Wadhwan
Wadhwan | |
|---|---|
city | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Surendranagar district |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 61,739 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 363030 |
| Telephone code | 02752 |
| Vehicle registration | GJ-13 |
Wadhwan is a city and a municipality in Surendranagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Wadhwan had a population of 61,739. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Wadhwan has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 63%. In Wadhwan, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. From 1489 Till 1947, the recurring Prime Ministers (Diwan) of Wadhwan State were always from the Rawal family whose descendants live there till date.
Geography
It is located on the bank of the dry riverbed of the River Bhogavo.
History
It was also the centre of an Indian Princely state of the same name. It was formerly known as Wardhmanpuri, the name given after Jain tirthankar bhagwan Vardhman (i.e. Lord Mahavir) It was ruled by the Jhala Rajputs, who also ruled neighboring princely states of Limbdi, Lakhtar, Sayla, Chuda, and Wankaner. Until 1947, Wadhwan's recurring Prime Ministers came from the aristocratic Rawal family [citation needed] who were given the title Rao Bahadur. It enjoyed a 9 Gun Salute and at the time of Independence, the privy purse amount decided by the government was Rs. 1,42,000/-
As per legend, a woman named Ranak Devi, is reputed to have cursed the Bhogavo river to never have water even when it rained, as the river was a mute spectator to her agony as she immolated herself and became a Sati on its banks to stall the advances of Siddhraj Jaisinh, who had murdered her husband Ra Khangar and her two sons in order to abduct and marry her. She was a Sati, and so it is believed that there is no water because of the curse.[citation needed]
There is a 'vav' called Madha Vav in the village. It is a step-well, about 55 metres deep. According to folklore, the well was empty and dry for centuries. One day, one of the villagers had a dream that a newly wed couple should sacrifice their lives and only then would the well have water. A couple agreed to give up their lives for the benefit of the village and went straight from their wedding hall to the well. With each step they took, the water-level inside the well rose until the couple drowned and died. The well has not been dry since. It was named after the lad Madha, as Madha vav.
There is a high wall (Fort) around most of the old town but now the town has grown and it extends beyond the older wall.
There is a large community of Khatris [a community of people involved in coloring clothes] in the city these days. The business of bandhani [a type of colouring and designing clothes] is one of the major businesses in the city.
Poet Dalpatram Dahyabhai Kavi (1820-25/03/1899) hailed from this city. His son, Nanalal Kavi, also was a great poet.
There are a number of educational institutions being established in the city.
Freedom Fighters of Wadhwan
- Shardabahen Shah
- Shivanandji
References
- ^ Template:GR
- ^ Pathak,Ramnarayan,Satyagrahi Shahido (Gujarati book),P.Wadhwan
- ^ Dr.Mehboob Desai,Gujarat ni Swatantra Sadhana (Gujarati book),Gurajar Granth Ratan kariyaly, Ahmadabad