Yeola: Dharangaon Veer, two hours by road from Nashik city, is deep inside Yeola assembly constituency, along the main road to Yeola. The village is a lesson in diversity. Its residents are from 18 castes and two major religions— and there's never been a fight among them right through the village's history.
Rajendra Sonawane, a resident, said, "We're proud that we are united. We have never had communal tensions or unrest here and we are sure we won't in the future too." Sonawane said people from Dharangaon Veer were part of the first war of independence in 1857.
"Our ancestors fought for the country. We have that battle in our blood, and we know what it took to bring the country together. So why would we fight amongst ourselves? We have been together since our births, though we were born in different castes and religions," he added.
Sitting near him is farmer Ilias Shaikh. He said, "We are here discussing politics. But our primary focus remains on the development of our village which has good roads, solar street lamps and an RO plant for potable water.
What more can we ask for?" Others said discourse and debates ahead of the assembly poll have been divisive. "There have been protests for reservations and people from one group say we should unite against a certain group. We are already united.
There's no need for such talk here," a young resident said. Suryakant Pund, another resident, said, "We want to live peacefully like our ancestors co-existed. We have primary and highe.