.3 million rupees in the form of crop loans. With the help of the bank, the farmers also constructed 25 modern granaries.<ref name=":2" />

The Panchayat under Chandidan took a proactive role in the village administration. Despite the economic progress, people had rarely stepped out of the village. No one had seen a court yet, there was no police station either: the panchayat took care of all the issues. The panchayat also took steps to root out the superstitions, ignorance and other social evils. Necessary services such as mail were made available to all.<ref name=":2" />

A government dispensary with a doctor and nurses was established in 1960 with usage rates that were three times those in comparable rural dispensaries in Jodhpur district.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last=Timberg |first=Thomas A. |date=1981 |title=Berunda: A Case of Exhausted Development |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4369557 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=16 |issue=8 |pages=265 |issn=0012-9976 |jstor=4369557}}</ref> Chandidan had also planned and built a bus station, a hotel, a shopping centre, and a hospital in the further expansion of Borunda.<ref name=":0" />

The material prosperity and the change in the outlook of the people was reflected in the neat and clean houses lining the streets, with soak-pits provided in front of every portal. Even the [[Rabari|Raikas]], a poor and backward people, raised many pucca houses and compounds for their sheep, which increased to more than 15,000 due to increased [[grazing]] facilities.<ref name=":6" />

== Accolades ==

=== ''Mati Ban Gai Sona'' ===
The Films Division of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry featured a film ''Mati Ban Gai Sona'' (soil became gold) in 1959 depicting the struggle and transformation of the village.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":7" />

=== Padma Shri ===
In 1967, Chandidan Detha was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in Science and Engineering by President of India, [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan|Dr. Radhakrishnan]].<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":4" />

== Educational Institutes ==
Apart from giving a lead in the field of agricultural production, Chandidan stepped into the field of education as well. The erstwhile jagirdar and tahsildar were initially scared of the idea of establishing a primary school in the village ten years ago, but the village now boasts a higher secondary school with 600 students and a girl school, thanks to the efforts of Chandidan in agricultural production and education.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":4" />

== Folklore Institute: Rupayan Sansthan ==
Around 1960, under the leadership of Chandidan, Rupayan Sansthan, a literary institution for the Rajasthani [[folklore]] was established along with a [[printing press]], through which collections of Rajasthani [[Folklore|folk tales]] were published in a monthly magazine named 'Vani'.<ref name=":7" /> He also served as the institute's first [[Chairperson|Chairman]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DLEWAAAAIAAJ |title=Report of the national commission Volume 1 |date=1976 |language=en}}</ref>{{refn|Chandi Dan, a 38-year-old who was elected Sarpanch for the fourth time, has invested a lakh of rupees from his farm earnings to found a Folk Art Centre in Borunda.<ref name=":17">{{Cite journal |date=1967 |title=Rural Resurgence – Borunda's Bold Bid|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Df4nAAAAMAAJ |journal=Enlite |publisher=Light Publications |volume=2 |pages=17|quote=Elected Sarpanch for the fourth time, 38-year-old Chandi Dan has founded a Folk Art Centre in Borunda investing a lakh of rupees in the campaign from his farm earnings.}}</ref>|name=first|group=note}} The institute has been working for the preservation of Rajasthani language, culture, art, music and literature.<ref name=":2" />
The centre became a bustling hub of literary endeavours focused on folk culture. The centre has since published multiple massive volumes of Rajasthani folktales, as part of a larger project. This series included tales from the more than 12,000 collected by the centre under the direction of two renowned authors, [[Vijaydan Detha]] and [[Komal Kothari]].<ref name=":3" />

Borunda was seen as revolutionizing the countryside as well as contributing to cultural change. Thus, the state wide Rajasthani writers conference in 1972 was held in Borunda instead of the capital.<ref name=":0" />

=== ''Bataan ri Phulwari'' ===
The institution collected and recorded a large number of folk tales, folk songs, puzzles, and sayings, etc. These were collected and written down by Vijaydan Detha. Of these, many of the Rajasthani folk tales have been published in several volumes under the title "''Bataan ri Phulwari''". Additionally, these tales were translated into Hindi and published in the monthly magazine "Lok Sanskruti".<ref name=":2" /> Some of these stories and novels have been adapted in films such as [[Mani Kaul]]'s ''[[Duvidha]]'' (1973),<ref>{{cite web |date=14 July 2011 |title=Film flashback, The ghost in the tree, from 1973 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jul/14/mani-kaul-obituary |website=[[TheGuardian.com]]}}</ref> [[Habib Tanvir]] and [[Shyam Benegal]]'s ''[[Charandas Chor]]'' (1975), etc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moviebuff |url=https://www.moviebuff.com/charandas-chor}}</ref>

== Quote ==
At being asked for his secret behind his success in Borunda, Chandidan replied,<ref name=":4" /> <blockquote>It is nothing but the cooperation of our youth and a strong will power. More often than not, the old generation with its superstitious ideas discouraged me and ridiculed my efforts. I don't blame these poor old heads – it was the outcome of the age-old ignorance. But I am glad that I have been able to convince them that the present generation is capable of making up all the lapses of the past generation. We are going to leave a far better country than that we had obtained from our forefathers.</blockquote>

== Notes ==
<references group="note" />

== Bibliography ==

* Timberg, Thomas A. (1981). "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/4369557 Berunda: A Case of Exhausted Development]". ''Economic and Political Weekly''. '''16''' (8): 265–265. [[ISSN (identifier)|ISSN]] 0012-9976.
* Keshokov, Alim (1972). "[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZspfAAAAMAAJ As Vital as Water]". ''Soviet Literature''. Foreign Languages Publishing House (1–6): 100–106.
* Kothari, Kalyan Singh (1968). "[https://books.google.com/books?id=H31CAAAAYAAJ A Desert Village Blooms – Borunda Works "Wonder Wells"]". ''Yojana''. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. '''11''' (26).

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* [https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/z1tn04dx A lecture presentation by Chandidan Detha on the local vocabulary and knowledge systems about agriculture of Bajra (pearl millet), the problems associated with modern agriculture and shortage of water in Rajasthan.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Detha, Chandi Dan}}
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Rajasthani people]]
[[Category:People from Jodhpur district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:Social workers from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]

Chandi Dan Detha - Revision history

TanyaBertrand6 at 03:03, 23 December 2025