From Separate Wells to Shared Meals: How Soundala Became Maharashtra’s ‘Caste-Free’ Village

About 350 km from Mumbai, a small village in Maharashtra has taken a bold social step. On 5 February 2026, Soundala passed a unanimous gram sabha resolution declaring itself a “caste-free village.” The resolution bans asking anyone’s caste, discourages slurs, promotes shared public spaces and encourages equality in everyday life. Led by Sarpanch Sharad Argade, the move aims to keep caste “only on paper” and not in social behaviour.

Soundala Caste Free Village: The Gram Sabha Resolution

The Soundala caste-free village declaration was passed in a special gram sabha in Ahilyanagar district (formerly Ahmednagar). The resolution clearly states that the village will not differentiate on the basis of caste, religion, creed or colour.

Key features of the caste-free gram sabha resolution,

• No one will ask or publicise anyone’s caste.
• All public spaces temples, schools, crematoriums and water sources are equally accessible.
• No caste-based boycott or inflammatory social media posts will be tolerated.
• The guiding motto: “My caste is humanity.”

The declaration formalises what villagers say has been slowly changing for years.

From Separate Wells to Shared Meals

Soundala, with a population of around 2,500 people and nearly 450 families, has a mixed social composition. Nearly 70% are from upper castes, while the rest are Dalit, along with a few Muslim and Christian families.

Older residents recall a time when,

• Separate wells existed for different castes.
• Dalits were made to sit separately at weddings.
• Lower-caste families were called late to functions.
• Muslims were asked to wash their utensils separately.

Today, villagers share tea, celebrate festivals together and eat in each other’s homes. These everyday acts have become symbols of social equality in the Soundala caste-free village model.

Leadership Behind the Soundala Caste Free Village Model

• The transformation did not happen overnight. Sarpanch Sharad Argade, active in local politics since 2003, gradually introduced progressive reforms.
• His wife, Priyanka Argade, a former sarpanch, also played a crucial role.
• Priyanka admitted she initially felt hesitant visiting lower-caste homes due to social conditioning.
• Over time, she consciously worked to change that mindset.
• Photos of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj displayed outside the gram panchayat office serve as reminders of unity beyond caste divisions.
• Before the caste-free resolution, the village had also started playing the national anthem every morning to reinforce a shared identity.

Beyond Caste: Other Social Reforms in Soundala

The Soundala caste-free village declaration is part of a broader reform journey.

Other key initiatives include.

• Ban on abusive language: A ₹500 fine is imposed on those using slurs. CCTV cameras help verify complaints.
• Widow remarriage support: Financial assistance of ₹11,000 provided. At least one remarriage facilitated.
• Girls education support: Uniforms, books and stationery provided up to Class 12.
• Two-hour no-mobile window: Daily mandatory study time for students, monitored by panchayat members.

So far, 13 individuals have been fined for verbal abuse, and alcohol-related disputes have reportedly reduced.

Social Context: Why the Resolution Matters

• Ahilyanagar district has witnessed episodes of caste and communal tension in recent years.
• Reports of social boycotts and polarisation in neighbouring areas raised concerns among village leaders.
• Argade has publicly stated that rising divisions elsewhere pushed him to act early in Soundala.
• His idea was to prevent discrimination before it hardened into social conflict.
• Importantly, the resolution does not challenge government reservation policies.
• The sarpanch clarified that caste may remain relevant in official documentation but should not shape everyday behaviour.

Question

Q. Soundala village declared itself caste-free through which body?

A) District Council
B) Gram Sabha
C) State Assembly
D) High Court