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Gujarat Gifts bring to you
a complete panorama of the State, it's major cities and a
whole lot more. You can access anything ranging from tourist
maps to travel-worthy places in Gujarat to it's history.
The State- It's People and it's Social Structure
Gujarat is
situated on the Western  Coast
of India and has a 100 Kms. long Arabian sea-coastline with a
total area of around 1,96,000
Sq. Kms. Gujarat ranks 10th in population and 9th in area
among the states of India. According to the provisional
results of 1991 census, the population of Gujarat is 4.12
crores, forming 4.88% of the country's population and is
predominantly rural (65.6% rural and 34.4% urban). The state
ranks fourth in urbanization amongst the states of the Union.
Agriculture
continues to be the primary occupation of the large majority
of its people. After the formation of the new State,
industrial development has also taken rapid strides. Business
acumen, industry and thrift are the principal characteristics,
which distinguish the residents of this part of the country.
Trade and long
coastline have enabled Gujaratis to carry on brisk maritime
trade with foreign countries since ancient times. Ports like
Camay, Dholera, Bharuch, Surat, Rander and Somnath were once
great center of foreign trade. Even now many people from this
part of the country have settled for business reasons in other
parts of the country and abroad. Today, Gujaratis are in good
number in the countries of East and South Africa, Aden,
Newzealand, U. K and U. S. A, In view of these connections the
residents here have a cosmopolitan and liberal outlook.
Significant
Eras in the History of Gujarat
2500 BC. Harappans
appeared from Northern India to settle down, and established
over a
hundred towns and cities.
100 to 500 BC. Yadavas, Krishna's clan, held power over much
of Gujarat, with their capital
at Dwarka.
200 BC. Political history began with the powerful Mauryan
empire, established by
Chandragupta with its capital at Junagadh,
and reached its peak under Ashoka.
100 AD. Satraps, members of the Saka tribes, gained control
over Saurashtra.
388 AD. Guptas, and then Maitrakas, established their their
capital at Valabhi.
1100 AD. Saurashtra came under sway of the Solanki (Chauhan)
dynasty.
1299 AD. Khalji conquested and the Muslim rule was
established.
1307 AD. Muzaffar Shah's declaration of independence from
Delhi marked the foundation of
the Sultanate of Gujarat.
1500 AD. Moghul emperor Akbar conquested.
1531 AD. The Portuguese, already settled in Goa, captured
Daman and Diu.
1613 AD. The British East India Company set up original Indian
headquarters in Surat.
1818 AD. British sovereignty was established.
1960 AD. Bombay state was split and Gujarat state was created.
Today. Gujarat's textile industry is still the largest in
India, with the trading of the
business-minded community helping to
mantain its wealth.
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