Kathiawar

Kathiawar in between Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat. Image NASA Earth Observatory

Kathiawar or Kathiawad (Gujarati: કાઠીયાવાડ; IPA: [kaʈʰijaʋaɽ]) is a peninsula in western India. It is part of Gujarat state, bounded on the north by the great wetland of the Rann of Kutch, on the northwest by the Gulf of Kutch, on the west and south by the Arabian Sea, and on the southeast and east by the Gulf of Cambay.

Etymology

The area derives its name from Kathi clan of Rajput rulers.

Major Cities

The major cities of Kathiawar are Rajkot in the center of the peninsula, Jamnagar on the Gulf of Kutch, Bhavnagar on the Gulf of Cambay,Surendranagar and the historic cityWadhwan in the central portion of Gujarat, Porbandar on the west coast, historic city of Junagadh on the South. Diu, an island town formerly part of Portuguese India and now part of the Indian union territory of Daman and Diu, lies off the south coast of Kathiawar. The city of Somnath and its famous temple are also located on the south coast.. Alang is one of the world's largest shipbreaking yard while the Reliance Oil Refinery at Jamnagar also boasts the same global status. Somnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlings in India. The other equally famous & important town to Hindus is Dwarka, where Lord Krishna is worshipped. Palitana is sacred to the Jains & is one of a kind in India, with hundreds of temples atop a hill. Sasan located in the Gir Forest is a staging post for Lion Safaris, being the only habitat of the Asiatic Lion in Asia.

On the national highway 8B, it has smaller cities like Gondal, Jetpur, Dhoraji and Upleta. Gondal was a princely state which ranked education very high for society while Dhoraji was its part. Dhoraji, Upleta, and Gondal were also part of the erstwhile oil mill cartel, which once called the shots in the political corridors of Gujarat state. Also Dhoraji is ranked one of a leading education centre that attracts several students from different parts of the State to come and especially pursue their Board exams for Standard 10 & 12. Jetpur, a city on the banks of Bhadar River, still remains one of major hub for dying industry, which colours traditional Indian women wear called-- Sari. This region had also important plastic factories which over a period of time had lost its luster.

Geography and ecosystem

The natural vegetation on most of the peninsula is xeric scrub, part of the Northwestern thorn scrub forests ecoregion. A range of low hills, known as the Gir Hills, occupies the south-central portion of the peninsula. The highest of these is Girnar. The hills are home to an enclave of tropical dry broadleaf forest, part of the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. Gir National Park, which includes the forested hills around Girnar, is home to the last remaining Asiatic lions left in the wild. Other national parks on Kathiawar are Blackbuck National Park (Velavadar) on the Gulf of Cambay and Marine National Park, on the Gulf of Kutch near Jamnagar.

Political history

Before Indian independence in 1947, most of Kathiawar was divided into numerous princely states , ruled by local potentates who acknowledged British sovereignty in return for local autonomy. These states comprised the Kathiawar Agency. The rest of the peninsula, chiefly in the east along the Gulf of Cambay, were districts ruled directly by the British. The entire peninsula was part of British India's Bombay Presidency.

Presents Districts of old Kathiawar, Gujarat

Upon independence, Kathiawar became part of India. In 1947, Junagadh's Muslim ruler desired to accede his territory to Pakistan, but the predominantly Hindu population rebelled, and while he fled to Pakistan, a plebiscite was conducted as a result of which the kingdom was merged into the Indian Union. Pakistan still retains a claim to it. The former princely states of Kathiawar were grouped into the new province of Saurashtra, which became a state in 1950. In 1956, Saurashtra was merged into Bombay State, and in 1960, Bombay state was divided along linguistic lines into the new states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Diu remained in Portuguese hands until 1961, when it was occupied by Indian troops, then became integrated into India as part of the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu in 1962.

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Cultural history

Kathiawar, also (Kattywar), gets its name from the prominence of the Kathi community which is widespread in the region. Although the Kathis are supposed to have migrated to the area in the 16th century, they have played an important part in the documented history of the region. Major Rajput clans that held a sway over this region include the Walas ( Kathis ), Jethwas, Raijadas, Chudasamas, Gohils, Parmars, Jhalas, Jadajas, Solankis and Sarvaiyas. Most of the princely states of Kathiawar were brought under the British protectorate by 1820, but from Kathiawad first treaty with the Britishers was made by Vira Wala of Jetpur with Col.Walker at Baroda on 26 october 1803.

People

A person from Kathiawar is called a "Kathiawadi". For more information on the Kathis (Rajputs of Gujarat), read Colonel James Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan,^[1] especially the chapter on the 36 Royal Races of India. Kathis migrated from the Punjab to Kutchh and then to Saurashtra and made treaty with the Wala rajputs of Suarastra and stated materimonial relations with the local rajputs, most pobabaly Walas, thus to days kathi community is the mix of kathis from the Punjab and the local ancient rajputs of Saurashtra.

Up till now, most of Indian history has been written by British or German historians. None of them have had a blood relation, language, culture, DNA connection to the Kathiwadis. They just came, they saw and they wrote. Because of their power and money, their version was accepted by uneducated people. Those who were educated had no clout or power to reject British or German understanding of Kathiawad. The fact is as per Vedic History, Kathiawad is the oldest peninsula of Western India. People of Kathiawad, have been living in that region, for the last 10,000 years. It is as old as Harappa. If you analyze the history of Sorath and people of Sorath, they have more than 10,000 years history and background with their temples, Girnar, and the inhabitants of Junagadh Dwarka, Porbandar, Jetpur, Upleta and Gondal areas. These areas were the essence of Kathiwad till the early 18th century. Jetpur was the capital of Kathiwad. The worldwide trade was being conducted from Jetpur, Upleta and Junagadh, using the ports of Veraval, Porbander and Choravad. Kathis never came from Punjab or Northern India, they are from Saurashtra (Kathiawad), from the beginning. Their culture, their goddesses and system of other Rajput marriage connection is very different than other Rajputs. Therefore, Kathis have never come from Punjab or any other part of the world, from the beginning to present. The influence of Kathis and Kathiawadi culture was so intense that most invaders (British and Muslim) accepted the dress code of wearing sari, eating habits and welcome greetings. Even Muslims of Kathiawad used to greet other Hindus as "Jai Mataji Ni" and the Muslim Royal family of Junagadh, Mangrol, Manavadar, Bamangadh, and many others, their women, never wore "Burkhas" or any other Islamic apparel, but they used to wear saris, that to in the early 19th century. The world famous people of Kathiwad in the last century: Dhirubhai Ambani, Jam Ranji - world famous cricketer, Dulip Singh - world famous cricketer, Narsi Mehta – poet, Mahatma Gandhi. For reader's information, Mahatma Gandhi, first became the Mahatma in Jetpur[[1]]. Kathiawar produced the finest poets, freedom fighters, business icosn and the people of Kathiwar’s bravery, hospitality (to the extent that the host would give his life for the comfort of the guest).

People of Note

• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• Dhirubhai Ambani
• Harilal Upadhyay^[2]
• Dipchandbhai Gardi, philanthropist^[3]
• Jhaverchand Meghani - Author
• Jagdip Virani - Well-known Music Director of Gujarati films, a Singer, Painter and Lyricist from Bhavnagar.
• Morari Bapu - Saint, preacher
• Sadiq Ali Memon - A famous Actor in Karachi, Pakistan
• K. S. Ranjitsinhji - Maharaja of Nawanagar and famous cricketer who played for English cricket team, Rajkumar College, Rajkot | .
• Parveen Babi - Bollywood actress 1st Indian actress to appear on TIME magazine cover

• Azim Premji - Wipro Technolgies
• Narsi Mehta - poet
• Uchhrangbhai Dhebar - first Chief Minister of Saurashtra and ex-President of Indian National Congress
• Jeevraj Mehta- first Chief Minister of Gujarat, the finest Indian Ambassador in Britain
• Nanji Kalidas Mehta - Rockefeller of Africa
• Madhvani family - Business tycoons in Africa
• Sarabhai Family - orginally were from Kathiawad
• Nautamlal Bhagvanji Mehta (Kamdar) - the person who bestowed Gandhi with the name Mahatma. Also spoke seven international languages (www.kamdartree.com)
• Dr. Pranjivan Jagmohan Mehta - Known as Dr. P.J. Mehta, whom Mahatma Gandhi considered his closest fried and Dr. P.J. Mehta and Nautamlal B. Mehta and a few other business partners were the pioneers of India's Freedom Movement. Birla and Bajaj joined the freedom movement in the latter part. Most of Mumbai's business owners, Bhatia (caste), all Kutchi, all Memons (Muslim sect) and most of Aga Khan followers are all from Kathiawad. Even today in the 21st century, most of Pakistan's business is handled by Memons, who migrated in early 1950

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

External links

• http://www.wildsaurashtra.blogspot.com (History of the Rajputs of Kathiawar and Saurashtra)
• http://www.wildsaurashtra.com (Birds and wildlife of the Kathiawar region of India)
• http://www.yponder.com (History of the Rajputs of Kathiawar and Saurashtra)