Kutchi Leva Patel Index Our Journey to the Prosperity Chapter Article Page No. Author Shree S. P. Gorasia 1 Cutch Social & Cultural Society 10 First Published on: 2 Leva Patel Migration 14 Vikram Samvat – 2060 Ashadh Sood – 2nd (Ashadhi Beej) 3 Present Times 33 Date: 20th June 2004 4 Village of Madhapar 37 Second Published on: Recollection of Community Service Vikram Samvat – 2063 Ashadh Sood – 1st 5 Present Generation 55 Date: 15th July 2007 6 Kurmi-Kanbi - History 64 (Translated on 17 December 2006) 7 Our Kutch 77 Publication by Cutch Social and Cultural Society 8 Brief history of Kutch 81 London 9 Shyamji Krishna Varma 84 Printed by Umiya Printers- Bhuj 10 Dinbandhu John Hubert Smith 88 Gujarati version of this booklet (Aapnu Sthalantar) was 11 About Kutch 90 published by Cutch Social & Cultural Society at Claremont High School, London, during Ashadhi Beej celebrations on 12 Leva Patel Villages : 20th June 2004 (Vikram Savant 2060) with a generous support from Shree Harish Karsan Hirani. Madhapar 95 Kutchi Leva Patel Index Our Journey to the Prosperity Chapter Article Page No. Author Shree S. P. Gorasia 1 Cutch Social & Cultural Society 10 First Published on: 2 Leva Patel Migration 14 Vikram Samvat – 2060 Ashadh Sood – 2nd (Ashadhi Beej) 3 Present Times 33 Date: 20th June 2004 4 Village of Madhapar 37 Second Published on: Recollection of Community Service Vikram Samvat – 2063 Ashadh Sood – 1st 5 Present Generation 55 Date: 15th July 2007 6 Kurmi-Kanbi - History 64 (Translated on 17 December 2006) 7 Our Kutch 77 Publication by Cutch Social and Cultural Society 8 Brief history of Kutch 81 London 9 Shyamji Krishna Varma 84 Printed by Umiya Printers- Bhuj 10 Dinbandhu John Hubert Smith 88 Gujarati version of this booklet (Aapnu Sthalantar) was 11 About Kutch 90 published by Cutch Social & Cultural Society at Claremont High School, London, during Ashadhi Beej celebrations on 12 Leva Patel Villages : 20th June 2004 (Vikram Savant 2060) with a generous support from Shree Harish Karsan Hirani. Madhapar 95 Rampar 103 C— xO ©Â— Ë@_Û fŸ@OË YfiÛQ Bharasar 105 Dahinsara 107 Samatra 109 Meghpar 112 Mirzapur 114 Kera-Kundanpar 116 Bharapar-Sujapur 119 :: Ë@«xO #…@ Y√fÛpOxO :: Baladia 122 C— #@Y. f—. ”Û@∑Y—}Û Naranpar 127 Vadasar 129 Sukhpur- Bhuj 131 :: fVxOÛB… wEwZ fVZfi #Û_ÈwE :: Fotdi 134 Y√. 2060 #ΔÛJO Y⁄pO ñ 2 (#ΔÛJO— μ—QÂ) Kodki 137 EÛ. 20.6.2004, ∑_—_Û∑ Mankuva 139 Sukhpur- Roha 141 Godpar 144 :: fVxOÛB… wEwZ μ—u #Û_ÈwE :: Mandvi 147 Y√. 2063 #ΔÛJO Y⁄pO ñ 1 EÛ. 15/7/2007, ∑_—_Û∑ 13. SKLP World-wide Community 150 14. Kutchi Leva Patel’s Progrees 166 :: fVxOÛBxO #…@ Y√xOË… :: xO ©Â YÛ@wB}Ë #@±¤O xOº{∑ YÛ@YÛ}ŸO— Ë√¤O… Despite our best endevour to maintain accuracy in both informatiom and translation, CSCS or any of its volunteers cannot be held responsible for any loss as a result of any information in this booklet. :: fi⁄ßxO :: &wfi}Û wfV±ŸOY™ I⁄Q ñ xO ©Â Author’s Introduction To give something new to the Gaam and community has always been an intention of the author Mr S. P. Gorasia who has only been educated to year four. He was awarded a Certificate by the ‘Government of Bombay Drawing Board Examination’ for passing the elementary grade drawing exam in 1944. The author has accumulated information including his personal experiences and has attempted to include these in this booklet ‘K. L. P. Apnu Sthlantar’. Despite his old age he has continued to work very hard in his quest to enlighten the younger generation of our history. Mr Gorasia who believes in simplicity, has respect and affection for religions and humanity. He has written numerous articles useful to the community which have been published by the community and other news papers. His efforts and active involvement in the community work throughout his life is an encouragement to us all. Under his guidance, Cutch Social and Cultural Society is proud to publish this booklet. The author hopes that this book will provide/remain a valuable source of our history for the future generation. He has an interest in writing but also continued to encourage the younger generation to write has achieved some success in inspiring others to write. In my view, it is not unreasonable for the community to expect Shivjibhai to continue to write articles that are of invaluable to the community. - Dr. Shamjibhai Hirani 4 Acknowledgement Forward For a long time I have been considering to write a book on our In Kutch, our Gnati (Community) is known as “Leva Patel community’s history and today I feel overwhelmed as I put my Chovishi”. It is said that we came to Kutch from the North pen to paper to write these introductory chapters. West of the Indian continents to escape local King’s atrocities Many people have aided me in compiling various articles in this via Punjab and then into Gujarat in search for a better life. book and amongst them I am particularity thankful to Shree Ramji R. Patel who is current chairman of the Education and The rulers of the Kutch initially accepted us as simply the labourer Medical Trust of Shree Kutchi Leva Patel Samaj (Bhuj). despite the fact that we were knowledgeable farmers. In addition, I am grateful to the Cutch Social and Cultural Society After witnessing our honesty, integrity, simplicity and hard for lifting the biggest burden of publishing this book from my working they eventually lifted all the restrictions and allowed us shoulders. The President, Secretary and other office holders to farm independently. However, the irregular rain, rulers’ extra deserve the greatest admiration for their efforts. I would also like to show my appreciation to the London branch of the levies on the farmers to satisfy their extravagant life style and Raghunath Mandir (Madhapar) for their contribution. lack of modern agricultural equipment made making ends meet even more difficult. Therefore our Gnati was forced to cross the I am further obliged to Dr.Samji R. Hirani who has encouraged sea to look for a decent living in African continent. me to publish my collection of the historical information in this book. Dr Hirani has always expressed his feelings for the What happened after that is known by the present generation. necessity of publishing such a book for the benefits of the future With hard work, self-help, dedication and honesty we once again generation. I am thankful for his assistance in publication of this achieved a decent living. From the farm labourers our people book. progressed to the construction industry and some became very We have made every effort to include the useful information for successful businessmen. Once arriving in Africa we began to all twenty four (24) Kanbi Villages. However, we regret that sponsor our family members to join us, educating our children despite our best efforts, we could not obtain information on and we learnt the importance of giving donation and started some of the villages, mostly due to the lack of response from donating from the hard - earned money. From 1960 we started the leaders of these villages. educating our children to the higher academic levels. Subsequently the change in the economic and political status of Finally, I would like to thank all those people who has helped the East African countries forced some of us to venture into the me in compiling and in publication of this book. European countries. It would not be wrong to say that economic hardship became the key for our Gnati’s development in all fields. - Shree S. P. Gorasia 5 6 Acknowledgement Forward For a long time I have been considering to write a book on our In Kutch, our Gnati (Community) is known as “Leva Patel community’s history and today I feel overwhelmed as I put my Chovishi”. It is said that we came to Kutch from the North pen to paper to write these introductory chapters. West of the Indian continents to escape local King’s atrocities Many people have aided me in compiling various articles in this via Punjab and then into Gujarat in search for a better life. book and amongst them I am particularity thankful to Shree Ramji R. Patel who is current chairman of the Education and The rulers of the Kutch initially accepted us as simply the labourer Medical Trust of Shree Kutchi Leva Patel Samaj (Bhuj). despite the fact that we were knowledgeable farmers. In addition, I am grateful to the Cutch Social and Cultural Society After witnessing our honesty, integrity, simplicity and hard for lifting the biggest burden of publishing this book from my working they eventually lifted all the restrictions and allowed us shoulders. The President, Secretary and other office holders to farm independently. However, the irregular rain, rulers’ extra deserve the greatest admiration for their efforts. I would also like to show my appreciation to the London branch of the levies on the farmers to satisfy their extravagant life style and Raghunath Mandir (Madhapar) for their contribution. lack of modern agricultural equipment made making ends meet even more difficult. Therefore our Gnati was forced to cross the I am further obliged to Dr.Samji R. Hirani who has encouraged sea to look for a decent living in African continent. me to publish my collection of the historical information in this book. Dr Hirani has always expressed his feelings for the What happened after that is known by the present generation. necessity of publishing such a book for the benefits of the future With hard work, self-help, dedication and honesty we once again generation.