- Kathiawad ma kok di bhulo pad Bhagwan… The land of Saints, Religious Heads, Brave Men, this land Kathiawad, the land of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, the land of Devotee Poet Narsinh Mehta who taught the lesson of untouchability removal years back and the poet of the song, Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye Je Pid Parai Jane Re…, the only abode of the Asiatic Lions in Gir forest and the thrilling experience by hearing the road of the lion.
- Rajkot at the Balcony of History:-
- Rajkot city was established on the bank of River Aji in the year 1610. Thakor Vibhaji of that time founded this city. It was the state having 282 Sq. Miles and 64 villages. In 1720, the Deputy Inspector of Sorath region Masum Khan defeated Thakor Meramanji, the 2nd and took possession of Rajkot and kept the name of Rajkot as Masumabad. Again in 1732, Ranmalji, the crown prince of Thakor Meramanji, put Masum Khan to death to take revenge of his father and won Rajkot. With this victory, the name of the city was once again kept Rajkot.
- During the British Rule, in the year of 1822, a British Agency was established and it was given the name Kathiawadi Agency. The present Kothi Compound area, which houses the Customs and Railway offices, used to be the office and residence of the British Political Agent at that time. At that time, the area inside the Raiya Naka Tower – Bedi Naka Tower was the area of Rajkot, while the present Sadar area was of the Agency. Rajkot was linked with Wankaner through railways in the year 1889. In 1893, Rajkot was connected with Jetalsar by Railway line. Meter Gauge Railway Line of that time was passing thru the present life line like Dhebar Road.
- To supply water to Rajkot, through established on the bank of Aji, Lalpari Lake was built in the year 1895. Dairy and a Stable were established after two years. The first meeting of the Kathiawad Rajkiya Parishad in Rajkot, in the year 1921 and in 1923, by establishing the first association of representatives, Thakor Saheb Lakhajiraj made the administration people friendly.
- In 1925 Mahatma Gandhi visited Rajkot and thereby national school activity started. Today it has become a well established main centre for rural industries and famous Patolas. In 1937 Becharwala Vadhera started agitation against the atrocities of Diwan Viravala and thereby started the Rajkot Satyagrah in the year 1938, which was finally resolved by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Later this resolution was broken hence Mahatma Gandhi started the hunger strike in the national school. In the 1942 Quit India Movement also Rajkot became a major hub for the underground activities of the freedom struggle.
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Saurashtra in the pictures
Start of development of Saurashtra having Original colorful tradition, introduction of people’s guards, who contributed to the happiness and sorrows of the people of Saurashtra, The gentlemen feeling great after visiting the religious land of the Saurashtra….. Let’s get the glimpses of the rich past of Saurashtra by catching such historical moments in the camera in black and white. -
The districts of Saurashtra
After the consolidation of the princely states on day 15-4-1948, as per the Indian Constituent, Saurashtra state came in existence as the B sect states. Its total area was 23000 Sq. miles. Saurashtra had total 4470 villages. Saurashtra had a total population of 41 lacs. At that time Saurashtra had districts; ( 1 ) Central Saurashtra ( Rajkot district ), ( 2 ) Sorath ( Junagadh district ) ( 3 ) Halar ( Jamnagar district ), ( 4 ) Gohilwad ( Bhavnagar district ), ( 5 ) Jhalawad ( Surendranagar district ) Saurashtra had to face the condition of draught in the very year of its formation. Thereafter in the year 1950 due to heavy rainfall it suffered severe loss of property and life. The Kesar – E – Hind Bridge is 110 years old. Earlier this bridge was 10 meter broad which has been increased to 24 meters and two-way traffic runs on this bridge. -
The First Election of Independent India :
The first election of the independent India was held in 1952. There were 28 states in our country at that time. These states were divided in to three divisions.
9 states in ‘A’ Division, 8 states in ‘B’ Division and 11 states in ‘C’ Division were included. In this, Saurashtra State was included in the ‘B’ Division.
There were 496 members in the Lok Sabha and 203 members in the Rajya Sabha at the time of the first election of the independent India and half the population of the nation, which means 17 crore voters elected the Democratic Government with their votes.
There were total 19 lac voters in the Saurashtra State at the time of this first election. They were divided in to 55 Electoral Constituencies. There were 60 members for the Assembly of Saurashtra and 6 members of the Lok Sabha and 4 members of the Rajya Sabha.Out of the total 60 seats of Saurashtra Assembly, 55 seats were General and 5 seats were reserved.