Desert Blooms Here by Mohan Gehani

Chapter-1
A Brief Historical Perspective
I n the prophetic chapters of Puranas, two brothers are mentioned as Puru Cach'ha and
Buja Cach'ha. One of these the tradition asserts to have been founder of the ancient city
of Teja, in Kutch, a country whose geographical position corresponds to present province
of Kutch.
Another tradition ascribes the name of the province to its shape which is like
'tortoise' which in Hindi language is translated as 'katchuwa'.
Geographically Kutch is situated in the northern part of Western India within
68–70 degrees of east longitude and 22nd and 24th parallels of north latitude. It is
bounded on the west, by the Indus River, on the east by Gulf of Kutch, and the salt desert of
Rann; on the north by great desert, and by south by sea. The province is about one hundred
and sixty miles in length from east to west; and sixty miles in breadth, from north to south.
(KUTCH; or Random sketches, By Mrs Postans – 1839)*
The history of Kutch can be traced to the Harappan or Indus Valley civilization
period. The people in those days chose suitable ecological sites for their settlements
where adequate resources were available for agriculture and animal husbandry. Climatic
conditions were conducive to growth of grass to feed animals. It had the further advantage
of being directly connected with Sindh by a land route. Thus Kutch being geographically
close to nucleus of Harappan civilization had strong ties with Sindh rather than
Saurashtra. The main site of Harappan civilization of habitation of Surkotada is near
Adesar in Kutch. The other site is located near Guntali in Nakhatrana Taluka.
Fortification around the citadel and residential areas of Surkotada and some other
sites indicate the strategic position of the Kutch as it was on the routes of migrations and
invasions from Sindh. One of the inferences is that Harappans may have preferred the
land route from Sindh. In the subsequent centuries too the greater portion of inhabitants of
the Kutch seems to have emigrated from either Sindh or Marwar. Thus this land consists
of people of most heterogeneous races. Most of the rulers of the Kutch are from Samma
tribe of Sindh and Jadejas are also descendants of Mod and Manai tribes who came from
Sindh to Kutch.
From the descriptions in Rigveda and evidence of Mahabharat and other literature
and also the geography of old river beds etc.: it has been established that in the ancient
period Rann of Kutch was not directly connected to sea but only through the gulf of Kutch
on the one hand and also gulf of cambay through Nal and Rann of Kutch was solid land
according to traditions dating back to 2000 BC.
Desert blooms here 1

Map of Kutch State
According to ancient literature two mighty rivers Sindhu and Saraswati flowed from
Himalayas to western India. The course of river Saraswati is presumed to be along Rann
of Kutch and Cambay. This river due to natural upheavals ceased to flow and disappeared
with the passage of time or merged with Indus or Sutlej.
In ancient times, when the Rann was an arm of Arabian Sea, Kutch was an island,
easily to be reached from what is now Sindh, to form a kind of Adam's bridge between
Sindh and Kathiawar. How long Kutch remained truly an island, entirely surrounded by
sea, can only be guessed. Yet its function as a bridge linking Sindh and west coast of India
may have lasted into dawn of history.* (In McMurdo's report of the year 1805 on River
Indus, published by the Royal Asiatic Society, he speaks of canal by the name of Bhamana
Lohana river moved through now sterile districts now bordering on great desert, of Jone
and Badban Parganah near Allah Bander, where spreading itself over a flat country, it
found it's way into sea, through Lakpat. This appears to have been what was the eastern
most branch of Indus. This branch formed a lake near it's mouth is mentioned by
ARRIAN; and the name of Narayana Sarovar, which with Koteshwara is situated on this
river, about twenty miles south west of Lakpat Bandar proves that the lake of some kind
did actually exist in that place. Those two places are extremely ancient and find mention in
the Hindu Puranas as places of worship.) It is said that it was here that the assembly of the
Gods was held. Koteshwar signifies a crore of Gods. Here is a peculiar stone resembling
worn down linga and pilgrims used to have an impression on their arms with a hot stamp in
the same manner as at Dwarka. According to sacred writings of Hindus this spot has been
considered as one of the limits of Hindu faith, for the branch of a river on which they are
situated was in fact not only the western stream but also principal stream of Indus.
When Alexander the Great reached those parts in 325 BC, the Rann was no longer an
2 Desert blooms here

Sinde Map

Pandit Nehru and the present Maharao of Kutch, His Highness
Madansingh Ji, at present Indian Ambassador to Norway
(This photograph was taken at also in 1957)
arm of the sea. The eastern branch of the Indus – then an important channel – emptied
itself into the Rann, so that Kutch was extension of Sindh on the other side of vast fresh
water lake, easily to be crossed. During this period which lasted until 1000 AD the
connection between Kutch and Sindh was intimate. However, some time in eleventh
century, the main body of the Indus water began to move from eastern to western branch;
the fresh water lagoon dried up and salt water began to seep into its place. This was no
doubt due to seismic activity that affected this region. Kutch is quite frequently prone to
such activity. This resulted in Rann becoming saline, marshy plain. It remained flooded
during monsoon months, and all the times of the year was difficult to cross. This character
has remained till present times. The Gulf of Kutch divides this country from Gujarat.
From the end of this gulf a strip of wasteland called Bhani and Rann passes round the north
of Kutch and continues as far as Lakhpat Bandar. From the month of July till October this
portion is covered with water rendering Kutch into a sort of an island. This water flows in

this area in torrents from the Lakhi Mountains which form a complete chain from east to
west through centre of the Kutch.
Hiuen-tsang, a Chinese scholar visited many parts of India during 630–644 AD. His
writings shed important light on the historical period of his times in India. However, it
may be mentioned that the names of the places as pronounced and written in Chinese
language are difficult to identify at present.
It is without any doubt that he has classified Kutch as a part of kingdom of Sindh. It is
clear from the descriptions of the distance he travelled from the capital of Sindh Alor,
situated on the banks of Indus to Koteshwar which was of 267 miles. Koteshwar was a
commercial centre and it is impossible to suppose that it was the only town in Kutch. But
Hiuen-tsang mentions no others.
There is no reason to doubt, from its size and importance as well as advantages of the
situation between the Indus and Arabian Sea that Koteshwar shared in prosperous trade
which Hiuen-tsang found existing throughout Sindh and western India. A century before
the Chinese pilgrim arrived in India the classical geographer Cosmas Indicopleustes
described how the spice of the far East, arriving in the ports of India from where they were
shipped to Persia, Arabia and Africa. It is interesting to note that there was import of large
quantity of Ivory from Africa into India. As Cosmas noted, the tusks of African elephants
were large and more highly valued than Indian ivory. This ancient trade may explain a
long continued Kutch connection with Africa to this day.
According to the Chinese traveller the religion professed by the people of Sindh and
Kutch was Buddhist. At this time Jainism was steadily making inroads into Sindh,
Kathiawar and Kutch. Apparently it might have been so, but in India changes of far
reaching consequences were also taking shape and the situation appears to have changed
soon thereafter.
At this time Rajput clans were beginning to take shape. The foreign fighting clans of
Sakas, Huns and others as well as the aristocracy mingled with existing warrior local
clans and tribes. They embraced the Hindu religion and worshiped Hindu deities,
themselves as Khsatriyas. A strong Rajput-ruling elite emerged which was to fight for and
rule India. As a saying goes 'as the King so the people' (Yatha Raja tatha Praja) and
populace also slowly followed the rulers in matters of faith and reverted back to the Hindu
fold.
Towards the end of sixth century, the great conqueror King Shrias of Sindh whose
territory extended in the north as far as borders of Kashmir and on the west as far as
Makran had Kutch also in its territory.
It may be mentioned here that the special characteristic of medieval or feudal
political structure was based on division of land. Many principalities or fiefdoms
combined to make a kingdom and many kingdoms combined, owed their allegiance to the
paramount ruler. There were many paramount rulers in any country at any given time.
Right from level of principalities or fiefdoms to the top of power pyramid at their own
levels they were engaged in constant wars as well as fierce competition, thus often the

forces who would be fighting with each other, would find themselves fighting on the same
side. In the face of challenge from a superior power they closed the ranks and came to
each other's rescue. In such situation the court intrigues and wars of successions were
endemic. This is true in respect of Kutch and Sindh also. There have been instances when
they have coveted and invaded each other's territory and at the same time they have come
to each others rescue in dire times.
After the Arab invasion of Sindh, they did not venture further into India for more
than two centuries. During that period also their actual rule in Sindh remained nominal.
They allowed local rulers to rule on the condition of changing their faith to Islam as well
as paying a nominal amount of tribute. As a matter of expediency these conditions were
accepted by many rulers. They would only change their names but their customs – beliefs,
habits and living continued to be same. With the passage of time in order to have
legitimacy with the Islamic fraternity they changed; camouflaged their true identity by
changing their ancestry by aligning themselves with a mighty Iranian monarch Jamshed.
Thus after some period the rule of the Soomra tribe and Samma tribe as independent
dynasties continued in Sindh. Not all of Samma tribes and other tribes were converted.
Among those who did not accept Islam, particularly of Samma tribe, their ancestors began
establishing close connection with Kutch. Thus began their close association with
Chavda, Vaghela and Solanki Rajput clans of Gujarat. The fact that initial conversion to
Islam by some chiefs of Samma tribe was perceived only as a political expediency did not
make Samma clans antagonists of their fellow Sammas in Sindh who had converted. This
was a fortunate circumstance when Sammas came and eventually exercised supreme
power in Kutch.
James Burns in his book, Narrative of a Visit to the Court of Sinde; A Sketch of the
History of Kutch gives the account of the rulers of Kutch. The relevant passages are re
produced below:
'About ninth century of Christian era, a body of supposed Moosalmans of Samma
tribe emigrated from Sinde, and, under guidance of five brothers settled in Kutch, of
which by degrees they acquired the complete sovereignty; either by force or fraud,
expelled, or subjected to their authority, the aboriginal inhabitants, consisting of three
different classes, Waghelas, Katties and Waghum Chowras.
Four of five generations after their settlement, the descendents of five brothers
assumed the name of Jhareja (Lieut Holland's account of the Jharejas*) derived from the
leader of the tribe named Jharrah. Kutch continued tranquil under their sway for many
years until the murder of Hummerjee the elder chief of the tribe, by another Jhareja named
Jam Rawal.'
*'The Jharejas are aristocracy of the country and are all more or less connected with
family of Rao. They trace their decent from Sacko Goraro, a prince who reigned in Sindh a
thousand years ago, four of whose sons, Moor, Oner, Phool and Munyabhaee emigrated
into Kutch, on account of some family dissensions. The last two had no issues. The
posterity of Moor ended in third generation at Sacko Phoolanee, whose name is still
known and celebrated throughout this province. From Oner descended the present Jam of

Nuwanuggar and Rajpoot Jharejas of Kutch….There are about two hundred fifty Jharejas
in Kutch. All of them hold their lands in favour from Rao, as their lineage-lord, for the
services they or their ancestors have performed or relationship with family.'— (James
Burns – A Sketch of The History of Kutch-P.s 231–32.)
Thereafter it is familiar story repeating itself of disputes over succession, intercine
wars and palace intrigues and family feuds, the detailed description of which is beyond
the scope of the present study. In this period two instances of Sindh Kutch solidarity stand
out prominently. When Alauddin Khilji attacked Sindh; to restore Chanesar to throne of
Sindh with an army of about one million soldiers then Ruler of Sindh Dodo (Chanesar's
brother) died valiantly which unleashed an unprecedented popular war. At that time he
sent Royal women of his tribe to ruler of Kutch for safe keeping. The Rao of Kutch died
valiantly in the battle against Allaudin Khilji but did not accede to his demand that he
should handover the women folk of Sindhi Royal family to him. It is said in that battle
Kutch chieftains and warriors tied their turbans on the waist of each other, thus forming a
human chain and died a glorious death rather than surrender to enemy. Another instance of
Kutchi blood being shed for Sindh occurred when Arguns attacked Sindh and Rai
Kahnger mustered ten thousand Kutchi Warriors. Kutchi and Sindhi Warriors fought side
by side. It is mentioned in the history books that 48 Chieftains of Jharejas were inside
Bakkhar Fort. When the siege was laid to that fort, Shah Beg Argun looked to Kazi Qadan,
who had switched allegiance to new ruler, for his advice. According to that advice on the
morning of the next day, the heads of 48 brave Kutchi warriors were found hanging on the
minarets of that fort.
No doubt there have been instances of wars among Sindh and Kutch also. Kutch was
invaded by Sindhis not less than four times in this period. Two of the inroads were sought
to be made during Kalhoras regime in Sindh. Two campaigns were undertaken by Ghulam
Shah Kalhora to enforce an article of treaty whereby he was to be given in marriage a sister
of the Rao. On the second occasion he had to be content with marrying the daughter of the
chief of Khauker whose family stood next in pretensions to throne.
On quitting the Kutch, Gulam Shah left 5000 men at Lakhapt Bunder which in those
days was a small town. He also undertook an endeavour of far reaching consequences,
that he built and embankment to prevent waters of Indus from falling into sea. In this way
a fertile plain which yielded rice cultivation worth 8 lakh cories* (Till merger with India
Kutch had its own currency which was measured in Cories and Dhellas) was converted
into a salty marsh.
Ghulam Shah's son Sarfaraz also attacked Kutch twice. It is needless to add that
during his forays also he left a trail of destruction and devastation. At the same time it must
be emphasized that all these attacks come at the time when Kutch was engulfed into
internal squabbles and there was no strong power centered in Kutch though at the last
minute they would stitch alliance with some and get some mercenaries to their side and
manage to thwart the aggression.
The population of Sindh and Kutch mostly share the same ancestry. Richard F.
Burton in his book, Sindh and the Races that inhabit the Valley of Indus with Topography

and History of Province writes, 'Of the Waishya or Wani or banyan caste we find as has
been said before, there are five great divisions in Sindh. The two chief divisions are
undoubtedly the Lohano and Bhatio. The Lohano derives his origin and name from
Lohanpur in Multan. The date of his emigration is lost in obscurity of antiquity.' (P. 314)
Delving a little farther into the History of Lohanas – we find that around 580 BC
when King Bindusara ruled India, the society came to be divided into different
communities based on their occupation. Lohanas at time were called Khatriyas. As far
back as the rule of Chach in Sindh, it is mentioned in Chachnama that Chach conquered
the fort of Agham Lohana and married his widow. The Fort of Bhatia also figures in
Chachnama, as the sister of Dahir was engaged to be married to the ruler of that tribe.
After facing the persecution the people of both the tribes have taken to business and have
spread throughout the world as remarkable business community. It is said that during 6th
and 7th century Lohanas held their ground in Afghanistan. From there they moved to
Sindh and thereafter to Kutch, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Their wander lust, combined with
entrepreneurial skill pulled them to foreign shores in pursuit of riches, but most of them
had to be content being agriculturists and small shopkeepers to keep the wheels of
economy moving even in difficult times. Lohanas of Sindh worship Water God in the
incarnation of Jhulelal and Lohanas of Kutch continue to worship Dariya Shah. They
follow similar rituals while giving offerings to water Gods on any water course. Bhatias
all over the world worship the idol of Lord Krishna at Temple of 'Shri Nathdwara' situated
in Rajasthan.
Another important clan is that of Soda Rajputs. They are quite numerous in
Tharparkar district of Sindh, Jaisalmer and Kutch. Soda Rajputs have marriage alliances
in Kutch therefore there has been constant stream of migration and transmigration.
Among the population that Sindh shares in common with Kutch are Memons,
Khojas and Bohras. Basically they are Hindu converts and belong to business
communities. In fact memons are said to have migrated from Kutch to Sindh. Richard F.
Burton mentions The term 'Memon' is corruption of the Arabic word Mumin (a true
believer) was probably given to the people that go by that name now, when they were
converted from Hinduism to Islam.' There are sectarian divisions even among Memons.
Similarly Khojas are also divided as one sect claims to have come from Persia and others
are mostly from Saurashtra and Kutch. They are followers of Agha Khan and are called
Ismailie. In the similar manner the fisher folk or the 'Mohanas' are also converts from
Hinduism to Islam and still follow many Hindu customs. In this context it may be
mentioned that both Sindh and Kutch have a very ancient maritime tradition. It is said that
Lord Krishna when he ruled Dwarka issued a decree in favour of overseas mercantile
community of Sindh on the west coast. It is also interesting that the Jharejas trace back
their origin to Lord Krishna.
From these accounts, it would be obvious that apart from the geography the
population of Sindh and Kutch share the common ancestry. This is nowhere more obvious
than in the field of Language, rich folk literature and folklore. * (Rao Khanger set up the
monastery of Moti Poshalat whose head he appointed Manek Mirji the saddh. Manek
Mirji was first in the line of godjis (or Gurus), which exists to this day in sixteenth century

buildings which Rao kahnger constructed. These godjis are learned custodians of Royal
History: receive instruction under their care the Royal bards receive instructions in oral
tradition. THE BLACK HILLS KUTCH in History and Legend by L.F.Rushbrook
Williams p. 113)
It may be mentioned that the folk tales which are prevalent in Kutch and Sindh are
the same. Oomer Maruee, Sasui Punhoon, Sorath Rai Diyach, Moomal rano are some
others. The folk tales have been immortalized by Great poet of Sindhi language Shah
Abdul Latif, who in company of Jogis (Yogis) visited Kutch also and his poetry is as dear
to Kutchis as to people of Sindh. His travels through Kutch are well documented by
Behrumal Meharchand in his book Latifi Sair (The travels of Latif). He traces his journey
to Girnar from Lakhpat, Koteshwar and Narayan Sar, Bhuj, Mandvi, Haar ranges and
thence to Dwarka* (In one of his verse Shah Abdul Latif mentions various sects of Jogis
with whom he roamed. He mentions 'Kanakata, Kapat, Kapri, Kanotia, and Kancheer'.
Mrs Marian Postons in her book already referred to, gives interesting insight about the
importance the rulers of Kutch gave to Kaparia Sect. She mentions 'The Rao visits the
establishment of Kaparias once in every year, in accordance with the vow made by his
mother, at the shrine of Ashapura, whilst he was suffering from an attack of small pox.
Vows of this nature are very common in Kutch; and it was during his mother's subsequent
illness, that the Rao, vowed to build a Temple at Rohda, near Bhooj, if the Ranne was
spared. It happened that her disease left her.' And a beautiful temple of Parvati proved
filial affection of His Highness. –Year 1839). There are numerous references to these
places as there is a popular tradition of Shah Abdul Latif to have met Mekaran, a great
saint poet in his own right, who resided in Kutch in the same period as Shah Abdul Latif,
and had already acquired iconic status in his time in Kutch. It is also mentioned that when
Mekaran went to pilgrimage of Hinglaj Devi traversing Sindh he had called on Shah
Inayat of Jhok Sharif.
In Similar manner Pran Nath, the founder Saint of the Parnami sect who was born
in Kutch during the reign of Aurangzeb has written devotional/ philosophical poetry in
Sindhi also. and is considered as one of the earlier poets who have significantly
contributed to the corpus of Sindhi poetry of Sindh in that period. In similar manner such
instances of common heritage of folk and classical Sindhi literature could be multiplied
many times more but that exercise is beyond the present scope.
As far as the affinity between Sindhi and Kutchi language and its relationship it has
been well documented in 19th and 20th century. Richard F Burton in his well known
Book referred to earlier writes, 'The origin of the Sindhi dialect appears to be lost in the
obscurity of antiquity but there are ample reasons for believing it is as old as any tongues
of modern India….The classical or literary language is that of lar, or southern Sindh and
other principal dialects are –
1st The Siraki, or the language of Siro, upper Sindh; admitting a mixture of Jatkia
and Beloch words.
2nd The Kachi Spoken in Kutch and made to approach Guzeratee, Year 1851.
Prior to the above references still earlier reference is from Captain James McMurdo

in the Royal Asiatic Society's 'On the country of Sindh,' –Year 1835. He writes, 'The
Sindhi is the language used by the Sindhi inhabitants, and, indeed by mass of the
population of the Sindh proper, those of the southern desert, and with a little variation by
the Jharejas of Kutch. It is worthy of remark that the Jharejas, Bhatias and Lohanas and
other Sindhi tribes now inhabiting Kutch, have brought with them their language which
they continue to speak in that country.'
The monumental work on Indian languages was done by Garrierson by producing a
comprehensive 'The Linguistic Survey of India' in the early years of twentieth century.
Thereafter no one has done any further Survey and even after more than a century it
alone remains the only book of its kind. In his book he has characterized 'Kutchi' as a
dialect of Sindhi. In this context it would be interesting to note that Richard F Burton
describes Sindhi as a dialect.
This brings us to an interesting subject of understanding the relationship between
dialect and a language. Like everything else language is also subject to constant change.
Also the relationship between a dialect and language does not have any hierarchal
connotation, but it is more of a geographical nature. In fact it is simply a matter of
perception. In times when the literacy was a personal accomplishment and books were
manuscripts adorning the libraries of some rulers and their courtiers, the role of the
language was different. With advent of printing technology and mass literacy – language
has acquired many additional facets. The creation of Nation-states in Europe lent to the
language political and nationalist fervor so that in time it came to acquire economic facet.
This has led to myriad web of emotions attached to language apart from being only a
vehicle of communication. In the present state language signifies a disticnct identity. It is
gratifying that Kutchi people have legitimate pride in their distinct identity. That identity
should not be sought to be diluted by scornfully relegating to the status of mere a 'dialect.'
In the recent past Kutchi people have been making a most remarkable endeavour to assert
their identity. In the forefront are many eminent thinkers and writers. Prof Mawji Sawala
started his magazine, Kutch Kalam and ran it for 18 years rendering a yeomen service to
the cause dear to his heart – assertion of distinct Kutchi identity. He still continues to write
a popular column for a daily. Mr Madhav Joshi is also an important name to reckon with in
Kutchi literature. This movement has yielded some fruits as Kutchi Sahitya Academy has
been constituted by government of Gujarat meeting a legitimated demand.
REFERENCES
1. Captain McMurdo: On the River Indus, on the country of Sindh. Published by Royal Asiatic Society-
1834.
2. James Burns: The Narrative of a Visit to the court of Sindh and A sketch of the History of Kutch, 1831.
3. Mrs Mariama Postams: Kutch or Random Sketches, 1839.
4. R F Burton: Sindh and races that inhabit the valley of Indus with Notices of Topography and History of
the Province, 1851.
5. L F Rushbrook Williams: The Black Hills – Kutch in History and Legend, 1981.
6. Mahesh Thacker – Shrikant Thacker: Sindhu Waters and Kutch, 1988.
7. Mohan Gehani- A Brief Introduction to History of Sindh, 2008.
8. Issues of Rachna Literary Magazine (Sindhi).

Chapter-2
Partition : Aftermath
H ow did the partition of India come about? Why could no one foresee? Why no
adequate measures were taken to meet the challenge when it burst upon the country?
There are many questions which fall in realm of 'Ifs' and 'Buts'. Yet all the same it is
important to seek some answers as to what and where did things go wrong? It is in this
spirit that a brief recapitulation of the events immediately leading to partition of the
country is examined. There is vast corpus of material available on that period in History
and many analysts have tried to unravel the events but only one book has Sindh as it's
focus which is Ms Subhidra Anand's National Integration of Sindhis in India.
What is 'India' and what does the 'Independence' mean? There was not one answer.
Everyone had his own understanding of the terms and they lent themselves to various
meanings. It was a situation akin to the one of the seven blind men describing an elephant,
each one in his own way. Congress was a movement like a river traversing its path along
peaks, valleys, plains and plateaux and in the course of its journey assimilating various
tributaries and sometimes flowing in its ferocity flooding many shores and some times
being reduced to a mere ribbon like a monsoon river. Many a diverse thought and ideology
found its way in this current. For some it was harking back to 'Rama Rajya.' For some it
was a vague benevolent despotism, for some it was to be a welfare state modelled on the
western nation states. What is India, was a quite complex issue. In 1857 war of
independence, a concept of India as a political entity was quite hazy to say the least. It is
sufficient to stress that Laxmibai spoke only about Jhansi and the Soldiers of
Independence went to Bahadur Shah Zafar to re-establish the faded glory of Moghul
Empire. The concept of Bharat Mata emerged much later, which was to invoke strong
emotions. The war cry of Bharat Mata Ki Jai was to inspire many young souls to go to
gallows and attain martyrdom with a smile on their lips. A visual presentation of Bharat
Mata in chains would invoke strong patriotic emotion. For breaking the chains enslaving
her – sacrifice of one life would be a trifle price to pay! Whereas Jawaharlal Nehru had to
'Discover India' and present it to the world in the modern idiom. For Some freedom meant
'Hindu, Hindi and Hindustan' as a foundation of Nationhood. For some others it was to be
based on the concept of 'Trusteeship' of rich people for the benefit of poor and deprived.
Yet for still others, it represented a society which would be classless, casteless and of
economic equality. The dreams of India after independence were as myriad as the peoples
of this subcontinent. The stark reality was that no one bothered at that time to take into
consideration of the existence of the local states which comprised one third of India's
landmass and approximately that much population. The maharajas and nawabs, more

than 500 in number, remained in their make-belief world that their dynasties would
survive under British Paramouncy in perpetuity due to their treaties with that mighty
power. To add to this confusion communal factor was introduced which sought to divide
Bharat Mata on the basis of religion into two separate countries. The rest is well-known
history and does not need to be dwelt upon.
In the above context it would be proper to look at the personalities in the forefront of
the independence movement only to stress that how different they were in every respect in
their thought, upbringing, temperament and background yet inexorably bound together
and with the destiny of India.
In this context it would not be out of place to mention as Thumb Nail Sketches of the
Persona dramatis (apologies to Bard of Avon who described all the world as a stage)
of this epic event are focussed on here. In this I shall allude to an important book depicting
this period of history, Freedom At Midnight by Domnique Lapierre and Larry Collins.
'Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an unlikely revolutionary, the gentle prophet
of the world's most extraordinary liberation movement. Besides him, carefully polished,
the dentures he wore only when eating and steel rimmed glasses through which he peered
out at the world. He was a tiny man, barely five feet tall, weighing 114 pounds; all arms
and legs like an adolescent whose trunk has yet to rival the growth of his limbs....Yet
Gandhi's face radiated a peculiar beauty because it was constantly animated, reflecting
with the quickly shifting patterns of a magic lantern – his changing mood and his impish
humor'.
'His means of communicating with his followers were primitive. He wrote much of
his correspondence himself in a long-hand and he talked to his disciples, to prayer
meetings, and to caucuses of his congress party. He employed none of the techniques for
conditioning the masses to the dictates of a demagogue or cliques of ideology. Yet his
message had penetrated a nation bereft of modern communications because Gandhi had a
genius for a simple gesture that spoke to India's soul. Those gestures were all
unorthodox….Few of the English who'd negotiated with Gandhi had liked him; fewer still
had understood him. Their puzzlement was understandable. He was a strange blend of
great moral principles and quirky obsessions.'
'He joined the congress party and his agitation on it's behalf soon qualified him
(Jawaharlal Nehru) for admission to the finest political training school in the British
Empire: British jails, where Nehru spent nine years of his life. In the solitude of his cell, in
prison courtyards, with his few congress leaders, he had shaped his vision of India of
tomorrow. An idealist in the doctrines of social revolution, Nehru dreamed of reconciling
on the soil of India his two political passions: the parliamentary democracy of England
and the economic socialism of Karl Marx. He dreamed of India freed alike of the shackles
of poverty and superstition, unburdened of capitalism , an India in which the smoke of
factories reached out from her cities, an India enjoying the plentitude of that Industrial
Revolution to which colonizers had denied her access.'
'No one might have seemed more unlikely candidate to lead the India towards that

vision than Jawaharlal Nehru. Under the cotton khadi he wore in deference to the dictates
of Congress…he never ceased to proclaim the horror the word 'religion' inspired in him.
Nehru despised India's priests, her sadhus, her chanting monks and pious mullahs. They
had only served he felt, to impede her progress and deepen her divisions and ease the task
of foreign rulers.'
As regards the relationship between two most unlikely characters straddling the
freedom movement, Gandhi and Nehru this observation is quite pertinent. 'Between them
a fascinating father-son relationship grew up, animated by all tensions, affections and
repressed guilt such relationships implied. All his life Nehru had an instinctive need for a
dominant personality near him, some steadying influence to whom he could turn in crisis
engineered by his volatile nature.'
Third person striding like colossus on the scene was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. In the
above mentioned book Sardar is described thus: 'Vallabbhai Patel however, was India's
quintessential politician. He was an oriental Tammany Hall boss who ran the machinery
of the congress party with a firm and ruthless hand….Like viceroy he was a practical
pragmatic man, a hard but a realist bargainer….Patel had well earned reputation for
toughness. He had an instinctive need to take measure of new interlocutor to see how far
he can push him….Patel had always been profoundly wary of his brother in congress
Khadi, Nehru. The two men were natural rivals and their idea of what India should be after
independence was markedly different. Patel had no use of Nehru's utopian dream of
building a new society. He dismissed his visions, of a brave new socialist world as his
'parrot cry of socialism'. Capitalist society worked, he maintained, the problem was to
Indianize it, to make it work better, not jettison it for an impractical ideal……He scorned
Nehru's fascination for foreign affairs, the great debates of the world. He knew where the
power was to be found and that was where he was, in the Home Ministry.'
The fourth and most enigmatic figure in this process in the final stage was 'Qaide
Azam' the title which Gandhiji had given him earlier and stuck to him life-long! Mohamed
Ali Jinnah. '(He) began his political career by preaching Hindu Muslim Unity. His family
came from Kathiawar peninsula. Indeed, had not Jinnah's grand father for some obscure
reason become a convert to Islam, the two political foes would have been born in the same
caste…. He wore a monocle and superbly cut linen suits which he changed more than
three times a day so as to remain cool and unruffled in the soggy Bombay climate. He
loved oysters and caviar, champagne, brandy and good claret. A man of unassailable
personal honest and financial integrity, his canons were sound law and sound procedure.
He was according to one intimate, 'The last of theVictorians, a parliamentarian in the
mode of Gladstone and Disraeli.'
'The man who would one day be hailed as the father of Pakistan had first been
exposed to the idea at the black-tie dinner at London's Waldrof Hotel in the spring of 1933.
His host was Rehmat Ali, the graduate student who had set the idea on paper. Rehmat Ali
had arranged the banquet with its oysters and un-Islamic Chablis at his own expenses to
persuade Jinnah – India's leading Moslem politician to take over his Movement. He
received a chilly rebuff. Pakistan, Jinnah told him, was “an impossible dream”.

'The turning point in Jinnah's career came after the 1937 elections when congress
refused to share with him and his Moslem League the spoils of office in those Indian
provinces where there was a substantial Moslem minority. Jinnah was a man of towering
vanity and he took congress's action as personal rebuke. It convinced him that he and the
Moslem league would never get a fair deal from congress-run India.
'A more improbable leader of India's Moslem masses could hardly be imagined. The
only thing Moslem about Mohamed Ali Jinnah was his parents' religion. He drank, ate
pork, religiously shaved his beard each morning and just as religiously avoided the
mosque each Friday. God and Koran had no place in Jinnah's vision of the world. His
political foe, Gandhi knew more verses of the Moslem Holy Book than he did. He had
been able to achieve the remarkable feat of securing the allegiance of the vast majority of
India's Moslems without being able to articulate more than a few sentences in their
traditional tongue Urdu.
'Jinnah despised India's masses. He detested the dirt, the heat, the crowds of India.
Gandhi travelled India in filthy third class railway carriages to be with the people. Jinnah
rode first class to avoid them.'
Thus the leadership of the Congress Party in the provinces at provincial lines was
also divided along the similar lines, personalities and policies that the leaders at the top
perused. Now coming specifically to leadership of the congress in the province of Sindh,
some peculiar happenings in the not so distant past need to be mentioned. Sindh was last
province in India to be invaded by the British and its rule was limited to only 103 years.
After the 'conquest' of Sindh it was acceded to presidency of Bombay for administrative
and all other purposes. Though this was most illogical as they shared no common borders,
language, culture and social mores but all the same this proved to be of a great significance
in many others aspects.
Hindus who had smarted under Muslim rule, as a minority were overnight converted
into the majority. It automatically gave them new confidence as well as invested them
with an overwhelming sense of haughtiness. It provided unprecedented opportunities for
them which were denied to them for centuries. At the same time Muslims owing to their
defeat, as elsewhere in India, went into a sulk, and decided not to have anything to do with
the new regime. Tragically for Muslims this applied to education also, whereas Sindhi
Hindus took to new education with great zeal and enthusiasm to reap the benefits it
offered. Thus Sindhi Hindus emerged as a powerful middle class on the scene. The social
reform movements that were sweeping across India made their inroads in the Sindhi
Hindu society also. As the capital of the country at that time was Calcutta, many youths
went there for higher education and returned committed to eradications of social evils of
Hindu Society. Their business acumen also yielded them enormous advantages, whereas
at the time of British conquest of Sindh, Sindhi Hindus had held negligible land – at the
time of partition they owned nearly 40% of that land. This was done mainly by means of
their practice of lending money at exorbitant rates of interest and by dubious means. The
economic power of Sindhi Hindus and their clout was out of proportion to their numerical
strength. This in times to come brought about acute social contradictions which resulted
in the bitter end. It must be stressed that on the personal level the relationship between a

Sindhi Hindu and Muslim continued to be cordial as Sindhi Hindu society was devoid of
orthodoxy of the caste system which prevailed in other parts of India. The bonds of
language, literature and culture that had welded them together for centuries proved
stronger and enduring in spite of a wide chasm at political level which later on was to
tragically divide them.
In this background the movement for separation of Sindh from the Bombay
Presidency was started. After great deliberation the Congress Party also supported this
movement being based on just historical grounds. However, Hindus of Sindh were against
such a move except a few persons like Jethmal Parsram (a prominent writer and a leading
theosophist of his times). At that time Hindu Mahasabha – a political organization of
Hindus – was preaching militant Hinduism. Many of the Sindhi Hindus politically veered
round their point of view but the prudence required that they should continue to support
Congress for in the event of Congress coming to power after freedom their future would
remain secure. At that time the actual creation of Pakistan seemed only a vague whisper.
Thus British created Sindh and Orissa as two separate provinces and they were first
provinces to be created on the basis of language during British regime itself. All this at
least in province of Sindh polarized politics on communal lines. After the elections of
1937, the Muslim League became a powerful force though for some time Congress did
manage to retain power through a coalition of various diverse interests, but it was not to
last for a long period. The Muslim League soon came to power and it was the first
provincial assembly in the whole of India to pass a resolution for the creation of Pakistan
as a separate Muslim State after the independence of India. Yet the irony is that as people
had different dreams about India after independence, the Pakistan resolution of 1939 was
turned on its head. Many leaders and workers had different notions about Pakistan
whereas Jinnah visualized Pakistan as a Muslim modern state only as a counter balance to
Hindu dominated India but similar in all other respects. His vision of Pakistan was
described by him in his famous speech at the formation of Pakistan wherein he stressed
the secular and modern concept of Pakistan. However his deputy Liaquat Ali Khan
wanted a theocratic state based on the orthodox doctrines of Islam, where the minorities
will have an inferior status and shall continue to remain there on the basis enunciated in
their holy book, the Koran. Thus the very foundation of Pakistan was envisaged as an
example of fundamentalist state wedded to Islam.
In one of the interviews after formation of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan said, 'The only
reason why we and Quaid-e-Azam demanded Pakistan was to secure, in this
subcontinent, a homeland where Muslims could live in their own way. We wished
Pakistan to be a laboratory where we could practice the Islamic principles – the best in the
world – and thus demonstrate to the world that what Islam had taught thirteen centuries
ago was needed as much now as it was then…. We, that is to say, the Muslim League, are
pledged to make Pakistan a Muslim state and run it on Islamic principles.' (*An American
Witness to India's Partition by Taboltt p.360. Is this not what the present Taliban are
saying? MG)
Nevertheless all this was seen as a bargaining chip and merely a hot air no one
actually believed in the viability of the state of Pakistan. India and proposed Pakistan were

intimately linked by trade and zones of agricultural production and manufacturing
sectors, which in case of division of a country would fall in different states. Some times
Muslim masses had absurd and bizarre concepts of Pakistan. Some thought that some
streets in the same town with Muslim majority would fall into a separate state called
Pakistan while localities with Hindu majority would constitute Hindustan. Some thought
that river Sindhu would be brought to Hindu state as the Holy Vedas were written on its
banks and some thought that Taj Mahal would be shifted to Pakistan as it was built by
Muslim rulers. No one at the grassroots level had vaguest idea what would a 'new state of
Pakistan' would in reality mean. For Hindu fundamentalist the very idea of the partition of
mother India was repugnant as amputation of the parts of Holy mother which would not be
allowed under any circumstances and to do so would amount to sacrilege-an unacceptable
thought and an unthinkable event. Added to all this were solemn assurances by leaders of
national movement that Partition would take place 'over our dead bodies!' All this made
Sindhi Hindus of Sindh, with their recent acquired sense of power that grows with money
complacent and lulled them into a sense of false security – immune to the impending
events that were to overtake the nation.
Direct action unleashed by Muslim league to test their street power and force the
hands of British Imperialists to manipulate them and subsequently congress leadership to
capitulate to their demand of Partition of the country took place far away in Bengal. The
clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Sindh over Manzilgah- Masjid were considered
of a too trifle nature, though to certain extent it did mange to polarize Sindhi Hindus and
Muslim community on the political level. It is significant that in the elections all
provincial assembly members belonged to Muslim community and Congress members
were Hindus. This did not bother Sindhi nationalist leadership as one Acharya Kripalani
was busy playing important roles at national level. Acharya Kripalani who from the very
beginning considered himself above Sindh was President of the congress and Jairamdas
Doulatram was general secretary of the Congress.
It is in this background that Lord Mountbatten was dispatched to India to negotiate
transfer of power post haste.
'Lord Mountbatten told his assembled governors he was not 'lightly going to
abandon hope for united India. He wanted the world to know the British had made every
effort possible to keep India united. If Britain failed it was of utmost importance that the
world knew it was 'Indian opinion rather than a British decision that had made partition
the choice.' He himself thought a future Pakistan was so inherently unviable that it should
be given a chance to fail on it's own demerits, so that later the Moslem League could revert
∑In this connection it would be important to mention that in the latest book on the Subject of Partition, Under
Shadow of Great Game, Captain Sarila –a scion of erstwhile ruling family of Punjab who was ADC to Lord
Mountbatten during those historic days– mentions a different perspective. He avers that during the war itself
when British saw that after the war transfer of power into Indian hands would become inevitable, in that event in
order to counter balance any future Russian ambitions and plans to acquire access to warm waters of Arabian sea
British /western powers needed a foothold in the region. A plan showing Present boundaries of Pakistan was
drafted and sent to England. Thus it was argued that the entire process initiated by labour Government and
subsequent process that unfolded was a mere smoke screen and a charade. Establishment of Pakistan was already
decided upon even before Jinnah became its ardent supporter.

to a unified India with honour.' (*Freedom at Midnight – p. 143)
'Patel had been prepared to concede partition even before Mountbatten's arrival. He
was ageing, he'd suffered two heart attacks, and he wanted to get on with it, to end these
ceaseless debates and get down to the task of building an Independent India. Give Jinnah
his state, he argued, it wouldn't survive anyway. In five years the Moslem League would
be knocking at their door begging for India 's reunification.'
In the same vein Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad in his Book 'India Wins freedom'
writes, 'I found that Patel was so much in favor of partition that he was hardly prepared
even to listen to any other point of view. For over two hours I argued with him. I pointed
out that if accepted partition , we could create a permanent problem for India…..I was
surprised and pained when Patel in reply said that whether we liked it or not , there were
two nations in India. He was now convinced that Hindus and Muslims could not be united
in one Nation. There was no alternative except to recognize this fact. In this way alone
could we end the quarrel between Hindus and Muslims.'
Actually the higher congress echelon leadership had quite misread the situation. To
illustrate this point only one instance would suffice. When the interim government was
being formed Rafi Ahmed Kidwai suggested that congress offer finance portfolio to
league on the assumption that as Muslim league did not have any one competent to handle
complicated portfolio as of finance ministry it would refuse the same. It is said that Sardar
Patel also jumped at the proposal and subsequently this portfolio was grabbed by Liaquat
Ali Khan. Congress soon realized as every proposal of every department was subject to
scrutiny by finance department it held virtual veto over entire business of government.
Maulana Azad in his book 'India Wins freedom' writes, 'Sardar Patel had been very
anxious about retaining the Home Membership. Now he realized that he had played into
the hands of Muslim League by offering it Finance. Whatever proposal he made was
either rejected or modified beyond recognition by Liaquat Ali. His persistent interference
made it difficult for any congress member to function effectively.' (p.179)
'Now I turned to Jawaharlal. Jawaharlal spoke to me in sorrow but left no doubt in
my mind as to how his mind was working. It was clear that in spite of his repugnance to
idea of partition he was day by day coming to conclusion that there was no alternative.'
(pp. 200–201)
For Gandhiji it was a lone voice though a lost cause!
' On the day Mountbatten's York had left London, carrying the Viceroy and his plan
back to India, Gandhi had told his evening prayer meeting: Let the whole nation be in
flames: we will not concede one inch of Pakistan.' (Freedom at Midnight, p. 197)
'A few days later as Manu listened, Gandhiji had agonized alone in the darkness,
'Today I find myself alone', he said his voice so low it was whisper to night. 'Even Patel
and Nehru think I'm wrong and peace is sure to return if partition is agreed upon.'
'Nehru, Patel and Prasad next acknowledged and endorsed Jinnah's two nation
theory in March 1947, by advocating in resolution adopted by the congress working
committee the division of Punjab into Muslim majority and Hindu majority areas. This

was done by the three without consulting Gandhi, who reacted sharply and considered this
to be an hour of great humiliation.' (*India from Curzon to Nehru and After by Durga Das
p. 254)
During his discussions with Lord Mountbatten Gandhi proposed that let whole of
undivided India be handed over to the Muslim League. To this Lord Mountbatten very
cunningly agreed to consider the proposal if he could carry Congress Party with his views.
That was not to be.
Strangely enough it was Gandhiji himself at the Ramgarh session of the Congress in
1940 who conceded to Muslims, 'the right of separation as in Hindu joint family. He
suggested setting up of a constituent Assembly based on the adult franchise and proposed
that the Muslim members be allowed to decide whether they wished to live separately or
as members of joint family.' (Durga Das, p. 253).
Latter as partition was to become reality an angry Muslim woman accosted Gandhi
and demanded to know the reason of his opposition to Pakistan. She argued, 'If two
brothers were living in the same house and wanted to separate would you object?'
'Ah,' said Gandhi. 'If only we could separate as two brothers. But we will not. It will
be an orgy of blood. We shall tear ourselves asunder in the womb of mother who bears us.'
With his feet planted firmly on the ground and holding the pulse of masses who
would be better placed to know the consequences than Gandhiji?
And yet……… AND YET….. A.....N……D------------- Y....E.....T. !!!!!yet…
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad in his book, India Wins Freedom gives a graphic
account of AICC Committee meeting which met on 14th June 1947.
'After first day's debate, there was very strong feeling against Working Committee's
resolution. Neither Pandit Pant's persuasiveness nor Sardar Patel's eloquence had been
able to persuade people to accept this resolution. How could they when it was in a sense a
complete denial of all that Congress had said since its inception?
It therefore became necessary for Gandhiji to intervene in the debate. He appealed to
members to support the Congress working committee. He added that he had always
opposed partition and no one could deny this fact. He however felt that now a situation had
been created when there was no alternative. Political realism demanded the acceptance of
Mountbatten plan and he would appeal to the members to accept the resolution moved by
Pandit Pant.'(p. 215).
Maulana Abdul Kalam writes that he was amazed by volte face by Hindu
fundamentalists in Congress by right wing elements and Hindu fundamentalists like
Purshotamdas Tandon and his ilk. However, he notes that in the AICC meeting the
members from Sindh opposed the resolution vehemently. They were given all kinds of
assurances. Though not on public platform, in private discussion they were told that if
they suffer any disability or indignity in Pakistan, India would retaliate on the Muslims in
India. He said he was horrified by this hostage theory of minority i.e., if minority in one
country suffered the minority in other country would have to bear the consequences. It

was most reprehensible and barbarous to say the least and subsequent events were
tragically to prove how fragile and meaningless these assurances were. THUS SINDHIS
WERE THROWN TO WOLVES.
Nevertheless the fact remains no one in his darkest nightmares had experienced or
imagined what was to follow. It seemed as if the power of all the natural calamities
combined together– may it be earthquake, cyclone, tornado, thunderbolt and fury of the
floods of all the oceans and more. It was tragedy which could not be described in mere
words! Yet what has been written is some thing like this:
'In bewildering fury, Hindus, Sikhs and Moslems turned on each other. India was
ever a land of extravagant dimensions and the horror of Punjab killings, the abundance of
human anguish and suffering they would produce, did not fail that ancient tradition.
Europe's people had slaughtered each other with bombs, shells, and calculated horrors of
gas chambers; the people of Punjab set out to destroy themselves with bamboo staves,
hockey sticks, ice picks, knives, clubs, swords, hammers and clawing fingers. Their was a
spontaneous, irrational slaughter. Appalled at emotions they had inadvertently unleashed,
their desperate leaders tried to call them back to reason. It was hopeless cry. There was no
reason in that brief and cruel season when India went mad.' (Freedom at Midnight-p. 359).
This brief period saw the mass exodus of magnitude never imagined before. Within
a few weeks or months more than ten million people were to cross the borders.
REFERENCES
1. Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins
2. India Wins Freedom by Maulanan Abul Kalam Azad
3. India from Curzon to Nehru and After by Durga Das
4. Sindh Story by K R. Malkani
5. An American Witness to India's Partition by Tablott
6. The Idea of India by Sunil Khilnanai

Chapter-3
In the Eye of Storm – As the Leaves Fly
'Until recently, i.e., before independence,

the people of Kutch and Sindh migrated to and
fro temporarily as and when circumstances
demanded. Most of the Sodha people of Sindh
had their social connections in Kutch and many
of the Muslims had their relatives in Sindh. In the
years of scarcity and famine, people from border
areas of Kutch migrated with their cattle to Sindh
and after the good rains returned to their land.
Kutch and its people are thus interconnected
with Sindh region since ancient period to present
times and the Indus Valley Civilization had
evidently developed throughout these areas
which had cultural and social ties of their own.'
(Sindhu Waters and Kutch by Mahesh Thacker,
Shashikant Thacker.)

T here is a tradition of total surrender to one's preceptor or Murshid's will and have
implicit faith in him. That is to follow his dictates implicitly without any question.
This has been a part of Sindhi ethos for centuries. During the freedom movement this
same attitude towards the Nationalist leadership remained characteristic of Sindhi masses
and rank and file. In the national movement Sindh contributed the most ardent devoted
and dedicated volunteers. As such there was no reason to believe that under the
compulsions of real political factors there would be volta face by the national leadership
and Sindhi's justifiably felt betrayed. Sindhi Hindus who constituted the bulwark of
congress movement controlled the governmental machinery at almost all levels and
controlled the business and economy of the province since centuries, could never
visualize as how the state could function without them and they believed the impression
created by the leadership that Pakistan was supposed to be an unviable state and such fall
sooner than latter under its own contradictions and inability. There was another factor also
which weighed with them equally if not more that after Sindh was separated from
Bombay and Hindus were again reduced to minority although with more power, they
veered to forces of communalists who believed in Bharat Mata as inviolable entity and
believed in the slogan, 'Hindu, Hindi, and Hindustan.' They were strongly wedded to the
concept of 'Akhand Bharat.' In this way even at emotional level they were not prepared for
division of the country and creation of Pakistan. All these factors combined to lull them
into complacency combined with haughty attitude
As far as Sindhi leadership at the national level, Acharya Kripalani had remained
away from Sindh and he never considered himself as a Sindhi leader. He had perhaps an
exaggerated self-image that he even refused to refer to Gandhiji as 'Mahatma' and
paradoxically he was one of his ardent followers! He even was made president of the
Indian National Congress. However, due to some reasons he found himself redundant in
the new dispensation and soon after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi left Congress to
float his own political party. In this way Jairamdas Doulatram a scholar and intellectual in
his own right was acutely aware of the rules of the political game and was adapt at real
politics. Ideologically he was near Sardar Patel in so far he had sympathy with the far right
group in congress which though never openly articulated but harbored a hue of communal
ideology. After Congress capitulated to the communal demand of creation of Pakistan and
repudiated its ideology and history of communal harmony and indivisible India to many
congressmen it became clear that after 15th of August 1947, both the countries would
move on the religious pivot. It was only natural if Islam was to be at the centre of all the
issues in Pakistan then logically it should be Hindu religion which should be in the
forefront in India. It is presumed that they considered Gandhiji as a failed prophet though
they ritualistically continued to be in his obedience.
In pre-partition India, Sindhi leaders suffered from the handicap of being leaders of
minority community and now in India they would enjoy the status of majority community
that in turn freed them from carrying the burden of safety and safe guarding the interests of
the minority community. They reckoned that by their ability and qualities of leadership
they would reap the benefits of power. Perhaps Jairamdas Daulatram visualized future of
his and Sindhi community along these lines. As a corollary Sindhi Hindus were advised to
merge their identity with the local population. Sindhi refugees were told that they had left

their 'Matrabhoomi for Punyabhoomi' (You have come from the land of your birth to the
sacred land). In the bargain he did reap the benefit of being a central minister and
Governor of Bihar and Assam.
It was left to Dr Choithram Gidwani – who was a president of the Sindh congress
committee – to fight for the rehabilitation of Sindhi refugees and in the process came in a
clash with Sardar Patel who said, 'Dr Gidwani has gone mad.' He had to leave Congress,
then he fought and won elections in India after partition and again confronted government
on the issue of rehabilitation of Sindhi refugees.
It is significant to note that before independence itself Congress had released an
election manifesto which was very clear about the vision of India after the independence.
In spite of all the natural and man made calamities of great magnitude that country faced
after partition, the constituent assembly soon brought the country to even keel from the
storm and started it's work in right earnest. In the manifesto inter alia stated, 'The Congress
has stood for equal rights and opportunities for every citizen of India, man or woman. It
has stood for the unity of all communities and religious groups and for tolerance and
goodwill among between them. It has stood for full opportunities for the people as a whole
to grow and develop according to their own wishes and genius; it has also stood for the
freedom of each group and terrrorial area within the nation to develop it's own life and
culture within the larger framework, and for this purpose such territorial areas or
provinces should be constituted, as far as possible on the linguistic and cultural basis.
(Italics mine MG) …The Congress has envisaged a free, democratic state with the
fundamental rights and civil liberties of all it's citizens guaranteed in the constitution.'
Sindhi Leaders after partition thought that all the promises and manifesto of the
Congress was a mere history and India would– by compulsions of real politic – move
along the communal lines and linguistic and cultural identities had to be merged in an
overall Indian, which meant Hindu identity. It is in this background and this mindset when
the Indian languages were being listed in the eighth schedule of constitution that
Jairamdas Doulatram the only Sindhi representative did not feel necessary to press the
claim of Sindhi language.
All this was going on at national level. There were many among Sindhi congress
workers who implicitly shared the vision of future of India and the social society based on
the congress manifesto as of the distinct language, literature culture and historical
experience. One of them was Bhai Pratap. Who though a wealthy business man was
nationalist to core and had been host in Sindh to almost all national leaders who happened
to visit Sindh and was in close personal relationship with them. Due to his overseas
exposure and his multi disciplinary scholarship he shared the sense of Sindhis being
distinct community with rich heritage which needed to be preserved.
It may be mentioned that government of India or anyone for that matter was totally
unprepared with any plan to handle such a mass inflow of refugees. In the case of Punjab
and Bengal there was a landmass on both sides of the borders. The initial brunt and fury of
the torrent of refuges was absorbed by the common landmass. It may be very frankly
mentioned here that even at the time of gruesome blood shed witnessed in other parts of

India, Sindh did not see the brutality, bloodshed and carnage of that magnitude. The
hordes of refugees that descended on Sindh thought of themselves as the victorious army
and hence entitled to war booty. As Sindhi Hindus enjoyed comparative prosperity, it was
their wealth and property that was targeted. At the ground level Sindhi Hindus and
Muslims enjoyed a cordial relationship with each other, so bigotry in local Muslim
population was an aberration rather than a rule. In the process of getting hold of the
property of Sindhi Hindus, their harassment at the hands of then rulers and migrant
population started in a big way. This naturally unnerved many and they feared for their
safety as no one could ensure their peaceful and dignified existence. In fact many of the
Sindhi Hindus thought this bitterness to be only a temporary phase. They also shared the
common perception of a part of the then leadership that Pakistan was not a viable state and
would sooner come kneeling for reunification. It was under this perception that Sindhi
Hindus left their country as a temporary measure, they did not believe that they would
never return to their homes, hearths and lands ever again. The stories of many Hindu
Sindhis having left the keys of their homes with their Muslim neighbors are too numerous
to be recounted. Had this been the conscious choice they might have reacted differently.
The events of 6th January 1948 at Karachi hastened the process of migration from Sindh
in a dramatic way. Let there be no doubt that in Sindh, economic war was unleashed
against Sindhi Hindus to make it rather impossible for them to live there. It is recorded that
the violence first erupted in Quetta. Though it was part of Bulochistan, its effects were felt
in Sindh also. Nearly thirty people were killed as also forty injured. There was wide spread
looting and arson. Civil authorities requested military help. Train services were
suspended and as a precautionary measure additional force was sent to Sukkar. It is said
that collector of Nawabshah started behaving in a partisan manner. Yet Sindhis did not
share any landmass across the borders. There had been a traditional land mass of Kutch
but it became unfeasible in the circumstances prevailing then as a great desert lay between
Sindh and Kutch. The only routes of escape were by train towards Marwar and by ship
towards Bombay and some small ports like Okha or other small ports along Saurashtra.
Sindh had been separated from Bombay only a decade earlier and many Sindhi
businessmen and professionals had still live connections with Bombay. Thus by early
September many Sindhi Hindus had started leaving Sindh by air. Many planes of Bombay
Airlines, mostly 21 seater Dakotas were pressed into service. Air India, Ambica Airlines,
Mistry Airways all came into operation in the process of evacuation of Sindhi Hindus.
Train travel was fraught with risks and dangers therefore most of the evacuation was by
the sea route which was safest and comparatively faster. Bombay Steam Navigation
Company pressed its ships for evacuation via Karachi and a small port Okha. The SS
Sonavati, SS Kallavati, SS Netravati, and SS Iravati and many other were pressed into
service. The United press of India message reported on September 8th 1947, that four
thousand non Muslims were leaving daily for Mewar and other Stations via Hyderabad
Sindh. And about two thousand people were leaving Karachi daily by various means i.e.,
rail, ship and air.
After the Karachi riots, the exodus of Hindus started on a gigantic scale. More ships
were requisitioned on the Karachi–Bombay route. Bombay Steam Navigations ships,
Scindia Steam navigation ships, Moghul line ships and British Indian steam navigation

ships were all engaged in the evacuation business.
Obviously the government of India and provincial government did not have any
disaster management machinery at their disposal to face a disaster of such a magnitude. In
face of this crisis an ad-hoc solution was adopted. At the times of Independence the British
troupes had withdrawn and the camps left by them though now in dilapidated condition
were lying vacant. It was decided to house Sindhi refugees in those camps. Thus Sindhi
refugees were dispersed along the length and breadth of India as packets of unwanted
merchandise.
In this respect the table reproduced by Ms. Subhadra Anand in her book National
Integration of Sindhis (sourced from another book of U T Thakur, Sindhi Culture) speaks
volumes of the situation prevailing at that time therefore it is worthwhile reproducing here
also.
Table 3.2
Camp Population
Sr. No. State Population

1 Ajmer Merwara at Deoli 10200
2 Bombay 2, 16500
3 Baroda 10700
4 Bikaner State 8900
5 Jaipur State 33200
6 Jodhpur State 11,800
7 Madhya Bharat 3400
8 Former Rajasthan 15,800
9 Saurashtra Union 45,500
10 Vindhya Pradesh 15,400
11 Madhya Pradesh 81,400
TOTAL: 4,52,800

It may be mentioned that all those who came to various camps were necessarily not
destined to remain there. A lot of population was compelled to float across the country.
Families would try to find out where their kith, kin and people known to them had settled.
Through word of mouth or correspondence tried to find the avenues to eke out their living.
This quest for social coherence, even more so for sustenance – started a wave of cross-
migration across India. In order to be on their own feet, Sindhis did not hesitate to do any
dignified work. In this period often all the members of the family would be engaged in
work including small children and women. It also may be mentioned that most of the
camps, though far from the existing towns and cities, were in comparative proximity, thus
Sindhis' could afford to travel daily to and fro for the search of livelihood. They were soon
to be successful in their efforts which in turn roused the hostility of the local trading
population.
It is in this perspective that the question of linguistic, cultural and distinct social
identity was brought into sharp focus by none other than K C Neogy, the relief and
rehabilitation minister who said, 'An important point to remember is that Sindhis are
threatened with extinction as a separate peoples with their own peculiar, distinctive
customs and qualities. Thinly spread over India with no place to call their own they can
not hope to retain their culture and language.' (*This quotation has been taken from
Subhdra Anand's above referred book, p. 75.)
All this while the dialogue between the leaders of India and Pakistan, Congress
leaders and Muslim League continued at higher level for restoring the confidence of
minorities: to discourage them from fleeing. However, it was all a smoke screen whereas
the ground reality presented quite a different picture.
In all this it was Mahatma Gandhi who credibly held aloft the torch of
Hindu–Muslim Unity. He could only inspire a ray of hope in atmosphere vitiated by
hatred and violence unprecedented in their history. It is in this background that Bhai
Pratap approached Gandhiji for guidance. Gandhiji told him to plan a secure but natural
alternative for the Sindhi Hindu community at a place where their identity would remain
intact. He suggested Kutch as a natural choice from historical, cultural and linguistic
points of view – where there would be no threat to their natural way of life. As a true
disciple, Bhai Pratap started on this mission as a man-possessed. Fate transpired to bring
two men of destiny together to accomplish this unique feat in the annals of world history.
Normally new cities are built by emperors and in the recent times by governments but
rarely it has happened that the city is built by the vision of one individual. That is what
Bhai Pratap sought to accomplish and that too, facing all the challenging odds ranged
against him.
Ironically when Mahatma Gandhi and Bhai Pratap had already identified a natural
home land for Hindu Sindhis – strangely enough another proposal was brought before
Gandhiji that Sindhis should be settled in any of three places.
On December 2, a deputation of Sindh refugees' association apparently inspired by
communal minded elements in the Congress presented a memorandum to Gandhiji
suggesting that about a million and half Sindhi refugees should be settled at following

places.
a. Between Meerut and Agra.
b. Between Nasik and Lonvala.
c. Between Saugar and Nagpur.
It is preposterous in the view that Gandhiji had already blessed the scheme of
replacement of Sindhi near Kandla Port. Also Bhai Pratap had already started the work of
identifying the land near Kandla Port. He had already constituted the Sindhu Resettlement
Corporation. The memorandum of this corporation was printed in 1947 itself. (See
Appendix). One would wonder what the purpose of such a suggestion was. The places
referred to had no connection with the Sindhi language or their way of living. Were the
protagonists of the scheme inadvertently pleading for apartheid in reverse? Did they have
any understanding of history, culture and politics? It is necessary to identify such people/
forces which were bent upon totally destroying Sindhi identity and placing Sindhi
population in the midst of huge population for whom in the case of any animosity they
would be merely sitting ducks! This fact proves one point beyond any doubt that from the
very initial days the scheme envisaged By Bhai Pratap had to contend with opposition
which he totally and courageously disregarded with utter nonchalance for which he was
destined to pay indeed a very heavy price in the days to come.
AND IN RETOSPECT :
'Maharao Khangerji III was deeply concerned at the difficulty of finding suitable
facilities for modern shipping at Mandvi; and it occurred to him that Kandla creek, with
it's well defined banks with deep water close to shore, and ample depth for ocean going
ships, offered possibilities which were well worth exploring. Unlike Mandvi, a port on
Kandla creek would be sheltered from the southwest monsoon; and would have the
further advantage of being quite close to the mainland of India. Communications with
Saurashtra he thought, would be possible for passengers by travelling through the creek,
without traversing the open sea at all. [All this,] while for the goods traffic, a
comparatively short rail link to Deesa would give any port on Kandla creek a considerable
advantage, even over Bombay, for the trade with Rajputana.
'Like so many pioneers, Maharao Khangerji III was exposed to some criticism and
even to attack from those who could not see so far ahead as he could. Kandla creek was
deserted spot, cut off by salt marshes from any inhabited area. A FINE PLACE TO SET A
PORT! Yet the old Maharao – who had already been on the throne for half a century
–remained true to his vision. Tirelessly he explored the banks of the creek from end to end,
tramping through salt marshes and among mangroves; spending day's even weeks, on
horseback and on riding camels. At the cost of immense personal exertion, he found some
sites which seemed suitable. He took the best expert advice and he engaged the services of
a British port engineer. Gradually a small settlement grew up, a first small settlement for
workmen, then a small landing stage, then a customs office and a warehouse or two. Fresh
water was found and piped supply was led from the Viri springs to new port. Everything
had to be planned on a small scale; the Maharao's resources were strained to limit even to

affect those modest beginnings....' These constraints emanated from Kutch's strong
determination to remain outside Indian customs union and have its own currency. After
the independence these obstacles were automatically removed and situation so evolved
that at that time Bhai Pratap was looking for a place near the port, to replace the loss of
Karachi port to Pakistan, where new city could be built to accommodate Sindhi Hindu
refugees. Thus while Bhai Pratap wanted a land to settle population and build a city the
Maharao needed population for city to live in. It was indeed a win-win situation for both
the sides. On the top of it, this project had blessings of Gandhiji to whose wishes the ruler
of Kutch after integration into Indian Union could not but defer.
In this way after long negotiations Bhai Pratap sent a formal letter of request to
Maharao for grant of 15,000 acres of land on 27th January 1948 (Along with the draft
conveyance deed) and on 29th January he received a letter accepting his request. Gandhiji
was also accordingly informed of this good tiding. But on 30th of January 1948, Gandhiji
was assassinated. As promised the foundation stone could not be laid by Gandhiji as
already planned, but on 11th February his ashes were brought to be immersed at Kandla
creek by his ardent follower Acharya Kripalani, (who under pressure from Gandhiji had
accepted to be chairman of Sindhu Resettlement Corporation) Bhai Pratap and other
leaders. Part of the ashes was brought to Gandhidham also and Gandhi Samadhi was
erected. Thus in India we have two Gandhi Samadhis one at Rajghat at Delhi and other
distinction remains with Adipur–Gandhidham.
Remains of Father of nation Mahatma

Gandhi on 12th Feb. 1948 being
submerged at Kandla Port by Acharya
J.B. Kripalani and Bhai Pratap.
Kandla Bandar view

Chapter-4
Pioneering Efforts
( Story of Sindhu Resettlement Corporation)
S o many things had to be done at the same time. Time being of essence, which would
determine the success or failure of the endeavour, therefore Bhai Pratap plunged
headlong in the work and simultaneously started working on various fronts.
Karachi had been lost to India and it was necessary to create another port to cater to
the vast hinterland of India. Bhai Pratap saw in this an ideal opportunity to establish a city
for Sindhi immigrants, which would grow into a port city with enormous possibilities –
providing opportunities of which the Sindhi Hindu population would be able to take
advantage.
The main problem was accessibility. The methods of reaching Kutch were quite
cumbersome. Two routes used to be open to the traveller to Kutch. They could either
journey by sea all the way from ancient sea port of Mandvi. The other route was to take a
twelve hour railway trip on broad gauge to Ahmedabad. Then change into the metre gauge
for the slow motion train for another twelve hours through Kathiwad, then further, either
embark at Bedi in Nawanagar state or at Naulakhi in Morvi state, for the short sea passage
to the new port which Maharao Khangerji III of Kutch (1876–1942) had built at Kandla on
a deep water creek, with enormous possibilities for international shipping.(*The black
Hills- Kuth in History and legend-L.F. Rushbrook Williams.)
Apart from addressing the accessibility problem Bhai Pratap first had to create an
institution or organization which could execute the work. As per laws prevailing then only
option open to him was an incorporation of the Joint Stock Company. The work of
preparing the legal framework stated in 1947 itself and Sindhu Resettlement Company
was legally incorporated in 1948, with Acharya Kripalani as its Chairman and Bhai Ptatap
as Managing Director. Many important and eminent persons who could inspire
confidence were members of the managing board. All directors were honorary workers
and no one benefited from the corporation. From the inception itself it was conceived as a
Kutchi Sindhi partnership endeavour. Accordingly Shri Bhawanji Arjan Khimji and a
younger brother of Mahahrao of Kutch were also taken on the Board of Directors. In fact
as the memorandum of the corporation mentioned this enterprise was in true Gandhian
spirit, free from any caste or community bias. From the very inception it was made clear
that though the legal frame work of the operations was Joint Stock Company but in spirit it
would function more as a co-operative venture, therefore a limit was set to distribution of
dividend and the number of the shares that an individual could purchase. The Company
was floated with 25000 shares of ` 1000 each thus the capital of the corporation was kept
at ` 2,50,00,000.
Land measuring 15000 acres was obtained as a grant from Maharao of Kutch on
29th of January 1948. Accordingly the best town planners in the world were engaged to
plan futuristic city of new-modern India. A firm of Italian town planners Mr. Murio
Bacchlochi, was hired, further they were helped by a team headed by Dr O H
Koenigsberger, director of the division of Housing in Government of India and M/s
Ballard Thomson & Mathews of Calcutta, M/s Karchande and Rosy of Delhi.
Subsequently the plan was revised by Adams Howard and Greeley Company in 1952. As
desired by the Indian government the town plan also whetted and approved by the
American Town Planning organization whose services had been obtained under 'Truman
Aid Scheme'. It was decided by town planners that open spaces per person should be at
least half the proportion as existing in the United States. (This was decided taking into
account the Indian conditions and resources available. Yet this was to be best yard stick in
Indian circumstances.) The basic concept was that the town was to be divided into self
sufficient districts which were again sub divided into neighborhood units. Each
neighbourhood unit, having a population of about 10,000 people, it's own schools,
dispensaries, recreation centres and Temples etc. while each district consisting of about
half a dozen neighbourhood units had a district centre, consisting of markets, shopping
squares , cinemas, hospital etc. Thus this town was planned with big open grounds for
social and recreational activities. Another challenge in the neighbourhood design was to
channel the traffic on main streets so that the traffic should not flow through
neighbourhood streets, which otherwise would have been the case with wide streets.
From the very beginning of the town planning, it was expected that the town would benefit
from the port and free trade zone activities at a latter stage of its development. This
planned approach had been appreciated by many around the world.
This town has distinction of having smallest address, which was initiated at the
planning stage itself. For example the last letter X or Z stood for those who had subscribed
to the shares of the corporation. X stood for those constructions which were to be given to
non share holders and Z denoted the constructions allotted to share holders. S denoted a
single room T stood for two rooms, Th for three rooms and SDZ denoted bungalows.
Therefore the addresses like SDX 50, or TRS 69, are common here. The end number
would indicate the actual situation. As is human nature, these dwellings later on were
referred to on the basis of the rent paid by the tenants e.g., ` 2/-, ` 7/- and so on.
(NOTE: This information is to be re-confirmed from Prof. Satish Rohra)
Immediate efforts were made to obtain water supply from Shinai lake having a
capacity of about 400 million cubic feet. This lake with moderate rainfall filled up to
supply sufficient water to meet the needs at that point in time. This source was to be
augmented from Viri springs, which had inexhaustible water supply to meet all the needs
for construction purpose.
But at this juncture sprang a hurdle of a vital nature which threatened the existence
of the entire enterprise. It happened that many rulers just before acceding to India had
transferred large parts of their fertile lands to their close relatives and their favorite
courtiers. This last minute maneuver could not be accepted by the Government of India
and all the grants six months prior to accession were declared null and void. Unfortunately

the grant of the land by Maharao of Kutch to Sindhu Resettlement Corporation technically
fell in this category. And the entire question of the title to the land was again caught in
bureaucratic maze. It should be remembered that all this came at the time when time and
speed were the most essential factors. It took 7 full years to unravel the web and come out
with a scheme which had changed beyond recognition. Instead of 15000 acres of land
initially granted to Sindhu Resettlement Corporation it was reduced to mere 2600 acres
and that too not as a grant but on lease of 99 years. This was accompanied with crippling
conditions. In the process the SRC was in fact reduced to being an appendage of Kandla
Port Authority and its authority was further circumscribed by establishment of
Gandhidham Land Development Board which had right to approve any plan in the Adipur
and Gandhidham Planned areas. Here a question arises why did it take full seven years to
settle such a vital issue when Sindhi refugees were facing life and death struggle? Was it
possible for Sindhi Community to survive only on water and fresh air during this time? No
doubt they resorted to the obvious – they started settling wherever they could find
employment and do some business to eke out their living and had began to gather some
roots in the soil where they were already settled? Was there a hidden hand behind all the
delay? Was this stratagem resorted to elements who in the beginning itself were out to
scuttle this scheme and had to settle some scores with Bhai Pratap? Nothing can be proved
at this stage, it is only when the archives of this period are de classified that one can do any
further research in the matter.
Bhai Pratap was made of a stern stuff. He had indomitable will and unflinching faith
in his vision. He was not to be deterred from such setbacks. He accepted the challenges
with his characteristic courage. He doggedly fought at every step and at every front. In this
respect he argued with government authorities and did not simply submit to their dictates.
He argued his case in this respect; extract from one of the communications sent to
Government of India in which he refers to the meeting of 26th January1949. In this he
refers to his letters dated 22nd February 1949,in which he writes, 'The average holding , in
fact is hardly1.6 shares per head and the shares so far subscribed by the public, are by over
8000 persons of middle class who are spread all over India. Under this circumstances,
holding a block of 25 percent shares in such an Institution, gives the government very
great powers so that, if desired, it could wipe out the usual rights and privileges of other
share holders. It was because of this that in my letter dated 22nd February 1949 I had
requested the Government to desist from participating in the annual elections by the share
holders of it's directors and was also given an assurance in a reply dated 17th March 1949,
that the government will not ordinarily participate in the elections and removal of non
Government directors.'(Annexure F-2 Part of annexure of this book)
Needless to say that Bhai Pratap was pragmatic and he had a knack of finding a right
person for the right Job. First Gandhidham was to have rail connectivity. He set about this
task in right earnest. He appointed a very important retired officer of the Indian railways
on the high post in the corporation but his actual work was to facilitate through his
contacts the rail connectivity as expeditiously as possible.
Another work which did not brook any delay was construction of the port of Kandla
for which the contract was awarded to German Firm Mackanzie…. They had many

Germans and Europeans of other nationalities as their engineers and advisors. To cater to
their daily needs the supply system had to be put in place. Bhai promptly arranged to meet
their needs also in the township. A shop dedicated to their demands was also opened.
Mr. Mavjibhai Sawla in his column 'On the fringes of, Footpath' in Kutch Mitra
dated 18-2-2009, gives the account of those times in the following words. 'The work at
Adipur started in 1947 itself. It was during that time that work of Bhuj Kandla and Kandla
Dessa metre gauge line was started. Prior to that only train that used to run in Kutch used to
be a narrow gauge between Kandla and Bhuj, which had shining small brass colour engine
on which the letter GAR ('Ghanu Jivo Maharao'–Long Live Ruler – Maharao) was
inscribed. It used to take 5 hours from Kandla to reach Bhuj in this narrow gauge train. In
this train normally the labour force and Engineers, supervisors would start at about nine in
the morning and would start back from Kandla at about six in the evening. This train came
to be known as the Mackanzie train after the name of the contracting company and there
was no checking of the tickets of the passengers as all were employed by Mackanzie Co.
He refers to innovative methods employed during the initial period of construction of the
Kandla port. In order to drive the piles, the slush would be piped out and gathered on the
shore. It was difficult to remove the mounds of slush thus gathered. One Mistry,
Dungarshibhai who was earlier attached to Meraoo Metal works procured about 50–100
bullock carts and started demolishing the Slush mounds by depositing the same in the
nearby marsh pits thus bringing ditches to the ground level, it is at this land that now stand
the sheds and warehouses of the Kandla port. Needless to add during that time no other
motorized transport could be used there. Mr. Sawla has contributed a series of about
twenty columns on the reminiscences of that period.
As the actual archives of that period of early fifties are very scarce and are hard to
find, it was two old timers who enriched me with their memories which form the valuable
record of that time and are part of oral history which also needs to be placed on record so
that those facts are not lost to posterity.
In order to develop and build a city various works had to be undertaken and team to
execute the work had to be assembled. As per one of the old timer Mr Preetam Variyani
following institutions (Mostly labour oriented) were established. As Sindhi Hindus are
not used to hard labour they were employed at supervisory and intermediate levels and for
hard physical work the labour had to be arranged from local resources.
The initial management structure is said to be as under:
1. Shri Girdharilal Kripalani, who was nephew/brother of Acharya Kripalani was
appointed as general manager of SRC. He remained in this position for about
two years.
2. Mr. Lagu was in charge of cement pipes and electrical poles manufacturing
factory.
3. Mr. Mani was in charge of wood works and mechanical workshop.
4. Mr. Bhagwandas Wadhwani was stores in charge.

5. Mr. Motiram Mirchandani was deputy working under Gidharilal.
6. Mr. Sunderdas was looking after horticulture.
7. Mr. Kaltari was medical health-in-charge.
8. Mr. Ramchand Moorjani was in charge of laboratory and sanitation.
9. Another Mr. Lagu was in charge of water supply.
10. Mr. Motiram Gulrajani was looking after chemical laboratory.
Mr. Doulatram Jairamdas who was a chief officer at Hyderabad was advisor to Bhai
Pratap and used to look after the affairs of SRC in his absence.
Mr. Thakur. F. Rai (Singhani) was secretary to Bhai pratap.
Initially Preetam Varyani was absorbed in wood work factory but soon he was
transferred to Health Department as an inspector for health and hygiene. He says there
was dormitory at a site where now Hiru Issrani lives.
At that time according to Preetam Variyani the total population which had settled
here was about 50.
According to Mr Nirmal Vaswani another old timer, some Kutchi families settled at
Sindh who migrated to India came to resettle at Gandhidham. He mentions names of
Kashiprasad Vora who was at some time personal secretary to Bhai Pratap and Dhaorai
Buch was accountant and Valjibhai Bhide was head clerk. Mr Hadkar was a chief engineer
of SRC and one Australian Mr Arthur Hill was in charge of water works and plumbing
installations.
Mr Nirmal Vaswani found a serious flaw in the town planning. The town planners
had not provided any space for crematorium or burial ground. This was corrected by
providing these facilities outside the planed city.
Mr Valliram Kishnani mentions Mr Madhavdas Shivalomal as Land and Housing
in-charge. He says Bessar Plant for making cement blocks was first of its kind in Asia. He
mentions that an ice factory, printing press, homes for the old/infirm, unattached widows
and children were also established. A vocational training centre was also set up. Some
handlooms were also brought and the first Lal Sai temple in India was also established
here. A guest house was established at the site now where Hotel Midtown stands.
Another old timer, now a very popular and important grand old lady Dadi Krishna
Bhambhani says, Bhai Pratap was very much concerned about education of children. Shri
Hundraj 'Dukhayal' was specially sent to Chittorgarh to bring Ms Krishna to Adipur to
start a School. She landed here in 1951, at the time when Cheti Chand was being
celebrated. She was received at old jetty by Girdharilal (MD of SRC) and Mr Motiram.
From the Cheti Chand celebrations she was immediately taken to a site where she was
presented with 13 students by Bhai Pratap who told her to start a school! This way the
foundation of 'Maitri Mandal Educational Institution' was laid. They did not have any
books or syllabus! All were imported much later from Ajmer. She was soon joined by Mrs

Parpati Gidwani from Junagad.
In one of his articles Mr S C Hingorani reminisces that during initial period outings
were encouraged and mixing was maximized. Street corner picnics would be common
sight and contributory preeti Bhojans in abundance. Gandhidham club had come into
existence. Mr Notani, SRC Manager and head of the land department was the moving
spirit behind this venture.
In 1950 one evening all of sudden bank of the nearby Shenai Lake gave way,
resulting in flash flood. There was no any connection with outside world as there was no
telephone connection, therefore no outside help could be expected. All men rushed from
tenements or tents to repair the breach and whole night they were on their feet. Such an
amazing example of self reliance and co-operation!
Nav Yuvak group was founded by youth of the town. Pioneers were Late Sri
Bhagwandas Wadhwani, Satish Rohra, Sugnaram Ladkani, Preetam Variyani, Gopaldas
Daryani, Bhagwandas Chandwani, Mohan Bharti, Late Bhagwandas Abhichandani, Late
Fatandas Pariyani, and Late Harchandrai Vasandani.
Mr Chetan Kripalani was such a dedicated social worker that he would transport the
ill and infirm to hospital in a hand cart as no ambulances were available at that time.
While all this work was being done at ground level it was essential to involve the
people for whom the entire enterprise was intended and this called for massive
information drive to reach out to people. In this also Bhai Pratap did not spare any avenue
available. He enlisted the co-operation of Shri Hundraj Dukhayal who in pre
independence days carried the message of Congress – Gandhiji and freedom with his
'Khanjiri' throughout the length and breadth of Sindh, with his patriotic songs – now he
was to carry to the people the message of new home town being built for them, Hassanand
'Jadugar'(The magician who was fondly remembered as King of Silver coins) and devoted
his life to eradicate social evils and spread the awareness of freedom struggle was also
roped in to spread the message of new township which was being established for Sindhis.
78 RPM records were also made in his inimitable style and voice so that they may be
played on the Gramophone so that the message may reach to the masses where he could
not reach personally.
The services of most popular Singer of Sindh Master Chander were also availed to
sing songs specially written to spread the message of new township for Sindhis.
In this entire exercise which today may be termed 'Marketing', the written word, and
also print media was also extensively used. A Magazine entitled 'Naeen Sindh' was
launched from Head office of SRC at Bombay which was edited by Mr Mangahram
Thadani, (now Sipahimalani). Many information pamphlets and other material were
written especially to propagate and promote the idea of new township. At this stage it is
not possible to give all that appeared at that time but following gleanings would covey the
spirit of those times.
The first pamphlet I have been able to access is in Sindhi 'Gandhidham Ratha'
(Gandhidham proposal). Cover does not bear any date or year of publication but message

th
by Sant Lilashah bears the date 25 November 1948. Therefore it may be presumed that
this pamphlet is of late 1948 or early 1949.
First chapter stresses the necessity of having one's own home land. The confidence
and the sense of belonging this sense evokes are amply demonstrated by various
examples. It refers to migrations and transmigrations throughout the human History
therefore this migration should not be considered as some thing unheard of but it would be
necessary to adopt another land and own it so that the sense of alienation would be
replaced by a sense of belongingness. This article dwells on the viability and desirability
to adopt Kutch as homeland and seeks to dispel the impression that Kutch is all desert and
wilderness where no progress or prosperity is possible. It dwells on the subjects like
sources of Income, farming, availability of water, crafts and business, import-export, and
a promise of happy life. It is well argued and researched article but the name of the author
is not given.
Another very important and seminal article is written by Bhai Pratap himself. In that
article he seeks to inform at length and contribute to the discussion which took place in a
Sindhi daily newspaper 'Sansar Samachar'. He starts with a question whether
Gandhidham can be new home land for Sindhis? He dwells on the concept of home town
and discusses thread bare this issue and comes out with cogent observations about the
concept of homeland, choice of selecting a new home land, for refugees and then comes to
desirability and viability of Gandhidham being preferred home town for Sindhis, and
seeks to answer some myths and misconceptions about Kutch. As this article explains the
mindset of Bhai Pratap in his own words, it has been deemed necessary to translate it into
English and give as an appendix in this book.* (See appendix). Therefore it would not be
necessary to add on this article here.
In the same booklet the speech of Sardar Patel then home Minister of India is
reproduced here in which he during AICC session, in subjects committee referred to this
issue and said, 'Now the administration of Kutch is in the hands of Indian Government.
This has been done with a view to ensure the adequate progress of Kutch which has been
neglected so far. Government wishes that the natural resources there should be exploited
to bring prosperity to the region. This area has remained insulated from the rest of India
for centuries. The natural resources on agricultural front and mineral resources have not
been utilized to bring benefit to the region.
Government has realized that enough resources are available. After loss of Karachi
Port due to partition Bombay Port has been over burdened. In view of that fact
Government has decided to build a big and modern port at Kandla. This work has already
started. In order to connect this region with the rest of the country the work on laying the
necessary railway lines has been undertaken.
Apart from all that there is vast scope of rehabilitating refugees from Sindh. The life
style language etc of both Kutchis and Sindhis are very similar. It will be easy for them to
assimilate there.
Within 8–10 years the port activities and the city will develop to that extent where

8–10 lakh people will be able to lead a prosperous life due to their hard work and
diligence.'
In same booklet Mr Hotchand Nenumal has devoted article to the subject
'Gandhidham and Sindhworkis'. In this article he pointedly refers to perception prevailing
at that time that partition of the country was a temporary phenomena and people were
eagerly waiting for Pakistan to crumble under the weight of its own contradictions so that
it would be possible for them to go back to their homes and hearths. The argument was
advanced that in such a situation why should Sindhis think of having another home land?
He argues, in such a scenario, it would automatically follow that Sind and Kutch would
unite. In the end he urged Sindhworkis to take advantage of new Kandla port coming up as
they have to deal overseas and the port city plays an important part.
At the end of this booklet is given a first plan of Gandhidham town which together
with the final town plan as eventually it has been adopted have been given as an appendix.
One pamphlet explaining the housing scheme at Gandhidham at the initial stages
was issued in which it was shown that 4000 two room tenements were proposed to be
constructed within a year. Each tenement would cost Rs. 3000/- out of which down
payment would be Rs. 800/- and the rest would be recovered in monthly easy installments
thus a hire purchase scheme was initiated. The plan of the house shown in that pamphlet is
also given in the appendix.
th
On 10 January 1952 Jawaharlal Nehru came to visit Gandhidham. On that occasion
a souvenir which was issued in English is really a mine if information about the works
accomplished in that brief period. Interestingly the report is written by none other than
Bhai Pratap himself.
The report after town planning explains various activities undertaken by SRC and in
a short span the progress in the various sectors.
Water Supply :
Apart from the water supply from Shenai lake and Viri springs he adds 'with a
assistance of Geological Department of Government, a large area, rich in underground
water is plotted out. Five tube wells 12' to 15' wide, with a depth ranging from 250' to 300'
have so far been sunk. Deep well pumps have been installed at two wells and the average
discharge from each well is about 40,000 gallons per hour. The interim water supply
scheme estimated to cost about 10 lakhs and having a discharge capacity of 1 Ω million
gallons per day has been completed. 12 miles of main pipe line of 21' to 12' diameter have
been laid. Gandhidham is perhaps the only town in Kutch where water is available on
tap…..'
Drainage:
'Plans have been prepared to provide ultimately underground drainage in the whole
township. For the time being, main underground sewers have been laid and connected
with open surface drains near the houses, underground drainage is being laid at present

and flushes are being introduced. A suitable site for the model sewage farm on lines of
Municipal farm at Karachi, has been selected and sullage water will be utilized there'.
Roads:
'About 15 miles of macadamized roads so far have been constructed. A link Road
connecting two localities has been completed. All the roads soon will be tarred. Along this
as well as other roads, 10,000 shade trees, so far, have been planted. A Unit of nurseries is
maintained for the cultivation of these trees. Experiments are carried out also in
cultivation of other plants of general interest to the whole of Kutch that might prove
beneficial to its economy.'
Electricity:
'All houses have been provided with Electricity. The present power supply station
has a capacity of about 1000 K W's, which is being expanded to meet the growing needs of
the growing city'.
Commercial Industrial Department:
In this he lists various activities which could be summarized as under:
– Hollow cement block making factory has the capacity of manufacturing 10,000
blocks per day- material enough for about six simple houses.
– RCC spun and pole factory has manufactured practically all the pipes required for
water supply and drainage schemes. This also employs of hundreds of displaced
persons.
– Wood workshop and Saw Mill: All wood used in the houses constructed has been
manufactured in this unit and employs more than 100 carpenters.
– Auto workshop and mechanical workshop: These units are working in
conjunction to supplement the needs of above Industries wherein the necessary
repairs to machinery are carried out on the spot. Besides a fleet of Lorries is
maintained for transport purpose. Hundred of refuges have been trained as
mechanics and driver
– A Laboratory on the moderate scale also has been set up.
– A vegetable farm, a Dairy Farm and a Poultry farm have also been stated
And more importantly a huge work of construction of 4000 houses, shops and other
facilities was accomplished during that short span of time.
In the same report Bhai Pratap gives the report on the social aspect of
social/educational Institutions established for the welfare of the citizens of this nascent
evolving town.
- 2 Primary and one secondary school have been started where about 800 students
receive education. Separate kindergarten classes are also being conducted.
Additional classes for adult education for men and women are also on.

- A Vocational training center has been established in order to train young of the
citizens in various field of occupation, e.g., overseer, sub overseer, fitters,
wiremen, and carpenters.
- Nari shalla where ladies are taught handicrafts is also started.
- A fully equipped dispensary has been working under a qualified doctor and
trained staff to render health services.
- Social welfare organization 'Maitr Mandal' and' Nav Yuvak Group' have been
started on voluntary basis. Nav Yuvak group has established a school at
Sardarnagar (Gandhidham) and run a dispensary at sardar nagar and Adipur.
They also impart physical training to youngsters of town. They have been rightly
applauded by the citizens for their efforts.
- To look after the financial needs of the mercantile community a cooperative bank
is also established. The authorized share capital of the Gandhidham Co-operative
bank is Rs. 1,00,000 and it is to be raised by share of Rs.10/-
SUCH WAS ALL ENCOMPASSING AND A COMPLETE VISION OF BHAI
PRATAP FOR A FUTURISTIC CITY!
(In the end of this chapter are to be given photographs given it the above mentioned
booklet)
Following were first directors of Sindhu Resettlement Corporation:
1. Acharya Jiwatram Bhagwandas Kripalani, ( Chairman)
2. Bhai Pratap Dialdas ( Managing Director )
3. Bhagwandas Basantsingh Advani,
4. Shewakram Kishinchand,
5. Hotchand Gopaldas Advani,
6. Ramchand Lilaram,
7. Gobindram Hassaram,
8. Manghram Jiwandas,
9. Assandas Khushaldas,
th
Directors present at the meeting held on 28 August 1952.
1. Acharaya J. B. kripalani,
2. Bhai Pratap Dialdas,
3. K.Mitter,
4. S.A. Ghatge,

5. P.N. Singhal,
6. Hotchand Advani,
7. Bhawanji Arjun Khimji,
8. Kalyanji Dhanji Shah,
9. D.H. Hiranandani,
10. Mrs. Savitri pardasani,
11. Purshotomsingh L. Bajaj,
12. Gobindram Hassaram,
Mr. Premjibhai Thacker and Bhai Vaidya were also present to represent Kutch state's
advisors to the chief comminisioner.
Maitri Bhawan at Hyderabad (Sindh)
Nav Singh, September 1949 : Painting on partition

Nav Singh, 15 August 1950 : Hospital facilities in Gandhidham

Nav Singh, 15 August 1950 : Some scenes of Gandhidham

Nav Sindh, October 1950 : Gandhidham Scenes
Railway lines being laid.
Water supply lines being laid.
Water supply lines being laid.
Nav Sindh, October 1950,

Dr. Choithram Gidwani at Kandla Airport

Chapter-5
and….Township marches ahead
(Story of Sindhu Resettlement Corporation on the March)
A ll the necessary institutions and employment opportunities feasible and necessary

were taken care of. The seeds were sown and now only the seedlings had to be
nurtured and it was expected that in time to come the city will soon boom!
But time was a big constraint. The entire enterprise of converting dream into reality
at one end, was caught into bureaucratic maze and on the other hand the catch 22 at the
ground level. The source of employment would grow only if the business grew and the
market and business would grow only if the population grew! Inspired by the dream of
their own city many people came to gauge the business opportunities but felt dejected by
all the sand dunes in the vicinity and no possibility of growing market. It so transpired that
for a major port status many other existing ports in Saurashtra had laid their claims and as
bureaucratic wheels move very slow it took some time for Kandla port to be declared as
major port for future. The work of expansion was slowly under progress and entire town
gave a look of town still under construction with a wide presence of construction labour.
So all these proved to be deterrents. Bhai Pratap was not to be deterred or distracted. He
issued orders that no able bodied person should remain unemployed in Adipur or
Gandhidham. As per principles of Keynesian economic theory, as put in practice during
great depression to bring the economy of the country out of that grim situation in
America,in order to generate employment, while some people were employed to dig the
pits others were employed to fill the same. Bhai Pratap in order to pump in money in the
economy gave incentives to kill a snake or scorpion with a view to serve a dual purpose of
cleaning the land of these pests which no doubt abounded in this region and in addition to
drive away the fear of these pests from the hearts of people. This fact gained wide
currency in the publicity generated, giving the impression that the land was not safe for
habitation and proved counter productive.
The figures of the census of 1951 are not available. Figures of Gandhidham Adipur
region are available from 1961 to 2001. The same are as under:
Year Population Year Population
1961 26448 1991 104585
1971 38824 2001 1511693
1981 61415
Commercial properties: 10220, Residential properties: 40142, Slum Pockets: 8, with a total population of 45000*
∑
These figures have been taken from a document of Gandhidahm Nagar Palika.

It will be seen that within decade between 1961 and 1971 there was a growth of
about 12 thousand. The decade of 1971 -81 registered growth of 23000. The sluggish
growth may be ascribed to 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, apart from the dispute along
Kutch boundary. The early growth was connected with progress on the building of Kandla
port. But it can be said that by 1981 Gandhidham – Adipur came to take off stage.
After the fateful and devastating earthquake of 2001 the central and state
governments have injected substantial amounts of money for rebuilding and industrial
growth of this region with concession to industries and free trade zone at Kandla, bringing
prosperity to this region and the consequent business opportunities and employment.
Now this town is estimated to have population of about 5 lakhs. Figures of 2011 censuses
are awaited for correct number of the population inhabiting this region.
In this entire endeavor SRC has remained as the guiding and pivotal engine of
growth. Though many other institutions Like Gandhidham Land Authority, Kandla Free
Trade Zone, Gandhidham Nagar Palika, Kandla Port Authorities have also played
significant role.
The Role of Sindhu resettlement corporation needs to be briefly mentioned.
As per directors report on the year ending 31st march 1955, the corporation had
accumulated losses of Rs. 1,28,661/- and during that year corporation had a meager profit
of Rs. 33,524/- thus reducing the accumulated loss to Rs. 95,137/-. Out of Total 10,000
shares 6023 were sold and balance 3977 shares still remained to be sold. Even the
requisite call money was not forthcoming. The reason for this is explained in the report.
'(Besides) due to stalemate over the question of the allotments of plots there had been no
turn over in the land department. This question now having been settled and revised lease
having been executed, the land department has already started functioning more actively
so that some income has started coming in….. The lease deed was approved by the general
body of the shareholders at their meeting held on 17-9-55 and was executed on 28-11-
55……The delay in the allotment of units of the land to shareholders continued to be a
serious problem in the matter of rehabilitation.'
At that time one of the partners of M/s Mckenzies Henrich Butzer (India) which had
been contracted to build Kandla Port withdrew, and the corporation increased its holding
in the company to extent of 50%. The name of the company was changed to M/s Sindhu-
Hochtif –Buzzer (India) Ltd. In the meanwhile, the Minister of Transport and Railways
declared Kandla as India's sixth major port. The Bunder was declared open by the
Development Commissioner, Kandla on 29th June 1955.
Above factors gave impetuous to the growth which has been reflected in the next
st
year's report of 31 March 1956. In the year 1955-56 the corporation showed a surplus of
Rs. 2,93,563-13-0 (This reflects Rupees, annaas and paisa of that time). Even after
making a contingency fund of Rs. 17,070-13-0 and wiping out accumulated deficit, a net
profit of Rs. 1,81,356-9-2 was registered. Besides a sum of Rs. 8,84,010-0-0 had accrued
in the land department. Even at this stage the township did not have a statuary body like
Municipality to look after the maintenance of the township and it was being looked after
by a body which was indigenously created by Bhai Pratap and named as 'SAMITI' instead

of Municipality. Of course it did not have its own funds and had to rely on the financial
support of SRC. At that time according to report the population had reached 40,000. In this
period the government loan was also considerably reduced.
A significant event of the year was a short visit by Prime Minister of India
Jawaharlal Nehru who appreciated the efforts of the Corporation for rehabilitation of
refugees and creation of a new township for them. At that time the aerodrome near Adipur
was also being constructed to provide air connectivity.
It appeared that surmounting all the impediments Gandhidham- Adipur were set for
a big leap forward.
The eagerly awaited allotment started during the year 1957 and residential and
commercial in ward Nos. 2-B and 12 B and C at Sardar Nagar (Gandhidham) and wards
2B, 3B, 4A, and B were allotted. The lay out plans of for other area were under
preparation. Two berths at Kandla port had already been constructed.
At the same time the The Gandhidham Development authority was constituted by
then Bombay legislature and the purpose of constituting this additional authority was to
ensure that the future growth of the twin townships proceeded along the planned lines.
The decision to set up a Borough municipality was also taken during this period.
(Report of 1958 is not available in records)
The net surplus left at the end of the year 1959 was Rs. 4,40,516/-. In the land
department total 3356 plots worth Rs. 83.5 lakhs were demarcated and 1030 plots worth
Rs. 30.14 lakhs were allotted. At the same time due to announcement by the government
regarding the allotment of Commercial and Industrial plots at the adjoining sites as those
held by the corporation, at competitive terms their sale was considerably effected. Then
government was approached to remove this irritant. As stated earlier the Gandhidham
Development Authority had been constituted by the bill of Bombay legislature previous
year. The corporation and Development commissioner's office appointed a common
architect for the purpose of planning residential and other buildings in order to avoid
duplication and delay in the works. The civic services previously rendered by the
corporation were transferred to Borough Municipality which was constituted on 1st April
1959.
The work on the national highway, linking Ahmedabad – Gandhidham and the work
of connecting Ahmedabad on Broad Guage railway line had commenced by then.
The year under review saw unfortunate events leading to change in the management
owing to litigation pending against the Ex managing director of the corporation and it is
perhaps due to these circumstances that the role of the chairman of the corporation
became pivotal whereas, earlier it was then managing director who held effectively the
reigns of the corporation.
In report of 1961, the corporation continues to show increased profits. In this year
due to adjustment of compensation refugees out of the total loan of 1.5 crores taken from
the central government Rs. 1.28 crores had been adjusted in addition to payment of Rs. 9

lakhs in cash and 17 lakhs towards accumulated interest had been paid. The price of the
plots offered by corporation and Kandla port trust had been brought on par therefore 88
plots valued at Rs. 4.4 lakhs had been sold to the share holders thus activity of the land
department which lay dormant had been revived. Plans of 3735 residential plots and 395
plots were submitted to the development commissioner for the final approval.
The construction of Bhavnagar port already undertaken by the corporation had been
completed. The extension work of kandla port was going on a pace. The hospital building
was completed.
During the year ending 1961, the staff was pruned thus effecting a savings of about
Rs. 2 Lakhs. The details of profit and loss account of all the 12 activites running under the
auspices of the corporation was shared with the share holders. In which it was shown that
while 8 ventures were running under nominal loss the rest were making good profit. As a
result of amendments to companies Act the subsidiary of the corporation Sindhu-
Hochtiefs had become a public Ltd company and the original sposnsers and corporation
did not wish to become public Ltd Co. It was decided to wind up the said company and no
new works were sought for the company. The work on rail connectivity, expansion of
Kandla port and Ahmedabad- Gandhidham Highway was progressing satisfactorily. The
corporation had accumulated surplus of Rs. 6,16.750/ -
It was at this juncture that the board had appointed a sub- committee to examine the
possibility of starting some industry in the growing township with a view to augment its
income and provide employment opportunities. Thus a mechanical workshop to meet the
growing needs of the township was sought to be established.
During this period, Mr R.G. Abhi was appointed chairman of the board of the
directors of SRC.
During the Year 1962 salaries and wages were further reduced affecting the savings
of Rs.4339 per month to the corporation. In this year a dividend of Rs. 10/- was declared
on the fully paid up share.
Further measures were initiated to increase the efficienty of the corporation. The
Sheet Metal Works which had been continuously incurring losses was closed.
Gandhidham Hotel was given on annual Royalty of Rs. 7,400/-. Ice factory and Usha
Talkies were also given on lease. The entire government loan had been repaid and after
adjustments only debt remained to be discharged was at Rs. 1.23 lakhs out of the total loan
amount of Rs. 1.2 crores. But during this period the demand for the plots slackened and for
th
the year only 25 plots valued at Rs. 1,05,84/- had been sold. The construction of 5 berth at
Kandla port had been completed. At this time steps were being taken to shift main office
from Bombay to Adipur. The corporation had obtained licence to establish new Industrial
unit thus a company 'Gandhidham Spining and Manufacturing Co. Ltd' was proposed to
be established at Adipur with an authorized capital of Rs. 1 crore.
In the year 1963, the office of SRC was shifted to Adipur fom Bombay. The
Corporation had declared the dividend of Rs. 15 per fully paid up share. The amount of
loan from central govt stood only at Rs. 85,913 which was to be adjusted. The work of the

High School Building
construction of the Kandala port as contracted by the corporation with Sindhu Hochtif
(India) ltd had been completed and in this respect the total surplus with the corporation
was Rs. 32,37,621/-which was converted into General Reserve. During this period Gujrat
Government through Gujrat Electricity Board took over 11 K V lines and three oil
installations from SRC at Rs. 2.49 Lakhs as against the original cost of Rs. 3.5 Lakhs and
balance was computed as a depreciation. The work on the Gandhidham Spinning and
Manufacturing Co. Ltd continued apace. The Government of India had decided to
introduce 'Free Trade zone.' The new Salt works had been set up in Gandhidham.
During the year 1964, the stock of the Housing stood at Rs. 22,87,869/- as against
Rs. 20,63,267/- last year. The establishment expenses were continued to be curtailed. The
dispute of the corporation with Kandla workers Union for arbitration was unanimously
referred to Bhai Pratap as sole arbitretor. Gandhidham Spinning and Manufacturing Co
Ltd, was set to become operational. Mr Dharamsey Khatau and others was also sought,
who gave their advice and expert opinion for setting up the venture. The consideration of
setting up forged hand tool plant in collaboration with M/S Bridgeport Hardware
Shri Lal Sahib Mandir

Two Room Double Storeyed Construction works employing thousands of
displaced persons
Corporation of USA was under planning stage. In place of Mr. R.G Abhi, Mr. Hotchand
Advani a prominent barrister was appointed as a chairman of the Board of Directors.
In 1965 the project of Gandhidham Spinning and Manufacturing Co. Ltd was almost
completed. During this period the value of the shares of SRC showed a decline. The work
of earmarking of the plots and the connectd infrastructure development continued. In
view of the Companies Act 1956, the amendments to the articles of association of the
corporation were brought in conformity of the above Act. It may be recalled here, the
th
Sindhu Resettlement Corporation had been incorporated on 26 day of January 1948, and
therefore the amendments became necessary and mandatory.
In this manner a significant milestone was reached by the corporation of its
obligation of constructing a new township and the work of construction of most modern
port in India was achieved. In this way it could be said that the original dream had been
translated into reality and all things were set on Auto Pilot mode. In this context here after
it would not be necessary to dwell on the corporations repots on year to year basis but only
those reports would be mentioned which have proved to be a watershed in one way or the
other.
By 1976 The Gandhidham Spinning and Manufacturing Mills was beset with
difficulties as at that time entire Textile Industry in the country was undergoing a phase of
severe crisis. The corporation had to advance the loan a further loan of Rs. 10,25,000/- and
One Room Tenements Two Room ‘H’ type single storeyed

(in rows of ten) (four in a block)

Two room houses Three room houses
(two in a unit)
now the total loan of the corporation stood at Rs. 43,52,516/- the corporation made a
further concession of not charging the interest on the loan advanced that year.. The
payment of rent for the hire purchase scheme was also going on at sluggish pace and
zealous efforts had to be made for the recovery of the same. The Bus service and Bessar
plant continued to make nominal profit during this period. By this time the corporation
had allotted 1754 plots out of 3375 demarcated plots. The corporation and government
both were very keen to see the commencement of the construction work on the plots
allotted.
By the year 1980 the value of the share jumped up from Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 2000/- the
town had grown with many modern amenities and the demand for accommodation had
picked up by then. For number of years the corporation had surrogated the role of the state
to provide necessary services and their maintenance to it's citizens.
It was during this time that the corporation planned to build 500-1000 houses for the
weaker sections of the society and also for miidle class in ward 11-A, 11-B and 3-A.
By the year 1990 no more plots remained to be allotted. At that time the city was
attracting people from taccross the country and looking to educational needs ofvarious
communities the plots to Kutch Kelwani Mnadal and Exelsior Education Society for the
construction of St. Xaviers School were allotted. At this stage the co-operative Housing
Society,s continued to play their role. At this time 629 plots were allotted to 12 co-
operative societies.
Railway Office Office Building

Officers' Hostel
During this period Bessar palnt has become a loosing unit.It had incurred the loss of
Rs. 4,48,699/- and a Bus company was also running in loss therefore it was decided to
discontinue and dispose them off. Though it was decided to continue the Bus service
under the pressure from the worker's union for the period of one year more. During this
period the M/S Reliance had taken an interst in the Gandhidham Sppiniing and
Manufacturing co, Ltd. And shares were being offloaded.
By 1995 the situation arose when the corporation had to resort to lottery system for
the allotment of the plots. In all 1961 plots which included 69 industrial plots, and 22
shopping plots and 52 commercial plots.
In this period the further plots were allotted for social and educational purpose also
as the demand for those services kept on increasing due to spurt in the population. Lalaram
Kelwani Mandal was given 3 acres of land and Divine life society was given 50 acres to
increase its medical facilities. Adipur Youth Circle, Adipur Nav Javan Mnadal .07 acres,
and Shree Swami Narayan Temple was given 2.23 acres for school pupose. Thus Kutch
Kalyan sangh and Satsang Shiksha Parishad were given land for educational pupose. A 25
acre sports complex was also alloted to Sports authority of Gujrat for a token
consideration of Re.1/- only.
At the same time during this period the construction of 20 MIG Houses, 60 Janata
houses and 14 Bunglows was also in progress. Net profit for the year was Rs. 15,67,587/-
The Gandhidham spinning & Manufactring company had been declared as a 'SICK
Primary School Building

UNIT' by the government and by that time the cost of the land had increased manifold
thereby the corporation stood to gain substantially by disposing off the same and
accordingly this decision was taken.
In case of virgin shares held by the subscribers the wide publicity campaign had
been launched for the final opportunity being given for the allotment of the plots which
yielded good results according to report ending 31st march 2000. It was decided that
thereafter no allotment would be made. Thus the work of the allotment had been
complete3d by the year 2000.
The Corporation continued with dvelopemntal activites with regards to
infrastructure, i.e., lying of drainage water supply lines and making of Roads. Some of the
Roads continued to be asphalted during this period. Thus an expenditure of Rs. 384.74
lakhs had been incurred on these activities. During this period after the completion of 128
houses were allotted Construction of more houses was also underway and the process of
allotment of those houses had also commenced.
During this period the beautification of the Gandhi Samadhi and Adisar Pond was
also taken up as a public utility Project.
During the year 2005 the corporation declared 6% dividend highest permissible
under the rules of incorporation.
Due to greater demand of the residential accommodation due to growth of the
township in various sectors land was allotted to various co-operative Housing Societies
and self financing scemes wee encouraged. This resulted in construction of 312
houses/tememnts in the year 2000 alone! The net profit of the corporation stood at
stagging figure of Rs. 4,94,36,512/- The Corporation received 6.15 crores by the sale of
Gandhidham Spining & Mfg Co. Ltd's Assets.
In the year 2001 the most devastating earthquake in the memory of India struck
Kutch region and wrought devastation and destruction all around. The rebuilding of the
Kutch region demanded super human efforts. With determination, unyielding will power
and perseverance and hard work the miracles could be wrought. This applied to Kandla
Gandhidham and Adipur region also which threw up formidable challenges. The
township also rose to occasion and converted a calamity into an opportunity. In
rehabilitation efforts the corporation generously granted at nominal rate the land to Sadhu
Vaswani Mission, Dubai Textile Merchants Trust and Jain Samiti for rehabilitation of
weaker sections of the society. It also extended financial help to the victims of the
earthquake disaster to the extent of Rs.10,000- 15,000. In it's bid to reconstruct the region
and Kandla port the state and central government announced relief package as well as the
concessions to Industry and commerce to shift their activities here. This resulted in huge
investment opportunities which were aptly seized and now after a decade Gandhidham,
Adipur and Kandla present an exemplary success story.
In it's report of 2010 the corporation had taken a forward looking and eco-friendly
gesture of investing in alternate energy resource. The corporation had decided to invest
Rs. 625 crore in the wind Power Project of Suzlon Energy Ltd;

The construction of the Sindhu Bhavan consisting of community centre and Bhai
Pratap Memorial club has commenced. The development of infrastructure and its
maintenance remains high on the agenda of the corporation. Not withstanding some
instances of even attending to the work which is supposed to be carried out by the
Gandhidham Municipality.
From the inception many respectable personalities have contributed to the growth of
this unique township which was envisioned by a single individual inimitable Bhai Pratap.
They also deserve mention who have been connected with the growth of this towship from
it, infancy and have brought this venture thus far.
Apart from Bhai Pratap and Acharya Kriplani the intintal team consisted of
Nihchaldas Vazirani, Gobindram Hassaram, Purshotamsingh Bajaj, Bhawanjibhai of
Kutch, and Premjibhai who had migrated from Karachi who had a vision to make good the
loss of Karchi port by making Kandla a thriving port of international importance which
would save the vast hinterland of India. They all deserve a plave in the memory of creation
of this unique township which today is multi ethnic and multi religious in character and
symbolises true spirit of India without nay tensions, social or religious or caste based
tensions. It is indeed a city of future India.

Chapter-10
A Peep Into Future
A S individuals dream and plan for their future and future of their children, people as a
nation also have a vision about the future of their country in the similar vein it is
natural for the citizens to have some vision for the future of the their own city. This is more
so in the case of Gandhidham as it is a planned city from the very inception. From a
wilderness this area has bloomed into a vibrant city with various cultural hues and shades
as to embody the essence of Indian nationhood. It would be interesting to observe how the
citizens of this city which has become a virtual financial capital of the entire district and
region visualize the growth trajectory for next 25 years.
Before the citizens can dare to dream and plan the future in tandem with the rest of
the state let us take the look at the natural resources available. The satellites images have
shown in the Sindh (Pakistan ) part of Thar desert there are largest coal deposits of the in
the entire world and since the Rajasthan and Kutch desert form a part of same geological
formation there are immense possibilities of such under ground energy resources being
found there also. For verification of the same we shall have to wait for image data analysis
from the space scientists but in the meanwhile we can list the resources already known.
Many different types of minerals are found in Kutch. It has deposits of Agate, Bauxite,
Gypsum, Sandstone, China Clay, Silica sand, Lignite, Limestone etc;. All these mineral
resources are controlled by Gujrat Mineral Development Corporation. So far the activities
of the state government in the direction of exploitation have been rather negligible, one of
the reasons may be old understanding of strategic location of Kuth being border region but
the space age has changed all such concepts, therefore it is not in a very distant future that
Kutch will see tremendous surge in this developmental aspect. Gandhidham being
Financial Capital of this region is bound to immensely benefit from any economic
development in Kutch. All these developments are ultimately bound to benefit
Gandhidham Adipur and Knadla in no mean measure.
Lignite :
Lignite is found in abundance in Kutch region, it forms 95% of the mineral
resources of Kutch. It could be put to use a fuel to tap it as a energy source. It is found in
brown colour near Nakahtarna, Lakhpat and Mandvi. The Kutch Thermal plant of 140
MV capacity at Pandharo is based on this mineral. It is expected that this will be only a
pilot project and more such projects will soon be operational. Further the Kutch has a great
potential of harnessing natural
Elements like sun, sea waves and wind to explore and exploit the alternate energy

resources like Solar, Wind and wave energy. All these may not materialize very soon.
Lime stone :
Kutch has vast reserves of lime stone which are large enough to meet the cement
needs of the middle eastern countries which are which are furiously engaged in the
construction activities and thus it has a potential of increasing exports and meeting even
the demand nationally. The Aanghi Industries have already established a cement plant
Abadasa Taluka of Kutch district.
The possibilities of using this national wealth for setting up soda Ash plants also
hold lucrative prospects.
Buxite :
Bauxite is also a metallic mineral. It contains 50% Aluminum Oxide. The precious
Aluminum is extracted from this mineral ore. If a desalination plant is commissioned to
solve the water problem of this region and convert the arid desert into an exemplary
granary of India, and if the Aluminium plant is set up, as has been done in Dubai many
additional benefits will accrue from the same. It is needless here to emphasis the various
uses to which Aluminium could be put.
Bentonite :
The sodium based Bentonite has various applications. It is used in Steel plants, Oil
Exploration, medicines etc;. The export of Bentonite from Kutch is more than 50
thousand MT per annum. Bentonite is found in almost green colour and also in brown
colour. It is found in Bachau, Rapar, Anjar, Bhuj Mandvi and some other areas also. It is
also known as 'Weathered Basalt.' In Kutch two varieties are found, Sodium predominant
and Calcium predominant.
China Clay :
China clay is also called kaoline. It is mostly used in potteries and ceramics. It is
found in Bhuj, Lakhpat, and Rapar. Its other uses are in paper, paint and pharmaceutical
industries.
Gypsium :
Two type of Gypsum are found Marine and Mining Gypsum. Gypsum is used in
plaster of paris, manufacture of paints, caryons and paper etc;. It is also used as a natural
fertiliser, surgical plaster, dental plaster and cement manufacturing plants.
Lime stone :
Lime stone is found all over Kutch. It is specially found in abundance near lakhpat
and Abdasa talukas. It has traditionally used for building purpose and it can also be used
for cement and as flux in mettalurgy industry, for manufacturing calcium carbide, and
calcium cynadide etc;.

Silica :
High grade Silica sand and glass silica sand are found inj Anjar. Silica is THE
mineral of 21 st century. It is found at many places in Kutch. This mineral resource has
enough potential for the entire transformation of Kutch and Gujrat.
Ochre, Petroleum and Laterite are other minerals found in Kutch. Survey indicates
petroleum reserves in Abdasa Taluka. Low grade Bauxite containing more Iron is called
laterite it is also used for cement manufacturing.
With such a vast range of mineral and natural resources the future of Kutch can only
be imagined! It needs meticulous time bound planning to unlock these resources for the
benefit of the region and country as whole. It is hoped that the people and government in
spirit of public private partnership would come together to reap the benefits of this natural
bounty sooner than latter.
Besides these natural mineral resources Kutch holds the potential in Tourism Sector
also. There are only two salt deserts in the world one being in Kutch, which during winter
season becomes like a solid ground and presents other worldly sight at night time.
Recently Government of Gujrat has woken up to this fact and since two years has been
organizing winter desert festival while showcasing a rich folk cuture of the region. Ms.
Subhadra Anand has been pursuing her plan to make futuristic Jhulelal Memorial or
Temple Complex with all modern attractions at Narayan Sarr. With that project
materialsing that would also considerably add to tourism pull of the region.
Adipur can boast of Good educational facilities by Tolani, Maitri and many other
institutions. They have a potential of becoming world class learning centres and attract
students from overseas. Particularly the avenues of distant education could be explored to
enlist the services of the best teachers across the world to upgrade their institution. The
existing eye hospital may be brought up to world class super speciality standard that it
may enjoy the similar reputation in the international sphere as Heart Hospital situated at
the far south of India at Velore has been able do. Adipur can be converted into and
educational city of International Standards with a reputation, as in olden times was
enjoyed by Cambridge and oxford and now is being enjoyed by Howord institute world
wide.
Kandla has already added two satelite ports Tuna, and Vadivar, to decongest its
activities. They all are setto expand further and rudimentary township to cater to needs of
these Areas must must have come up and they will soon attract more population. The need
is to settle that population along planned manner. The Township of Adipur-Gandhidham
are planned townships and it necessary that the emerging new townships may be
integrated with them. The aim should be that eventually they should be model, modern
and futuristic towns eventually marching towards metro political townships as an
example for others to follow.
All these are not unrealistic aims and dreams to follow. The Township has enough
potential for growth. Most of houses in Adipur has at least a one person who is settled
abroad. In far away places Dubai and else where emigrants from Gandhidham and Adipur

celebrate 12th February every year as Gandhidham day and organize impressive meets
and functions. This was started by Mr. Bhatia and was latter taken up by Mr. Chetan. They
have feeling for their Township and they will be more than willing to contribute their mite.
Such has been a tradition throughout the centuries. It will not fail this time.
It is really heartening to see the children of various schools celebrating 12th
February as Gandhidham day. Thus a feeling of belonging is inculcated in childhood
itself. It brings a ray of hope.
YES WE MUST DARE TO DREAM BIG !

offer the degree course in Law.
Her ultimate aim is to keep the light of knowledge lit up by her father illuminating
and spreading the light of knowledge for all.
Mrs. Nirmala Gajwani
Born in Keswani family in Rohri – Sindh on 28th December 1928, Dadi Nirmala
Gajwani took her education upto first year of Arts but left studies to early marriage. She
married Dr. Hassanand Gajwani, an Eye Specialist.
In 1960, Dadiji established Mahila Gruh Udyog Co-operative Society at Bhuj, to
impart training to the women in Art of Embroidery, Sewing and Handicraft, to enable
them to earn their bread on their own.
In 1967, Dadi Gajwani was elected to Gujarat Legislative Assembly when she took
up various issues related to scarcity of water, education and medical facilities and set up of
industry in the district, a few as below: -
∑
Construction of Tappar Dam
∑
IFFCO Project at Kandla
∑
Hospitals and Educational Institutes
∑She was taken as a BoardMember of Gandhidham Collegiate Board In 1973. In
1975, Dadiji received the best Social Worker Award from the Central Social
Welfare Board, the only person from Kutch to receive such an Award. Dadiji
established a Working Women Hostel with all basic facilities on a 2.0 acres land
in Gandhidham. She established Sadhu Vaswani International School in 1966.
Dadiji has been actively associated with Sindhu Resettlement Corporation since .
She has been the chairperson of the Corporation for more than years. She has been able to
create a team of dedicated workers and under her leadership corporation has attained great
heights.
Dadiji has also been associated with the Gandhidham Collegiate Board as a Member
on the Board of Trustees for past more than 30 years. Even at this age of 78 years, Dadiji
has been actively participating in the proceedings of the Trust for the cause of providing
best education facilities to the children of this growing township.
Dadi Gajwani is also associatd with Divine Life Society, a leading medical Hospital
in the twin township Gandhidham-Adipur.
Dadiji is growing in age but not in her thoughts and ideas. She is still full of energy
and strength and still possesses the skill to undertake and accomplish the projects of
development activities.

secretary and was Editor official magazines and publications for a decade, writes,'Dr.
Miss Meharbanoo grand daughter of Dadabhoy Nawroji,the founder of Indian National
Congress and medical practioner at Bhuj in 1947 was inspiring spirit behind Bhai Pratap's
vision of Kandla Gandhidham Complex. Let us hear the story in Bhai's own words: way
back in 1947.
'I left by Air, hurriedly from Karachi for Bombay via Bhuj flight as that was the
normal route. I was sitting morose and brooding upon the social future of the sindhis, who
were leaving haphazardly. A young and beautiful Parsi lady, Dr. Meharbhanu, a decedent
of Dadabhoy Navorji who was sitting by my side looked curiously at me and asked about
the reason. When I explained my predicament to her , she retorted, ' you better get down
here and now at Bhuj-Kutch will be and ideal place for your brethren.' In another vesion
true to character of fables the name of the lady persona is changed by Mr Lakhmi Khilnani
to Mrs. Saraabhai perhaps mother of Dr. Vikram Srabhai a great atomic scintist.
One old timer racalls that when this was only a labour camp the first marriage was
solomised between two workers where Bhai Pratap Played a role of father of a bride and as
per custom performed the rites of 'Kanydan'.
BhaI Pratap knew the importance of a barber, cobbler, Washerman, and Tailor as
well, as their importance was recognized in 'IDEAL STATE' by Plato. I was informed by a
barber to whom I went for a hair cut. He said my father used to work for Bhai In Sindh. He
sough him out in India and brought him to Adipur and told him to ply his trade here.
My father was totally at loss. Hesitantly he told Bhai, ' but where is my shop? At least
I should have a barbers chair!'
Bhai told him, ' have patience. Everything will come here. As to your Barbers chair,
pick up four cement blocks put them one on other. He called some one from passeres by
and they all arranged the blocks which became an apology for improvised chair. Bhai
himself sat on the bloks and told my father to cut his hair in the open. He told me when
people seem cutting my hair in this fashion surely others will follow and you would get
your clientel. Such was inbuenity of Bhai.'
I met the son of the first cobbler in the town. Now the son himself has become old
and does not make new shoes for the reason that now every one is using artificial leather
and prople don't know the difference between real leather and artificial leather. Real
leather is very costly and no one wants to pay for it. Why should I compromise with my
vocation? Instead it is better to repair old shoes! At least I shall be spared the pain of
lowering my standards. He had many tales of Bhais fine taste in matter of footwear, as if he
was speaking about a benevolent ruler of olden times.
I visited a Tailor's shop At Adipur. The descendants of the first Tailor of Adipur had
inherited the fond memories of the old times related by their parents about Bhai Pratap.
Bhai Pratap was multifaceted personality. He had all the qualities of an aristocrat of
by gone era of landed gentry. he had mind which was multi disciplined as well as sharp, he
had a heart which was sensitive to subtle nuances of cultural expression and it's
complexities at the same time an iron will. He was a business man normally considered

'burgiouse', but not typical of that class, he was aptly called 'A Prince Business man.' He
was as adept at running a business calculating Costs, Exps and profit within seconds at the
same time studying astronomy and measuring distance between stars, or pee3ping into the
past with his interest in History, Archeology, Anthropology, or natural sciences such a
botany.
Mr. Nirmal Vaswani who was one of a few select who were chosen to receive Bhai
Pratap on his second home coming after being pardoned by then Governor of Maharshtra
Mrs Vijaya Laxmi Pandit, has this to write, ' on entering Bhai's compartment I was struck
by serene face and flowing beard, which added luster to his personality. He appeared to be
yougi or sanyasi of the yore. During about 45 minutes from Bachau to Gandhidham, Bhai
talked about so many things and enquired about as many things with depth unique to him.
I was too young to participate and was mere listener and spectator. One thing that
registered in my mind was Bhai's enquiry from Mr. Sunderdas Chandnani who was
horticulture officer with SRC, as to What was that plant running along the tracks of the
train, pointing to 'Gando Baval,' or prosopis Juliflora. I distinctly remember Sunderdas
fumbling and then Bhai narrated whole story how and when Gando Baval, an Australian
plant entered India and Kutch. My Latter extensive studies on the plant vindicated his
information.
On reaching Gandhidham, our eyes beheld a unique scene of overwhelming public
to see and if possible touch Bhai. In my 45 years of stay at Gandhidham, I have yet to see
such scenes at Gandhidham railway station! All gates were thrown open and there was no
question of any checking at the platform tickets. While Bhai was coming out of the gate at
the station, and old man standing in the corner, was afraid of being shoved. Bhai Spoted
him and thereafter he travelled with Bhai in the same open Jeep.
'He was Nanabhai a friend of Bhai, who had travelled all the way from Hyderabad
(Sindh) to be just witness to the occasion. Near Sardar Vallabhbhai Ptel's Statue an old
lady with some thing in her hand was trying to approach the jeep but was not being
allowed to come near. Bhai stopped the cavalcade and asked old lady to come near. She
had brought some milk for Bhai, which he gladly accepted and drank. The gratitude on the
old lady had to be seen to be believed.' I t took more than five hours for the we come
procession to reach from Gandhidham to Adipur so profuse and spontaneous was the
welcome accorded to Local hero who due to technical transgression of law had been
'found guilty and sentenced ' but as a consequence of natural justice had been pardoned.
Soon he sought out Satish Rohra. Mr. Satish Rohra says ' he asked me about present
activities. As he knew that I no longer served in the school of Maitri Mandal, but he did not
dwell on that subject, instead he started discussing the script of eypet in archealogical
findings and possibilities of Indus valley script. He Fond the place to be too noisy and we
retired to residence of Mr. Dukhayal. At last he said our conversation is not concluded. We
shall meet again and discuss further.'
Thereafter under the auspices of Rotary Club he delivered 4 lectures on Egytology,
which many would gather to eagerly listen to as that provided them interesting
information.

Old timers recall that he had a Telescope and on a clear night he would show them
distant stars and constellations and would initiate them into the basics of Astronomy.
Mr. Dhirubhai of Raj Studio of Adipur, Informs me that Bhai had a movie camera in
those days. He would call his boss and him and they would assist him on the editing table.
He recalls that whenever he was In Adipur he would visit market and enquire about the
market conditions and find out if they had any problems. He kept an open house where any
one could go for a redressal of any grievance or any demand!
It goes without saying that Bhai had a very dominating personality. His style of
functioning was also moulded in Sindworki mould. In which all powers are concentrated
in the hands of the owner. In such a form of working it often happens that due to
bursquness the ego of some one is hurt. This consequence of the hurt ego led to a grave
problem. An ordinary business practice which transgressed a thin line of law used against
him to award him an 'exemplary' punishment the occasion such as this the forces inimical
to him always wanted to see. In those difficult times those who derived power from him
and were his own creatures distanced themselves and left him to his fate and some even
gloated his suffering. But a proper case was made by an eminent lawyer Mr. L. Mishra ( Ex
Advocate General of UP)prepared a case for his pardon which was granted.
His youngest daughter Mrs. Aruna Jagtiani has this to say about those times. 'He felt
abondened but he did not harbor nay bitterness. Mer mother knew no other resource than
prayer. At that time When Advocate L. Mishra approached my father told him that he had
nothing to pay him, Advocate Mishra told him. I am convinced that you are innocent and
there has been a grave miscarriage of Justice therefore I will do your work free of cost. I
only need a place to stay in Bombay till I work on your case. The house was provided for
him and he came and stayed with his family for about three months. When the pardon was
granted he went back to his place.' She ends the conversation on very emotional vein, She
says, ' When the end was near he held my hand and said,' I have no any wealth to bequeath
to you I am going with a clear conscience and freed from any blemish I bequeath to you
only the cleanliness of my soul.'
What a proud daughter!
I STAND BEFORE HIS STATUE SHINING IN THE DAY LIGHT AND SALUTE
TO HIM .
HE DARED TO DREAM AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Part-2
Fleeting Moments
from
Eye of Camera

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Chapter-1

A Brief Historical Perspective

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'Until recently, i.e., before independence,

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Sr. No. State Population

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Remains of Father of nation Mahatma

Kandla Bandar view

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Maitri Bhawan at Hyderabad (Sindh)

Nav Singh, September 1949 : Painting on partition

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Railway lines being laid.

Water supply lines being laid.

Water supply lines being laid.

Nav Sindh, October 1950,

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A ll the necessary institutions and employment opportunities feasible and necessary

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Shri Lal Sahib Mandir

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