Mehsana: The Gujarat village where dogs are millionaires
Have you ever heard of a millionaire animal? Bizarre, isn’t it? Well, if you go to the village of Mehsana in Gujarat, you're bound to find not one but 70 millionaire dogs! Yes! These dogs live in luxury, thanks to an old tradition of donating land to animals. Today, the price of the donated land is Rs. 3.5 crore per 4 acres making each of the dogs of this land a millionaire! The Madh ni Pati Kutariya trust manages approximately 5 acres of land donated to dogs! The people of Mehsana have taken the concept of jivadaya, which means ‘animal compassion,’ to a whole new level. Let us look at the events that led to the creation of this unusual tradition.
How did the dogs become landowners?
The story of how the dogs obtained rights to land dates back to the Mughal empire. In the Mughal era, villagers did not have enough money or food to feed the dogs, so they turned to the then Nawab, Talib Mohammad Khan, for assistance. The Nawab was well-known for his compassion and love towards animals. So, he generously gave a piece of land to house the dogs, thus solving the problem of unfed canines. The land's profits were eventually used to care for these strays.
Who donates the land?
From 300 years ago to 80 years ago, this tradition has been upheld. Rich families have donated pieces of land to these animals. The income generated by these properties is used to care for the animals. During olden days, land did not cost as much as it does today. People sometimes donated land if they were unable to pay taxes, and the donation relieved them of this burden. Currently, the Mehsana bypass road construction has caused a steep surge in land prices, benefiting the dogs. Even though the prices have risen, none of the donors has returned to claim their donation. This could be because the villagers believe that asking back the land one has given away for social service is a sin!
What happens to the land?
The land donated to these 70 dogs in Mehsana is managed by the 'Madh ni Pati Kutariya trust,' an informal trust formed by local farmers. This organisation manages the assets for the benefit of dogs. The donated land is now a grand 5-acre property. This means each dog is entitled to property worth one million!
So, how is money made out of these lands? Every year, before the sowing season, each plot of donated land is auctioned off. Tilling rights are awarded to the highest bidder for a year. The funds collected from harvesting these lands are then invested in the sustaining system. This system provides money for food, shelter and medicine for the animals. Because of their compassion for animals, the people of Mehsana village have religiously followed this practice year after year. It has become a tradition passed down to generations of families. The dogs are fed with something called ‘rotla,’ which is a pearl millet flatbread. The flour mill owners provide bread to feed these dogs free of charge.
The 'rotla ghar'
If the dogs are millionaires, shouldn’t they have their own kitchen? Yes, they do! There is a designated building in the village where food is prepared for the dogs. The trust built the ‘rotla ghar’ or the kitchen, in 2015. The rotlas are made by two women. With 30 kg of flour, they produce approximately 80 rotlas per day. As the sun sets, the volunteers load the rotlas into a handcart and begin the distribution drive. Aware of the routine, the dogs make their way to a raised platform at the village crossroads to enjoy their feast on time. Rotlas are not the only thing given to these dogs. The volunteers also serve delicious laddoos twice a month on full moon and new moon days.