# Bandhan Manjhi of Surguja Cultivates Rooftop Squash on Mud House That Naturally Stays Cool Like an AC

> In Chhattisgarh's Surguja, Bandhan Manjhi preserves eco-friendly tribal heritage by constructing a traditional mud-and-tile home that self-regulates indoor temperatures while farming squash across its roof to prevent soil rot.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Chhattisgarh · **Published:** 2026-10-19 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/chhattisgarh/surguja-ke-bandhan-manjhi-ne-mitti-ke-ghara-ki-chhata-para-ugai-sabji-parnparika-takanika-se-kamaron-men-bani-rahati-hai-prakritik-49387 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Surguja, Chhattisgarh, Mud House, Rooftop Farming, Bandhan Manjhi, Traditional Architecture, Sustainable Living, Organic Farming

Centuries of living in close harmony with nature have yielded traditional architectural practices that remain remarkably efficient and environmentally resilient even today. In the rural landscapes of Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, where modern concrete construction is gradually expanding, a young man from the Manjhi community named Bandhan Manjhi has chosen to preserve his ancestral wisdom. Using locally sourced clay, sturdy timber, and clay tiles, he built a sustainable home that provides natural thermal insulation across harsh seasons. Beyond crafting a self-cooling shelter, he has transformed his sloping tiled roof into a productive farm bed for growing indigenous squash, known locally as kohda or sitaphal.

## Rooftop Agriculture to Tackle Moisture and Crop Rot
Cultivating creeper crops during the monsoon presents persistent hurdles in rural farmlands. In Surguja, heavy seasonal downpours saturate the topsoil with excess moisture. Bandhan Manjhi points out that when squash vines spread out across wet open soil, the emerging fruits remain in constant touch with damp ground and accumulated water. This persistent sogginess frequently triggers rot, destroying the harvest before the vegetables reach maturity.

To overcome this seasonal hazard, Bandhan drew directly upon farming techniques handed down across generations. As soon as the rainy season commenced and regular rainfall supplied the required hydration, he initiated the planting cycle. Rather than leaving the vines on the ground, he trained them upward toward the roof, allowing the extensive foliage to spread entirely across the sloped tiled surface. The crop has now reached the critical fruiting stage. Resting securely on the dry tiles, the pumpkins receive ample sunshine while staying safely elevated away from ground-level moisture, decay, and soil-borne pests.

## Heritage Construction Using Mud, Timber, and Clay Tiles
The home stands out not only for its thriving rooftop vegetation but also for the vernacular building techniques applied throughout its construction. Bandhan built the dwelling using natural, locally gathered raw materials, primarily unbaked earth, raw wood, and sun-baked earthen tiles known as khapra. The heavy mud walls serve as the building's main load-bearing envelope, offering massive thermal mass.

To support the weight of the roofing system and the growing vegetable canopy, Bandhan assembled an interconnected frame of wooden beams and rafters, over which overlapping tiles were laid by hand. Bandhan explains that his ancestors lived in identical structures for generations, and several households across rural villages continue to uphold this construction method. Compared to modern cement and brick structures, this indigenous format requires little capital expenditure and relies entirely on biodegradable materials that blend seamlessly into the surrounding ecology.

## Natural Air Conditioning and Seasonal Thermal Comfort
One of the primary benefits of earthen architecture is its passive climate control capability. During peak summer, when outside temperatures in Surguja rise significantly, the thick earthen walls and layered clay tiles absorb heat slowly, keeping indoor spaces significantly cooler than the open atmosphere. This passive shielding produces an indoor cooling sensation comparable to artificial air conditioning without consuming electrical power.

When winter arrives and nighttime temperatures drop across the forested region, the same mud walls prevent the interior heat from escaping too quickly, maintaining a cozy, comfortable living environment inside. Bandhan observes that achieving ideal indoor climate comfort relies on several complementary factors, including the precise architectural layout, cross-ventilation through doors and openings, and changing external atmospheric patterns. With adequate airflow, the home maintains steady humidity and temperature year-round.

## Upholding Indigenous Knowledge in the Modern Era
In an era marked by rapid urbanization and the widespread adoption of artificial building products, the choice to embrace ancestral lifestyles stands out as an inspiring model of sustainable living. Bandhan Manjhi's home demonstrates that rural knowledge systems are far from obsolete relics of the past. Instead, they represent well-honed adaptations developed over generations to thrive within local geographic and climatic constraints.

By harvesting fresh food on his roof while living comfortably in a low-cost, self-regulating structure, Bandhan highlights how indigenous methods address contemporary environmental challenges. His daily routine proves that preserving traditional practices can provide food security, lower carbon footprints, and offer a comfortable quality of life without relying heavily on high-energy appliances or non-renewable resources.

## What this means for you
This traditional integration of earthen architecture and elevated farming offers practical, low-cost solutions for self-reliant living and energy efficiency in rural and semi-urban communities.

- **In Surguja and Chhattisgarh:** Residents can construct resilient shelters using locally available mud and baked tiles without incurring heavy expenses on modern concrete materials. Farmers facing severe waterlogging during the monsoons can adopt rooftop vine training to safeguard delicate squash crops from rot.
- **Across India:** Homebuilders can draw inspiration from passive cooling principles to reduce reliance on expensive electrical air conditioners and high power tariffs. Urban and peri-urban dwellers with limited plot space can utilize vacant terraces and sheds to cultivate chemical-free seasonal vegetables.
- **For Environmental and Physical Health:** Earthen dwellings significantly minimize the ecological footprint by replacing industrial cement with completely biodegradable, non-toxic materials. Living in naturally ventilated structures crafted from earth and wood helps maintain healthier indoor air and comfortable ambient humidity.
- **On Household Economics:** Growing home-grown vegetables on available roof space provides direct financial relief against volatile market prices for fresh produce. Natural temperature regulation eliminates recurring utility bills while allowing simple DIY maintenance using local raw resources.

## Why this happened
Bandhan Manjhi's approach of cultivating squash on his tiled roof and building an earthen house arose from practical, time-tested adaptations to local climatic challenges.

- **Excessive Soil Moisture During Monsoons:** Heavy regional rainfalls saturate low-lying ground, causing ground-level creeper vegetables to decay rapidly due to water pooling and damp earth. Elevating the vines across sloped khapra tiles keeps the fruits dry and provides unobstructed exposure to sunlight.
- **Abundance of Indigenous Building Materials:** Rural forest regions offer ample access to natural clay, timber, and traditional earthen tiles at negligible monetary cost. The Manjhi community has preserved this architectural craft across generations, ensuring the practical skills remain readily accessible.
- **Natural Thermal Insulation of Earth:** Mud walls and layered clay tiles have high thermal mass, which significantly slows heat transfer from the harsh outdoor sun into living quarters. This physical property ensures the home remains noticeably cooler during hot summers and retain heat during cold winter nights.
- **Long-Term Viability:** As climatic swings continue to impact crop survival and energy costs, utilizing elevated terrain and natural materials remains the most cost-effective solution for local food security and thermal comfort.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who is Bandhan Manjhi and where does he reside?
Bandhan Manjhi is a resident of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh and belongs to the Manjhi community.

### 2. Why does he cultivate squash on the rooftop instead of the open ground?
He grows squash on the roof because high soil moisture during the monsoon season causes ground-resting fruits to rot.

### 3. What materials were utilized to build his traditional home?
The house was constructed using locally sourced mud, wooden pillars and beams, and handmade clay tiles known as khapra.

### 4. How does the earthen home perform across changing seasons?
Due to natural thermal insulation, the mud structure stays cool during summer heat and retains warmth during cold winter days.

### 5. When does the rooftop squash farming cycle begin?
Cultivation begins at the onset of the monsoon when seasonal rainwater supports initial seedling growth.

## Inspiration & Lessons
Bandhan Manjhi's lifestyle demonstrates that resourceful problem-solving and deep respect for nature can create a comfortable, self-sufficient life without expensive modern gadgets.

- **Turning Constraints into Creative Opportunities:** Instead of surrendering to ground moisture that rotted his vegetables, he creatively adapted his sloping roof into an elevated, productive garden.
- **Preserving Indigenous Heritage:** Modernization does not require discarding ancient wisdom, as time-tested ancestral building techniques often surpass industrial alternatives in sustainability.
- **Thriving with Simple Resources:** Achieving personal comfort and food independence does not demand heavy capital or high-energy appliances when local resources are utilized smartly.
- **Embracing Ecological Balance:** Living lightly on the planet by utilizing biodegradable materials and renewable techniques offers a durable roadmap for environmental preservation.

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