Harish Joshi, resembling the character of “sachiv ji”, shares his experiences as the panchayat secretary, while sarpanch Inderbai reflects on women’s empowerment in Mahodiya village of Madhya Pradesh where the popular web series ‘Panchayat’ was filmed.
While millions of OTT viewers in India anxiously await the launch of the third season of the much-acclaimed web series Panchayat, a sense of anticipation is also building up within Harish Joshi of Madhya Pradesh. Despite being far removed from the glitter and glamour of the entertainment world, Joshi can expect renewed attention, if not outright adulation, once the new season opens.
As the real-life “sachiv ji”, Joshi’s life as the panchayat secretary of Mahodiya village in Sehore district, where the web series Panchayat was extensively shot, bears striking resemblances to the affable character portrayed by actor Jitendra Kumar,. Though Kumar’s character in Panchayat is named Abhishek, he is better identified as “Jeetu Bhaiya”, the character he played in another OTT series, Kota Factory.
Joshi works out of the same single-storey pink building that served as the panchayat secretary’s office-cum-residence on screen. And just like the sachiv ji in the series who reported to a motherly sarpanch played by Neena Gupta, Joshi’s boss too is a woman: Inderbai Rajmal Dhangar.
There is a lot to relate to in Joshi’s life and surroundings for those who have feasted on the first two seasons of Panchayat. Visitors, including YouTubers and bloggers, travel from far and wide to Mahodiya, eager to see the settings immortalised by the series — the spartan panchayat building, the iconic water tank atop which “Jeetu Bhaiya” first glanced at his lady love, and Joshi himself. Each location serves as a tangible connection to the fictional Phulera village.
The web comedy revolves around the panchayat secretary navigating life in a rural setting, poles apart from the urban landscape he is accustomed to. Jobless and young, the engineering graduate had to conquer his own trepidation when he signed up for a clerical job in Phulera.
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Can fiction be truth? As the protagonist of his own narrative, Joshi’s life mirrors the beloved character with remarkable accuracy. Like the highly educated protagonist, Joshi from Sehore is a postgraduate in commerce.
“At first, I wasn’t sure about taking on the role of panchayat secretary. Now, I’m quite happy with my position in the village. I really love my job,” Joshi said.
Like the protagonist, who unsuccessfully wrote the CAT exam for a better life, Joshi too harboured dreams of pursuing a law degree while working in Mahodiya for the past seven years.
“But the responsibilities of my job made it hard to continue my studies,” he said with a hint of sadness. “I could complete only a year.”
Initially hesitant about the secretary role, he has grown fond of both the villagers and the village, now cherishing his job.
“I commute daily to my office in Mahodiya,” said the father of two daughters. “For me, this job is more than just a role. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of my fellow villagers.”
He revealed the excitement of visitors who had seen his everyday life reflected through the lens of popular culture: “My office has become a tourist spot.”
Reflecting the narrative of the series, the tradition of “pradhan-pati” — where men, especially husbands, exert influence on behalf of the elected women representatives — persists in this village. However, sarpanch Inderbai emerges as a beacon of empowerment in this traditionally male-dominated sphere. Her resolve to tackle village issues head-on, coupled with her proactive approach to governance, embodies the spirit of female leadership.
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“I’m proud of my newfound authority. In the past, it was mostly men, including previous sarpanches, who took the lead,” said Inderbai, previously overshadowed by her brother-in-law Daulat Singh Dhangar. “I’m not afraid to reach out directly to higher authorities in Sehore when we face challenges,” she shared, highlighting her approach to problem-solving.
Fame came to Mahodiya when the world was in a coronavirus funk, with the first season of Panchayat coming early in the pandemic. In the script woven by writer Chandan Kumar, the narrative demanded a “desolate panchayat building,” said director Deepak Kumar Mishra. This tossed them into a journey through over 150 villages in Madhya Pradesh.
In the quest, Mahodiya, barely 10km from Sehore town and 48km from Bhopal, opened a peephole into the paradoxes of rural life far richer than fiction: unpaved lanes, lush green trees and fields, vibrantly painted houses, a striking orange temple and a solitary panchayat office, conspicuously painted pink and distinct from the residential buildings. Central to the storyline is the water tank, mirroring its significance in both script and reality.
Mahodiya, with its population of 3,200, grapples with an unresolved water supply issue. Despite the construction of two water tanks and pipelines under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the village is yet to receive tap water, sarpanch Inderbai said. Ironically, the water tank immortalised in the web series, though built 10 years ago, is yet to start supplying water.
In terms of the impact of the Panchayat web series on the village, Joshi mentioned the team’s help in building a boundary wall, a project that had been left unfinished for years.
“I thank the Panchayat team,” he said.
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The makers of the series coated their talent on the village wall. A walk through its lanes reveals all — even the weathered letters of a farcical family planning campaign slogan from the series. “Do bachche mithi kheer, usse zyada bavaseer,” meaning two children are sweet pudding, more than that is piles.
In the midst of these narratives, Ashok Yadav, a stalwart of the village, finds himself thrust into the realm of storytelling as an actor in the series. His portrayal of a background artist serves as a poignant reminder of the symbiotic relationship between art and reality.
“As a resident of Mahodiya for over two decades, I’ve witnessed first-hand how the series authentically captures the essence of our village,” Yadav reflected. “The makers closely watched our everyday life and seamlessly integrated real-life issues into the storyline.”
Outside the sole village temple, a man of around 70, revealed the residents’ spiritual rhythm. The shrine opens only for morning and evening aartis. Villagers affectionately refer to him as “chacha” (uncle) — a character from the series. Remarkably, he confessed to not having watched the series himself. Nonetheless, he proudly recounted witnessing the filming of all three seasons in the village.
As enthusiasts await the next chapter of Panchayat, writer Chandan Kumar acknowledged the unwavering support of the villagers throughout three filming seasons.
The lead image at the top shows the panchayat secretary’s office shown on screen in the Panchayat series. (Photo by Akansha Deshmukh)
Akansha Deshmukh is a Village Square Fellow 2023-24. She works as an independent investigative journalist.
