In Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district, a farmer's home has become the talk of the area for its sheer scale. Standing right beside the road in Ojtoo village under Chirawa tehsil, the mansion looks like a palace from a distance, and every passerby's eyes linger on it, since such luxury homes are a rare sight in villages. The house belongs to farmer Mahendra Singh and sits in the middle of his 24-bigha field. It was built around 2018.
900 bigha of family land and how it was divided
Mahendra Singh says the 24-bigha plot on which the house stands belongs to him. His family owns 900 bigha of land in total, split among four brothers. After the division, Mahendra Singh alone got 220 bigha as his share. Asked how much the house cost to build, he is unable to give a clear figure. Mahendra Singh has two sons and two daughters. The family belongs to the Jat community and their gotra is Katewa. Ojtoo village, where the house stands, has a population of around 2,500.
A 700-square-yard house with distinct floors
The house spans a total of 700 square yards (gaj). It has five rooms and two kitchen-cum-bathroom units. The first floor has one kitchen and three rooms, and the tiles laid on this floor are unusual because no joints are visible anywhere in them. Similar jointless tiles have been used on the staircase, giving the entire house a seamless, uniform shine. The second floor also has two rooms and a kitchen. Right next to this house stands another lavish home, belonging to Mahendra Singh's younger brother.
A grand temple next door, and solar panels on the roof
Beside Mahendra Singh's house stands a large temple, which he himself got built. The most striking part of the house is its front, where large pillars and wall paintings double its visual appeal. Solar panels have also been installed on the roof of the house, meeting part of the household's power needs. The fields surrounding the house also belong to Mahendra Singh. The family primarily grows wheat, gram, bajra (pearl millet) and mustard. Alongside farming, Mahendra Singh also runs a poultry farm business, which brings the family additional income.
