Gujarat

Gujarat
State(pop.,2008est.:56,408,000)andhistoricregion,westernIndia.
Area1,96,024sq.km
Population50,671,017
CapitalGandhinagar
PrincipalLanguagesGujarati
Governor
Dr.KamlaBeniwal
Governor,
GovernmentofGujarat,
Gandhinagar382020,
Gujarat,India.
ChiefMinister
Name&Designation PhoneNo. OfficeAddress

ShriNarendraModi
ChiefMinister
GeneralAdministration,
Planning,Administrative
Reforms&TrainingDivision,
(O)07923232611
(O)07923232619
(O)07923250073
(O)07923250074
(F)07923222101
1
st
Block,5
th
Floor,
NewSachivalaya,
Gandhinagar.
Dream Dare Win www.jeywin.com
Dream Dare Win 1 www.jeywin.com
Home,Industries,Mines,
Minerals,Energy,
Petrochemicals,
Ports,
InformationandBroadcasting,
Narmada,
Kalpsar,
ScienceandTechnology,
AllPoliciesandSubjects&Matters
NotAllottedtoOtherMinisters
(R)07923222020
Ministers
Name&Designation OfficePhone Office

Address
ShriVajubhaiVala
Minister,
Finance,Labour&Employment
07923248007
079
23238072
079
2325010610
079
23251058(V)
079
23253194(V)
Fax:079
23257616
1
st
Block,6
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriAmitbhaiAnilChandraShah
MinisterofStateTransport,
PoliceHousingBorderSecurity,Civil
Defence,
HomeGuards,GramRakshakDal,
Prison,Prohibition,ExciseLaw&
Justice,
Legislative&ParliamentaryAffairs
(IndependentCharge),Home
0792325023134
079
23225920
079
23243503
079
23253108(V)
079
23253109(V)
Fax:079
23250235
2
nd
Block,3
rd
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
Smt.AnandibenMafatbhaiPatel
Minister,
Revenue,DisasterManagement,
07923238077
079
2325011115
1
st
Block,6
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
Roads&BuildingsCapitalProject,
Women&ChildWelfare
079
2325011345
079
23253174(V)
079
23250988(V)
Fax:079
23243331
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriSaurabhbhaiPatel
MinisterofState,
CivilAviation,CottageIndustries,
SaltIndustries,Printing&Stationary
(IndependentCharge)Industries,
Mines,Minerals,Planning,Finance,
Energy&Petrochemicals
07923220694
079
23220655
079
2325021114
079
23253101(V)
079
23253114(V)
079
23250880(V)
Fax:079
23250215
2
nd
Block,3
rd
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriJaynarayanNarmadaShankarVyas
Minister,
Health&FamilyWelfare,Tourism,
DevsthanPilgrimageDevelopment,
CoOrdinationofVoluntary
OrganisationsNonResident
GujaratiDivision
07923238109
079
23243502
079
2325013134
079
23253113(V)
079
23253112(V)
Fax:079
23250135
1
st
Block,8
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriDileepSanghani
Minister,
Agriculture,CoOperationAnimal
Husbandry,Fisheries,Cow
Breeding.
07923238152
079
23243506
079
2325012125
079
23250966(V)
079
23253170(V)
Fax:079
1
st
Block,7
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
23250124
ShriNitinbhaiPatel
Minister,
WaterSupplyWaterResources,
(ExcludingKalpsarDivision),
UrbanDevelopmentandUrban
Housing.
07923238076
079
23243389
079
2325011619
079
23250970(V)
079
23253171(V)
079
23253172(V)
Fax:079
23250120
1
st
Block,7
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriFakirbhaiRaghabhaiVaghela
Minister,
SocialJusticeandEmpowerment,
(IncludingWelfareofSchedule
Caste,WelfareofSociallyand
EducationallyBackwardClasses),
Sports,Youth,CultureActivities
07923221186
079
23238075
079
2325012628
079
23253193(V)
079
23250961(V)
Fax:079
23250129
1
st
Block,7
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriRamanlalVora
Minister,
Education,(Primary,Secondary,
Adult)Higher&TechnicalEducation
07923257762
079
23223080
079
23238073
079
23253110(V)
079
23250846(V)
Fax:079
23257766
1
st
Block,8
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriJaysinhMansinhChauhan
MinisterofStateEducation,
(Primary,Secondary,Adult),
07923250271
275
079
23253187(V)
2
nd
Block,4
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Protocol 079
23251302(V)
Gandhina
gar.
ShriMangubhaiChhaganbhaiPatel
Minister,
TribalWelfare,Forestand
Environment
07923238153
079
23220164
079
2325015660
079
23250876
079
23254498(V)
Fax:079
23250157
1
st
Block,8
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriKiritsinhJeetubhaiRana
MinisterofState,
ForestandEnvironment
07923222208
079
23250269
0792325026
Fax:079
23250270
079
232531045(V)
2
nd
Block,3
rd
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriParshottambhaiOdhavjibhai
Solanki
MinisterofState,Animal
Husbandry,
Fisheres,CowBreeding
07923250225
079
23250230
079
232531067(V)
Fax:079
23250263
2
nd
Block,3
rd
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriParbatbhaiSavabhaiPatel
MinisterofStateWaterSupply,
CoOperation,Health&Family
Welfare
0792325014144
079
232531267(V)
Fax:079
23250145
2
nd
Block,4
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriVasanbhaiGopalbhaiAhir
MinisterofState,
WelfareofSocially&Educationally
BackwardClasses
0792325018384
079
23253189(V)
079
2
nd
Block,4
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
23253190(V)
Fax:079
23250180
Gandhina
gar.
ShriNarottambhaiT.Patel
Minister,
Panchayat,RuralHousing,
RuralDevelopment,
Food,CivilSuppliesandConsumer
Affairs
0792325010105
079
23238078
079
23221034
079
23253175(V)
079
23250989(V)
Fax:079
23250102
1
st
Block,6
th
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ShriJasvantsinhSumanbhaiBhabhor
MinisterofState,Tribal
Development,
RuralDevelopment,Labour&
Environment
0792325016165
079
23253100(V)
079
23253102(V)
Fax:079
23250292
2
nd
Block,3
rd
Floor,
Sachivalay
a,
Gandhina
gar.
ParliamentarySecretaries
Name&Designation OfficePhone
ShriSundarsinhBhalabhaiChauhan
Panchayat
079
23250171
079
23250174
079
23253183
(V)
079
23250993
(V)
ShriYogeshNarayanbhaiPatel
Tourism,DevSthan,PilgrimageDevelopment,
NonResidentGujaratiDivision
079
23250130
079
23250152
079
23253180
(V)
079
23250992
(V)
ShriJaydrathsinhjiChandrasinhjiParmar
Food,CivilSuppliesandConsumerAffairs
079
23250224
079
23250221
079
23253177
(V)
079
23253178
(V)
ShriIshwarsinhThakorbhaiPatel
Cooperation,Sports,Youth&CulturalActivities
079
23250194
079
23250191
079
23250896
(V)
079
23253152
(V)
ShriHarshadbhaiChunilalVasava
TribalWelfare
079
23250284
079
23250200
079
23250899
(V)
079
23253154
(V)
ShriLavajibhaiThakarshibhaiRajani
WaterResources
079
23250205
079
23250206
079
23253155
(V)
079
23253156
(V)
Gujarat The Land of the Legends, stands bordered by Pakistan and Rajasthan in the north east,
MadhyaPradeshintheeast,andMaharashtraandtheUnionterritoriesofDiu,Daman,DadraandNagar
Haveli in the south. The Arabian Sea borders the state both to the west and the south west.
The State took its name from the Gujjars, who ruled the area during the 700s and 800s. Stone Age
settlements around Sabarmati and Mahi rivers indicate the same time as that of the Indus Valley
CivilizationwhileHarappancentresarealsofoundatLothal,Rampur,Amriandotherplaces.
Rock Inscriptions in the Girnar Hills show that the Maurya Emperor Ashoka, extended his domain into
Gujaratinabout250BC.Withitsfall,thecontroloftheregioncameundertheSakasorScythians.
During the 900s the Solanki Dynasty came to power and Gujarat reached its greatest extent.
Then followed a long period of Muslim rule. Ahmed I, the first independent Muslim ruler of Gujarat,
found Ahmedabad in 1411. The Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Malwa and Gujarat in 1570s.
The British East India Company set its first footsteps in Surat in 1818 and the State came in control of
theirrule.
Gujarat was divided into princely states. After the Indian Independence in 1947, all of Gujarat except
Saurashtra and Kutchh became part of Bombay State until May 1, 1960, when the Government split
Bombay state into the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Ahmedabad became the chief city of the new State and housed the State Government Offices. They
remainedthereuntiltheyweretransferredtoGandhinagarin1970.
Lying on the Arabian Sea and with a coastline of 992 mi (1,596 km) that includes the union territory
enclaves of Daman and Diu, it is bordered by Pakistan; the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and
Maharashtra; and Dadra and Nagar Haveli union territory. It has an area of 75,685 sq mi (196,024 sq
km), and the capital is Gandhinagar. During the 4th and 5th centuries ce, it was ruled by the Gupta
dynasty;itderiveditsnamefromtheGurjaras,whoruledtheareainthe8thand9thcenturies.Aftera
period of economic and cultural achievement, it fell successively under Arab Muslim, Mughal, and
Maratha rule. In 1818 it came under British control, and after 1857 it was a province of British India.
FollowingIndianindependencein1947,mostofGujaratwasincludedinthestateofBombay,whichwas
divided into Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960. Gujarat is a leading industrialized state of India and a
petroleumproducer.Itisalsofamousforitsartsandcrafts.
Located on the countrys western coast, on the Arabian Sea. It encompasses the entire Kathiawar
Peninsula(Saurashtra)aswellasthesurroundingareaonthemainland.Thestateisboundedprimarily
byPakistantothenorthwestandbytheIndianstatesofRajasthantothenorth,MadhyaPradeshtothe
east,andMaharashtratothesoutheast.Gujaratalsosharesasmallsegmentofitssoutheasternborder
with the Indian union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and, together with the Arabian Sea, it
surroundstheterritoryofDamanandDiu.ThecoastlineofGujaratis992miles(1,596km)long,andno
part of the state is more than 100 miles (160 km) from the sea. The capital is Gandhinagar, on the
outskirts of the northcentral city of Ahmadabad (Ahmedabad)the former capital, the largest city in
the state, and one of the greatest cottontextile centres in India. It was in Ahmadabad that Mahatma
Gandhibuilt hisSabarmatiashram(Sanskrit:ashrama,retreat,orhermitage)asaheadquartersfor
hiscampaigns.
GujaratdrawsitsnamefromtheGurjara(supposedlyasubtribeoftheHuns),whoruledtheareaduring
the 8th and 9th centuries ce. The state assumed its present form in 1960, when the former Bombay
statewasdividedbetweenMaharashtraandGujaratonthebasisoflanguage.Area75,685squaremiles
(196,024squarekm).Pop.(2008est.)56,408,000.
Land
Gujarat is a land of great contrasts, stretching from the seasonal salt deserts of the Kachchh (Kutch)
districtin thenorthwest,acrossthegenerallyaridandsemiaridscrublandsoftheKathiawarPeninsula,
to the wet, fertile, coastal plains of the southeastern part of the state, north of Mumbai. The Rann of
KachchhincludingboththeGreatRannanditseasternappendage,theLittleRannarebestdescribed
as vast salt marshes, together covering about 9,000 square miles (23,300 square km). The Rann
constitutes the Kachchh district on the west, north, and east, while the Gulf of Kachchh forms the
districtssouthernboundary.DuringtherainyseasonslightthoughtherainsmaybetheRannfloods,
andtheKachchhdistrictisconvertedintoanisland;inthedryseasonitisasandy,saltyplainplaguedby
duststorms.
TothesoutheastofKachchh,lyingbetweentheGulfofKachchhandtheGulfofKhambhat(Cambay),is
the large Kathiawar Peninsula. It is generally arid and rises from the coasts to a low, rolling area of hill
land in the centre, where the state reaches its highest elevation, at 3,665 feet (1,117 metres), in the
GirnarHills.Soilsinthepeninsulaaremostlypoor,havingbeenderivedfromavarietyofoldcrystalline
rocks.Rivers,exceptforseasonalstreams,areabsentfromthearea.
To the east of the Kathiawar Peninsula, small plains and low hills in the north merge with fertile
farmlandsinthesouth.Therichnessofthesouthernsoilsisattributabletotheirpartialderivationfrom
the basalts of the Deccan, the physiographic region that constitutes most of south India. Southeastern
Gujarat is crossed from east to west by the Narmada and Tapti (Tapi) rivers, both of which empty into
theGulfofKhambhat.TowardtheeasternborderwithMaharashtra,theterrainbecomesmountainous;
theregionisthenorthernextensionoftheWesternGhats,themountainrangethatrunsparalleltothe
ArabianSeaonthewesternedgeofsouthernIndia.
Climate
Winter (November through February) temperatures in Gujarat usually reach a high in the mid80s F
(about 28 C), while lows drop into the mid50s F (about 12 C). Summers (March through May) are
quite hot, however, with temperatures typically rising well above 100 F (38 C) during the day and
droppingonlyintothe90sF(low30sC)atnight.
Gujaratisdrierinthenorththaninthesouth.Rainfallislowestinthenorthwesternpartofthestatein
the Rann of Kachchhwhere it may amount to less than 15 inches (380 mm) annually. In the central
portion of the Kathiawar Peninsula as well as in the northeastern region, annual rainfall typically
amounts to about 40 inches (1,000 mm). Southeastern Gujarat, where the southwest monsoon brings
heavy rains between June and September, is the wettest area; annual rainfall usually approaches 80
inches(2,000mm)alongthecoastalplain.
Plantandanimallife
ForestscoveronlyasmallportionofGujarat,reflectinghumanactivityaswellasmeagrerainfall.Scrub
forestoccursinthenorthwesternregionandacrosstheKathiawarPeninsula,themainspeciesbeingthe
babulacacia,thecaper,theIndianjujube,andthetoothbrushbush(Salvadorapersica).Insomepartsof
thepeninsulaandnortheasternGujarat,suchdeciduousspeciesasteak,catechu(cutch),axlewood,and
Bengal kino (butea gum) are found. Deciduous forests are concentrated in the wetter southern and
eastern hills. They produce valuable timbers, such as Vengai padauk (genus Pterocarpus; resembling
mahogany),Malabarsimal,andhaldu(Adinacordifolia).Thewestcoastofthepeninsulaisknownforits
algae,andtheeastcoastproducesthepapyrus,orpaperplant(Cyperuspapyrus).
Gir National Park, in the southwestern region of the Kathiawar Peninsula, contains rare Asiatic lions
(Panthera leo persica), and endangered Indian wild asses (Equus hemionus khur) are protected in a
sanctuary near the Little Rann of Kachchh. The Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, near Ahmadabad, attracts
manyspeciesofbirdsmigratingfromtheSiberianplainsandelsewhereinwinter.Sarascranes,Brahmini
ducks, bustards, pelicans, cormorants, ibises, storks, herons, and egrets are among the most notable
species. The Rann of Kachchh is the only nesting ground of the greater flamingo in India. There is
excellentoffshoreandinlandfishinginGujarat.Catchesincludepomfret,salmon,hilsa(atypeofshad),
jewfish(scianidfish),prawn,Bombayduck(afoodfish),andtuna.
Populationcomposition
The diverse peoples constituting the Gujarati population may be categorized broadly as either Indic
(northernderived) or Dravidian (southernderived). The former include the Nagar Brahman, Bhatia,
Bhadela, Rabari, and Mina castes. The Parsis, originally from Persia, represent a much later northern
influx. Among the peoples of southern origin are the Bhangi, Koli, Dubla, Naikda, and MacchiKharwa.
The rest of the population, including the aboriginal Bhil community, is of mixed heritage. Members of
theScheduled(formerlyuntouchable)CastesandScheduledTribes(indigenousminoritypeopleswho
arenotembracedbyIndiascastehierarchy)formroughlyonefifthofthestatespopulation.Portionsof
themountainousregionofsoutheasternGujaratarepopulatedalmostentirelybytribalpeoples.
Gujaratiand Hindiarethestatesofficiallanguages.Gujarati, themorewidelyspokenof thetwo,isan
IndoEuropean language derived from Sanskrit through Prakrit, ancient Indic languages other than
Sanskrit,andApabhramsha,alanguagespokeninnorthernandwesternIndiafromthe10thtothe14th
century. Gujarats contact by sea with foreign countries also led to the introduction of Persian, Arabic,
Turkish,Portuguese,andEnglishwords.
Hinduism is the religion of most of the population. Adherents of Islam constitute the largest minority.
However,therearealsosignificant communitiesofJains,whoaremorestronglyestablishedin Gujarat
thaninotherpartsofIndia;Zoroastrians,orParsis,whoseancestorsfledPersiasometimeafterthe7th
century;andChristians.
Settlementpatterns
RoughlythreefifthsoftheresidentsofGujaratarerural.Themainconcentrationofpopulationisinthe
eastern part of the state, in the plains surrounding the cities of Ahmadabad, Kheda, Vadodara, Surat,
and Valsad; the region is both agriculturally productive and highly industrialized. Other concentrations
ofpopulationoccurontheKathiawarPeninsula,particularlyonthesoutherncoastbetweenthecitiesof
Mangroland Mahuva,intheinterioraroundRajkot, andonthe GulfofKachchharoundJamnagar.The
distributionofpopulationgraduallydecreasestowardtheKachchhdistrictinthenorthwestandtoward
thehillyregionsofeasternGujarat.
Most of the major cities are found in the more fertile regions, and many of themsuch as Rajkot,
Junagadh, Porbandar, Bhavnagar (Bhaunagar), and Jamnagar, all on the peninsulawere once the
capitals of small states. The most urbanized area of Gujarat is the AhmadabadVadodara (Baroda)
industrial belt in the eastcentral region. Since the late 20th century, this area has become just one
segment of an everexpanding urban agglomeration along the highway that links the northern and
southernpartsofthestate.
Agriculture
Although unfavourable climatic conditions, salinity of soil and water, and rocky terrain have hampered
Gujarats agricultural activities, the sector has remained a major component of the states economy,
employing about half of the workforce. Wheat, millet, rice, and sorghum are the primary food crops,
with rice production being concentrated in the wetter areas. Principal cash crops include cotton,
oilseeds (especially peanuts [groundnuts]), tobacco, and sugarcane. Commercial dairying is also
important.
Resourcesandpower
Gujaratisrichinminerals,includinglimestone,manganese,gypsum,calcite,andbauxite.Thestatealso
has deposits of lignite, quartz sand, agate, and feldspar. The fine building stones of Porbandar, on the
Kathiawar Peninsula, are among Gujarats most valuable products, and the states output of soda ash
andsaltamountstoasignificantportionofthenationalyield.Inaddition,Gujaratproducespetroleum
andnaturalgas.
Thestatedrawsitselectricityfromavarietyofsources.ThebulkofGujaratspowerissuppliedbycoal
and gasfueled thermal plants, followed by hydroelectric generators. There also are a number of wind
farmsscatteredacrossthestate.
Manufacturingandlabour
Gujarat occupies a leading place in Indias manufacturing sector, especially in the production of
chemicals,pharmaceuticals,andpolyestertextiles.Thestatesmajorindustrialbeltexistsinitssouthern
sector. There is a large oil refinery at Koyali (near Vadodara), which supports a nearby petrochemical
industry.PharmaceuticalproductionisconcentratedatVadodara,Ahmadabad,andValsad.Smallscale,
largely agriculturebased manufacturing is located in the Kathiawar Peninsula. Vegetable oil, cotton
textiles,andcementareamongtheproductsoftheseindustries.
Favourable investments, the availability of resources and power, solid management, and labour
efficiencyhavebeenthebasisofthestatesindustrialdevelopment.Moreover,theGandhianapproach
to labour problemsstrict reliance on the truth, nonviolence, settlement by arbitration, minimal
demands,andtheuseofthestrikeonlyasalastresorthashadagreatimpactinthefieldofindustrial
relationsinGujarat,whichhasremainedrelativelyfreefromlabourunrest.
Transportation
GujaratstownsandcitiesarewellconnectedtoeachotherandtotherestofIndiabyroadandrail.
Coastal shipping routes link the states many ports. Kandla is a major international shipping terminal.
ThereisairservicebothwithinthestateandtomajorIndiancitiesoutsideGujarat.
Constitutionalframework
The governmental structure of Gujarat, like that of most Indian states, is defined by the national
constitutionof1950.ThegovernoristhechiefexecutiveandisappointedbythepresidentofIndia.The
Council of Ministers, led by the chief minister, aids and advises the governor. Gujarats Legislative
Assembly(VidhanSabha)isanelectedunicameralbody.TheHighCourtisthehighestjudicialauthority
in the state. Various lower courtsincluding the city courts, the courts of district and sessions judges,
andthecourtsofciviljudgesoperatewithineachadministrativedistrict.
The state is divided into more than two dozen administrative districts. The revenue and general
administration of each district is overseen by the district collector, who also functions as the district
magistrate for the maintenance of law and order. With a view toward involving the people in local
government,electedgoverningcouncils(panchayat)wereintroducedatthevillagelevelin1963.
Healthandwelfare
HealthandmedicalservicesinGujaratincludeprogramstocontrolmalaria,tuberculosis,HIV/AIDS,and
other communicable diseases; to prevent blindness; and to eradicate leprosy and polio. Other services
focusonreproductiveandfamilyhealthandonhealtheducation.Primaryhealthcentresoffermedical
services throughout the state. Public and private hospitals as well as medical colleges offer more
specialized services, primarily in the larger urban areas. Various state institutions address the welfare
needs of children, women, people with disabilities, and senior citizens. Special programs also are
availabletoassistthosewhobelongtocommunitiesthat,bytradition,havebeensocially,economically,
andeducationallydisadvantaged.
Education
Primaryschoolingforallchildrenbetweentheagesof7and11isavailableinmostvillageswith500or
moreinhabitants.Specialschoolsservechildrenintheruraltribalregions.Secondaryschoolsarespread
throughoutthestateinlargervillages,towns,andurbanareas.
Gujarat has a number of important institutions of higher education. Among the states most notable
universities are Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (1949) in Vadodara and Gujarat University
(1949)inAhmadabad.MajorresearchinstitutionsincludethePhysicalResearchLaboratory(1947;aunit
of the national Department of Space) in Ahmadabad, the Ahmadabad Textile Industrys Research
Association (1949), the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (1959) at Bhavnagar, and
the National Institute of Design (1961) and the Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research
(1965), both in Ahmadabad. In addition to its universities and research centres, Gujarat has numerous
smallertertiaryinstitutions(e.g.,engineeringcollegesandtechnicalschools)withspecializedcurricula.
Culturallife
Much of the culture of Gujarat reflects the mythology surrounding the Hindu deity Krishna (an
incarnation of the god Vishnu), as transmitted in the Puranas, a class of Hindu sacred literature. The
olderrasnrityaandraslila dance traditionshonouringKrishnafindtheircontemporarymanifestationin
thepopulardancecalledgaraba(alsospelledgarba).Thisdanceisperformedprimarilyatthenavaratra
festival,whichhonoursthegoddessDurga;femaledancersmoveinacircle,singingandkeepingtimeby
clappingtheirhandsorclashingtogetherstickscalleddanda.Alsocommonlyperformedatnavaratrais
bhavai,atypeofpopular,rural,comicdramathatdepictsvariousaspectsofrurallife.Alloftherolesin
bhavaibothmaleandfemaleareplayedbymen.
Shaivism (Shivaism), the cult of the Hindu god Shiva, has long flourished in Gujarat; so too has
Vaishnavism (the worship of the god Vishnu), from which have emerged not only the cult of bhakti
(devotion) but also a rich repertoire of verse and song. Notable Vaishnava saints, poets, and musicians
include Narasimha, who composed padas (verses) in the 15th century; Mira Bai, a 16thcentury Rajput
princess who renounced her royal home and composed bhajans (devotional songs); Premanand, an
18thcentury poet and writer; and Dayaram, an 18thcentury composer of songs who popularized the
bhakticult.
IntheJaintradition,writingsoftheprolific12thcenturyauthorHemacandracontinuetobeheldinhigh
regard. Hemacandra produced numerous textbooks on various aspects of Indian philosophy, as well as
grammatical analyses of Sanskrit and Prakrit. He also wrote an epic history of the world from a Jain
perspectiveaswellasanumberofpoems.
MahatmaGandhiisalsorecognizedasoneofthestatesmostprodigiousauthors.Notedfortheirvigour
andsimplicity,GhandiswritingsinGujaratihaveexertedastronginfluenceonmodernGujaratiprose.
The ancient architectural style of Gujarat, known for its luxuriousness and intricacy, is preserved in
monuments and temples such as those in Somnath and Dwarka in the southwestern part of the state;
Modhera in the north; and Than, Ghumli (near Porbandar), the Girnar Hills, and Palitana in the
KathiawarPeninsula.UnderMuslimrule,adistinctivearchitecturalstylethatblendedMuslimandHindu
elements developed. This style is exemplified by many of the 15th and 16thcentury mosques and
tombsofAhmadabad.
In addition to its architecture, Gujarat is widely recognized for its highly skilled craftwork. Notable
products include the jari (gold and silver embroidery) of Surat, the bandhaniwork (using a tiedyeing
technique)fabricsofJamnagar,andthepatolasilksaris(garmentswornbyIndianwomen)ofPatan,in
northern Gujarat. Also from the northern region, the toys of Idar, the perfumes of Palanpur, and the
handloomed products of Kanodar are well known. Ahmadabad and Surat are renowned for their
decorativewoodworkdepictingminiaturetemplesandmythologicalfigures.
Among the most durable and effective of the states cultural institutions are the trade and craft guilds
known as the mahajans. Often coterminous with castesand largely autonomousthe guilds have in
the past solved disputes, acted as channels of philanthropy, and encouraged arts and other cultural
activities.
History
The history of Gujarat goes back to 2000 B.C. It is believed that Lord Krishna left Mathura to settle on
thewestcoastofSaurashtra,whichlatercametobeknownasDwarka,thegateway.
Early human settlement in Gujarat traces back hundreds of thousands of yearsto the Stone Agein
the valleys of the Sabarmati and Mahi rivers in the eastern part of the state. The emergence of a
historical record is linked with the spread of the Indus (Harappan) civilization, which flourished in the
3rd and 2nd millennia bce. Centres of this civilization have been found at Lothal, Rangpur, Amri,
Lakhabaval,andRozdi(mostlyintheKathiawarPeninsula).
The known history of Gujarat begins with the Mauryan dynasty, which had extended its rule over the
area by the 3rd century bce, as indicated by the edicts of the emperor Ashoka (c. 250 bce), which are
carved on a rock in the Girnar Hills of the Kathiawar Peninsula. After the fall of the Mauryan empire,
GujaratcameundertheruleoftheShakas(Scythians),orwesternKshatrapas(130390ce).Thegreatest
of the Shaka leaders, Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman, established his sway over Saurashtra (a region
roughly corresponding to the Kathiawar Peninsula) and Kachchh, as well as over the neighbouring
provinceofMalwaandotherareasinwhatarenowthestatesofMadhyaPradeshRajasthan.
From the late 4th to the late 5th century, Gujarat formed a part of the Gupta empire until the Guptas
were succeeded by the Maitraka dynasty of the kingdom of Valabhi, which ruled over Gujarat and
Malwaforthreecenturies.Thecapital,Valabhipura(neartheeasterncoastoftheKathiawarPeninsula),
was a great centre of Buddhist, Vedic, and Jaina learning. The Maitraka dynasty was succeeded by the
GurjaraPratiharas(theimperialGurjarasofKannauj),whoruledduringthe8thand9thcenturies;they,
inturn,werefollowedshortlyafterwardbytheSolankidynasty.TheboundariesofGujaratreachedtheir
farthest limits during the reign of the Solankis, when remarkable progress was made in the economic
and cultural fields. Siddharaja Jayasimha and Kumarapala are the bestknown Solanki kings. Karnadeva
Vaghela,ofthesubsequentVagheladynasty,wasdefeatedinabout1299byAlalDnKhalj,sultanof
Delhi;GujaratthencameunderMuslimrule.ItwasAmadShah,thefirstindependentsultanofGujarat,
whofoundedAhmadabad(1411).Bytheendofthe16thcentury,GujaratwasruledbytheMughals;this
lasteduntilthemid18thcentury,whentheMarathasoverranthestate.
Gujarat came under the administration of the British East India Company in 1818. After the Indian
Mutiny of 185759, the area became a province of the British crown and was divided into Gujarat
province, with an area of about 10,000 square miles (26,000 square km), and numerous native states
(including Saurashtra and Kachchh). With Indian independence in 1947, the province of Gujarat was
included in Bombay state; in 1956 the province was enlarged to include Kachchh and Saurashtra. On
May1,1960,IndiasBombaystatewassplitintopresentdayGujaratandMaharashtra.
In April 1965, fighting broke out between India and Pakistan in the Rann of Kachchh, an area that had
longbeenindisputebetweenthetwocountries.AceasefirecameintoforceonJuly1,andthedispute
wassubmittedtoarbitrationbyaninternationaltribunal.Thetribunalsaward,publishedin1968,gave
ninetenthsoftheterritorytoIndiaandonetenthtoPakistan.Gujaratwasagaingrippedbyviolencein
1985; triggered by proposed changes in the concessions reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the
disturbancessoonescalatedintoMuslimHinduriotsandcontinuedforfivemonths.InJanuary2001the
state was rocked by a devastating earthquake, which had its epicentre at Bhuj in the Kachchh district.
About a year later, in February 2002, Gujarat experienced a resurgence of largescale rioting and
MuslimHinducommunalviolence.
DiscoversenseofExcellenceinGujaratwherelifebreathes,RediscoveringlifeinnationsHeritageIn
the beauty and charm of Culture and traditions, In the life and lifestyles of people who made their
contributiontoGujaratRediscoverrealmeaningoflifeeverywhere.
Thereissomethingaboutthesoil,thesun,themoonandthestarssomethingaboutthespaceandthe
people Above all, Freedom freedom of choice, to breathe the air of joy and happiness, peace and
tranquility.
LifeisaCelebrationforthosewholiveintheLandoftheLegendsAplacewhereGodschosetoexist!
Gujarat,theLandoftheLegendsgodowninHistorytoleavebehindimpressionswithfootprintsonthe
sandsoftime.Sincemanyyears,thelandisInspiredbygreatLegends.
Inspirations:TheyHailFromGujarat
Gandhiji
FatheroftheNationwhomade
IndiaFree
SardarVallabhbhaiPatel
IronmanArchitectofIndia
VikramSarabhai
VisionaryPhysicistFatherof
Indian
SpaceProgram

DhirubhaiAmbani
TheLeaderwithavision
JamshedjiTata
FatheroftheIndianIndustry
InspirationalCharactersfromGujarat:
Literature:
Krishna
Hemchandracharya
Mira
akho
Premanand
NarsinhMehta
Religion&Meditation:
SwamiSahajanan
DayanandSaraswati
ShrimadRajchandra
PujyaMota
AhmedShah
Arts:
MaulaBaksh
UstadFaizkhan
OmkarnathThakur
RavishankarRaval
JayshankarSundri
ResearchandScience:
Dr.HomiBhabha
Dr.VikramSarabhai
RubinDavid
TribhovandasGajjar
SalimAli
Industries(Mahajans):
VastupalTejpal
PremchandRaichand
JamshedjiTata
KasturbhaiLalbhai
GijubhaiBadheka
SocialandforCountry:
DadabhaiNavroji
MohandasKaramchandGandhi
RavishankarMaharaj
IndulalYagnik
ShyamjiKrishnaVerma
Sports:
JamRanji
GeneralRajendrasinh
GeneralManekshaw

*****


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