Savjibhai Dholakia: the live wire of water conservation in Gujarat

(Utkarsh Patel) 

The land of Gujarat, especially the Saurashtra region, has been suffering from draughts and water shortages for generations. The farmers continued to suffer for years due to shortage of water. In this situation, the Narmada yojana has played an important role in solving most of the water crisis in Gujarat.

 But along with the governmental efforts, we must remember the work done with public cooperation.Today we will talk about a personality who on his own strength undertook a campaign for water conservation for the society and instilled hope for sufficient water in the lives of millions of people. His name is Savjibhai Dholakia.

To briefly introduce him, Savjibhai Dholakia, who has been honored with the ‘Padma Shri’, is a person who has done wonderful work in the field of water conservation in Gujarat . This Patidar man from Dudhala village in Amreli district set foot on the land of Surat in the year 1976 with just 12 rupees.

He got success in the diamond business as a founder of Hare Krishna Exports. But his success is not limited to business alone. Savjibhai has utilized a large part of his earnings for social service, especially for water conservation.

He established the Dholakia Foundation and started water conservation works in the villages of Saurashtra. His efforts led to the construction of many lakes, rivers and check dams. His greatest achievement is the work of reviving the Gagadio river in Amreli district in particular.

The work of deepening and widening this river, which is about 52.9 kilometers long and stretches from Chamardi to Krankach, was done with public support. This work revived the river and raised the groundwater level in the surroundings. These efforts of Savjibhai have provided irrigation and drinking water facilities to the loclas. Apart from this, he also contributed in the construction of Amrit Sarovars which was done with the support of the Gujarat government. Due to this work, he has also been given the title of ‘Lake Man of India’.

This commendable work of Savjibhai Dholakia has also been taken note of by the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister, while praising Savjibhai’s water conservation campaign, said that his work is an inspiring example which shows that even at the individual level, a big contribution can be made to society and nature.

The Prime Minister, taking special note of the rebirth of the Gagdio River and the construction of Amrit Sarovars, said that such efforts can also be an inspiration for other parts of the country. This appreciation is a testament to the dedication and vision of Savjibhai, which shows that his work is not limited to Gujarat alone but is also of national importance.

When God gives us wealth and happiness, it is our moral responsibility to allocate a part of it for nature and society. Savjibhai Dholakia is a living example of this. He used his success not only for personal and family happiness but for the welfare of society. We all should think about whether we should use the resources we have only for our own selfish interests or should we leave something for the coming generations? Water is the basis of life and if we do not conserve it today, we may not be able to answer it to our children in the future. Savjibhai showed that even small beginnings can bring about big changes.

We too can start small-scale water conservation works in our village, city or neighbourhood, such as collecting rainwater, cleaning lakes or helping to build check dams.

Savjibhai Dholakia's life teaches us that success is not just about making money but about using that money for the benefit of society. Inspired by his work, we should also take steps to improve the situation around us. Water conservation is not just the responsibility of the government but the duty of every citizen.

If we plant a tree today, clean a pond or collect rainwater, then tomorrow our children will not have to worry about water. Savjibhai started single-handedly, but today thousands of people have joined him. We too can make the land of Gujarat green and watery again by joining such public participation.

https://english.khabarchhe.com/media/2025-03/news.docx

Today is the time for us to wake up, take inspiration and start working. Personalities like Savjibhai Dholakia are the beauty of our society. It is our duty to carry forward his work. Let us give back a little of the happiness given by God to the society so that the coming generations can also enjoy that happiness.

(The author is a renowned entrepreneur and social worker. The views expressed in the article are their personal opinions.)