Amreli
| Amreli | |
| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | 21°37′N 71°14′E / 21.62°N 71.23°ECoordinates: 21°37′N 71°14′E / 21.62°N 71.23°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District(s) | Amreli |
| M.P. | Virji Thumar |
| Population | 190,243 (2011[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 128 metres (420 ft) |
| Website | http://collectoramreli.gujarat.gov.in/ |
Amreli is a city and a municipality in Amreli district of the Saurashtra region in the state of Gujarat, India.
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[edit] History
It is believed that during the year 534 AD Amreli existed was formerly known as Anumanji, Amlik and then Amravati. The city is named in ancient Sanskrit as Amarvalli. Initially Amreli was the part of the former Gaekwad of Baroda. During the Gaekwad regime in 1886, the compulsory and free education policy was adopted in Amreli for the first time. After Indian independence in 1947, the district became the part of Bombay State and then a separate district in Gujarat State after the division of Bombay State in 1956 into Gujarat and Maharashtra.
[edit] Geography
Most part of the commercial area is called Tower Road stretching from Tower to the Main Bus stand and further to Gopi Cinema.
Amreli is a small city in Kāthiāwār in Gujarāt. The Kāthiāwār, peninsula of western India, is in Gujarāt State. The peninsula extends southwest into the Arabian Sea and is bounded on the northwest by the Gulf of Kachchh and on the southeast by the Gulf of Khambhāt. Area, about 60,000 km² (about 23,000 sq mi).
The peninsula of Kathiawar is named after the Kathis who came to Saurashtra at the close of the fourteenth century. Their origin is not fully known but it is possible that they were driven southwards by the Muslim invaders. Khachar and Chotila were the most important seats of the Kathis. Worshippers of the Sun, they were essentially nomadic and had developed, among other pastoral occupations, the art of horse-breeding. Successive waves of immigrants from other parts of India have led to a superimposition of different communities and cultures in Kathiawar. The powerful royal families, which conquered Saurashtra later on established their rule over there.
Baroda was a former Indian state in western India, 8,176 square miles (21,180 km2); it had four divisions, three in Gujarat (Kadim, Baroda, and Navsari) and one in the Peninsula of Kathiawar (Amreli, with Okhamandal). Once a part of the Mughal Empire; in 18th century its princes belonged to Maratha Confederacy; c. 1721 it secured part of Gujarat; in 19th century subject to British administrative control until 1881; became part of Bombay state 1948 and of Gujarat state 1960.
Before 1948, there were some 260 Princely states in the Kāthiāwār Peninsula of western India. These were consolidated in a single state named Saurashtra, in which the former rulers would alternate as the constitutional head. Eventually, as expected, Saurashtra became a part of the state of Gujarāt.
[edit] Famous people
Ravjibhai Paghadal, is the President Of Amreli Jilla Panchayat
Dr. Jivaraj Mehta, the first Chief Minister of Gujarat, was from this city.
The Poet Kalapi, a famous Gujarati poet, hailed from "Lathi" a small village near Amreli.
Poet Jhaverchand Meghani, a famous Gujarati poet, hailed from "Bagasara" a small town near Amreli. He was a freedom fighter whom Mahatma Gandhi spontaneously gave the title of Raashtreeya Shaayar (National Poet).
Poet Shree Ramesh Parekh, the famous poet hailed from Amreli.
Poet Kant- Kavi Kant, famous poet haild from Chanvand village of Amreli district.
Muktanand Swami (Devnagari: मुक्त्तान्द स्वामी) (1758–1830) was a sadhu and paramahansa of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. He was born in Amrapur village of Amreli district.
Dr. N. D. Rathod, the leading research scientist hailed from Amreli. Dr. Rathod’s research areas are Agriculture, Agri-ecology, Plant Physiology and grassland. His research work honored by the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (a former name of Texas A&M University, USA). He has served in the field as a research head, fellow and scientist. He has practiced his research work for Gujarat Agriculture University (India), Texas A&M University (USA); including research projects of the World Bank. Dr. Rathod has also served as a head research scientist at South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
K'LAL Magician, a world famous magician hailed from Amreli district.
Yogiji Maharaj Sadhu Gnãnjivandas (May 23, 1892–January 23, 1971), commonly known as Yogiji Maharaj, was an Indian Sadhu and the second leader of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, who is claimed to be the fourth spiritual successor to Bhagwan Swaminarayn.
Deewan Vithhalji Rav' is encouraged ‘his subordinates to work to clear the jungle and make a road through the Gir’ and bring in settlers.
Kanji Bhuta Barot' is famous singer of Gujarati culture.
Gordhandas Sorathia' was great writer of Amreli District and he wrote one book of Amreli district known as "Amreli Ni Aarsi".
Swami Dharmjivan Das Swami' was born in Taravada village near Amreli and was well known swami of Swaminarayan Sampraday.
'Pipa Bhagat' was famous Saint of Port of Pipavav.
'Bhoja Bhagat' was the guru to Jalaram (virpur).
'Himmatbhai Pansuriya' is a famous Businessman hailed from the small village of Nava Vaghaniya in Amreli.
Ramjibhai Kamani a famous industrialist hailed from the small village of Dhari in Amreli district. He founded Kamani Engineering Corporation (KEC) in 1945, Asia's largest power transmission company.
'Phoram Sampat' is the wife of famous author Jvalant Sampat of The Tenth Unknown fame was born and raised here as Phoram Mehta.
'Tejas N Desai' is one of the well known Businessman in Amreli owner of Abhilasha Agency and son of famous and most reputed Dr Nalin Desai.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Amreli had a population of 1,95,307. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Amreli has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age
- Area - 6,760 km².
- Population - 12,52,589
- Literacy - 60.06%
- Headquarters - Amreli
- Talukas - 10
- Villages - 595
[edit] References
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
