Gujarat: A State with a Glorious Past
Gujarat is a state in western India that has a rich and diverse history. Gujarat's name derives from the Sanskrit term Gurjara, which means "the land of the Gurjaras", a tribe that migrated to India in ancient times. Gujarat has been home to many civilizations, cultures, religions, and empires over the centuries. In this article, we will explore some of the highlights of Gujarat's historical journey.
Stone Age to Indus Valley Civilization
The earliest evidence of human settlement in Gujarat dates back to the Stone Age, when people lived in caves and used stone tools. Some of the sites where Stone Age artifacts have been found are Langhnaj, Dholavira, and Shamlaji. Around 4000 BCE, Gujarat witnessed the emergence of the Chalcolithic culture, which was characterized by the use of copper and stone tools, pottery, and agriculture. The Chalcolithic people of Gujarat traded with other regions and developed a distinctive style of art and architecture.
The most remarkable phase of Gujarat's ancient history was the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished from 3300 to 1300 BCE. The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the earliest urban civilizations in the world, with sophisticated cities, writing, trade, and technology. Gujarat had several important centres of this civilization, such as Lothal, Rangpur, Amri, Lakhabaval, and Rozdi. Lothal was a major port city that had a dockyard, a warehouse, a drainage system, and a grid plan. Lothal also had contacts with Mesopotamia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Sumer. The Indus Valley people of Gujarat were skilled in crafts such as pottery, bead-making, seal-making, metalworking, and terracotta figurines.
Mauryan Empire to Vedic Civilization
The next major historical event in Gujarat was the rise of the Mauryan Empire, which ruled over most of India from 321 to 184 BCE. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka (c. 250 BCE) left his edicts on a rock in the Girnar Hills of Gujarat, which proclaim his policies of dhamma (righteousness) and non-violence. Ashoka also sent Buddhist missionaries to various regions, including Gujarat. The Mauryan administration was efficient and centralized, and promoted trade and commerce.
After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, Gujarat came under the influence of various dynasties and cultures. One of them was the Indo-Scythians (312 BCE – 400 CE), who were nomadic tribes from Central Asia that invaded India. The Indo-Scythians established their rule over parts of Gujarat and other regions under the name of Western Satraps. The most famous Western Satrap ruler was Rudradaman (c. 150 – c. 200 CE), who patronized Sanskrit literature and art. He also repaired and expanded the Sudarshana Lake near Junagadh.
Another cultural phase that affected Gujarat was the Vedic Civilization (2000 – 500 BCE), which was based on the ancient scriptures called Vedas. The Vedic people were mainly pastoralists who worshipped various gods and goddesses through rituals and sacrifices. They also composed hymns and poems that reflect their worldview and values. The Vedic Civilization gave rise to several kingdoms and republics in India, known as Janapadas (1500 – 600 BCE) and Maha Janapadas (600 – 300 BCE). Some of the Janapadas that existed in Gujarat were Abhira, Anarta, Dwaraka, Sindhu
and Saurashtra.
Gupta Empire to Medieval Period
The Gupta Empire (405 – c. 730 CE) was one of the golden ages of Indian history, when art, literature,
science, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy reached new heights. The Gupta rulers were patrons of Hinduism and Buddhism, and built many temples and monasteries across India. The Gupta period also saw the development of classical Sanskrit literature by poets such as Kalidasa, Bharavi, and Bana.
Gujarat was part of the Gupta Empire for some time, but later became independent under the Maitraka dynasty (475 – 767 CE), which ruled from their capital at Vallabhi. The Maitrakas were descended from a Gupta general, and maintained a strong military and administrative system.
Medieval Period to Modern Period
The medieval period of Gujarat's history was marked by the invasion and rule of various Muslim dynasties. The first Muslim incursion into Gujarat was by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE, who plundered the Somnath temple and carried away its wealth. The Delhi Sultanate extended its control over Gujarat in 1298 CE, when Alauddin Khalji defeated Karandev II of the Vaghela dynasty. The Delhi Sultanate faced several revolts and rebellions from the local Hindu rulers and chiefs, such as the Baghelas, the Chauhans, and the Gohils.
In 1407 CE, Gujarat became an independent sultanate under Zafar Khan Muzaffar, who assumed the title of Muzaffar Shah I. The Gujarat Sultanate reached its zenith under Mahmud Begada (1458-1511 CE), who expanded the territory and fortified major cities like Ahmedabad and Champaner. The Gujarat Sultanate was known for its religious tolerance, trade, and patronage of arts and architecture. The sultans built many mosques, tombs, palaces, and forts in Gujarat, such as the Jama Masjid, the Sarkhej Roza, and the Adalaj stepwell.
The Gujarat Sultanate came to an end in 1573 CE, when Akbar, the Mughal emperor, annexed it to his empire. The Mughal rule in Gujarat lasted until the mid-18th century, when it faced challenges from the Marathas, who gradually took over most of Gujarat. The Maratha rule was divided among various chiefs and nobles, such as the Peshwas, the Gaekwads, and the Scindias. The Marathas also had to contend with the British East India Company, which established its presence in Gujarat in 1818 CE.
The colonial period of Gujarat saw the rise of several princely states that were under British suzerainty but enjoyed some autonomy. Some of the prominent princely states were Baroda (Vadodara), Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Kachchh (Kutch), Nawanagar (Jamnagar), Porbandar, Rajkot, and Surat. The British also divided Gujarat into various administrative units, such as the Bombay Presidency, the Kathiawar Agency, and the Cutch Agency. The British rule brought about many changes in Gujarat's economy, society, culture, and education.
The modern period of Gujarat's history began with the independence movement against British colonialism. Gujarat was one of the centres of the freedom struggle, with many leaders and activists hailing from this region. Some of them were Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, Ravi Shankar Vyas, Narhari Parikh, Mahadev Desai, Kasturba Gandhi, Mithuben Petit, and Maniben Patel. Gujarat also witnessed several movements and agitations for social reform and justice, such as the Satyagraha campaigns against untouchability and salt tax.
After India gained independence in 1947, Gujarat became part of Bombay state along with Maharashtra. However, there was a demand for a separate state for Gujarati-speaking people, which led to the Mahagujarat Movement in 1956. The movement was successful and Gujarat became a separate state on 1st May 1960, with Gandhinagar as its capital. Since then, Gujarat has made significant progress in various fields, such as industrialization, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, and culture.
Gujarat has also faced some challenges and crises, such as
- the 1969 communal riots,
- the 1979 Morbi disaster,
- the 1985 anti-reservation riots,
- the 1992 Babri Masjid riots,
- the 1998 Kandla cyclone,
- the 2001 Bhuj earthquake,
- the 2002 Godhra train burning
and subsequent riots, the 2006 Surat floods, and the 2008 Ahmedabad bombings. Despite these difficulties, Gujarat has shown resilience and recovery, and has emerged as one of the leading states in India.
