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Template:Infobox Indian urban area Ahmedabad (Gujarati: અમદાવાદ, Hindi: अहमदाबाद) or Ahmadābād^ⓘ is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and the seventh largest city in India, with a population of more than 5.2 million (52 lakh) people.^[1] Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, the city is the administrative centre of Ahmedabad district, and served as the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970 after which the capital was shifted to Gandhinagar. The city is sometimes called Karnavati, a name for an older town that existed in the same location; it is popularly called Amdavad in colloquial Gujarati.

The city was founded in 1411 to serve as the capital of the Sultanate of Gujarat, by its namesake, Sultan Ahmed Shah. Under British rule, a major military cantonment was established and the city infrastructure modernised and expanded. Although incorporated into the Bombay Presidency, Ahmedabad remained the most important city in the Gujarat region, becoming the home of a booming textile industry, which earned it the nickname, "Manchester of the East."^[2] The city became a major centre for the Indian independence movement in the first half of the 20th century.^[2] It was the epicentre of many campaigns of civil disobedience to promote workers' rights, civil rights, and political independence.

With the creation of the state of Gujarat in 1960, Ahmedabad gained prominence as the political and commercial capital of the state. Once characterised by dusty roads and bungalows, the city is witnessing a major construction boom and population increase. A rising centre of education, information technology and scientific industries, Ahmedabad remains the cultural and commercial heart of Gujarat, and much of western India. Since 2000 the city has been transformed by the construction of skyscrapers, shopping malls and multiplexes.^[3] However, this progress has been somewhat marred by natural calamities, political instability, and outbreaks of communal violence.

History

Archaeological evidence suggests that the area around Ahmedabad has been inhabited since the eleventh century CE, when it was known as Ashapalli or Ashaval. In the eleventh century, Karandev I, the Solanki ruler of Anhilwara (modern Patan), waged a successful war against the Bhil king of Ashaval. Soon after the victory, he established a city called Karnavati on the banks of the Sabarmati at the site of modern Ahmedabad. Solanki rule lasted until the thirteenth century, when Gujarat came under the control of the Vaghela dynasty of Dholka. By the end of the thirteenth century, Ahmedabad fell under the control of the Sultanate of Delhi.

In 1411, the rule of the Muzaffarid dynasty was established in Gujarat. A popular story about the creation of Ahmedabad is that Sultan Ahmed Shah, while camping on the banks of the River Sabarmati, saw a hare chasing a dog. Impressed by this act of bravery, the Sultan, who had been looking for a place to build his new capital, decided to locate the capital here and called it Ahmedabad.^[4]

In 1487, Mahmud Begada the grandson of Ahmed Shah, fortified the city with an outer city wall 10 km (6 miles) in circumference. This wall consisted of twelve gates, 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements. Ahmedabad was ruled by the Muzaffarid dynasty till 1573 when Muzaffar II was the Sultan of Ahmedabad. Gujarat was then conquered by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1573. During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the Empire's thriving centres of trade, mainly in textiles which were exported to regions as far as Europe. The Mughal ruler Shahjahan spent the prime of his life in the city, sponsoring the construction of the Moti Shahi Mahal in Shahibaug. The armies of the Maratha generals Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad captured the city and ended Mughal rule in Ahmedabad. A famine in 1630 and the constant conflicts between the Peshwa and the Gaekwad armies virtually destroyed many parts of the city, causing its population to flee.^[5] The British East India Company took over the city in 1818 as a part of the conquest of India. A military cantonment was established in 1824 and a municipal government in 1858. In 1864, a railway link between Ahmedabad and Mumbai (then Bombay) was established by the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railways, making Ahmedabad an important junction in the traffic and trade between northern and southern India. Large numbers of people migrated from rural areas to work in textile mills whose success established a robust industry.

The Indian independence movement developed strong roots in the city when in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi established two ashrams — the Kochrab Ashram near Paldi in 1915 and the Satyagraha Ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati in 1917 — that would become centres of intense nationalist activities. During the mass protests against the Rowlatt Act in 1919, textile workers burned down 51 government buildings across the city in protest against a British attempt to extend wartime regulations after the First World War.^[6] In the 1920s, textile workers and teachers conducted protests and strikes, demanding civil rights, and better pay and working conditions. In 1930, Gandhi initiated the Salt Satyagraha from Ahmedabad by embarking from his ashram on the famous Dandi Salt March. The city administration and economic institutions were rendered functionless by the large masses of people that took to the streets in peaceful protests in the early 1930s, and again in 1942 during the Quit India movement. Following the independence and partition of India in 1947, the city was scarred by intense communal violence that broke out between Hindus and Muslims.

Ahmedabad became the capital of the new state of Gujarat after the bifurcation of the Bombay State on 1 May, 1960. A large number of educational and research institutions were founded in the city, making it a major centre of higher education, science and technology. Ahmedabad's economic base was diversified with the establishment of heavy and chemical industries in its vicinity. In February 1974, Ahmedabad occupied the centre stage in national politics with the launch of the Nav Nirman agitation — a protest against a 20% hike in the hostel food fees at the L.D. College of Engineering that snowballed into a mass agitation to remove Chimanbhai Patel, then-chief minister of Gujarat on charges of corruption.^[7] There were two major anti-reservation protests in 1981 and 1985.^[8]

On 26 January, 2001 a devastating earthquake centred near Bhuj, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, struck the city. As many as 50 multi-storied buildings collapsed, killing 752 people and devastating the city's infrastructure.^[9] The following year, communal riots between Hindus and Muslims spread to Ahmedabad, paralysing the city for over a month. The crisis resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,044 people across the state.^[10] The displacement of thousands of Muslims led to the erection of refugee camps around the city. In recent years, the effects of globalisation and the liberalisation of the Indian economy has energised the economy of the city.^[11] The city has witnessed the establishment of scientific and service industries, expansion of the information technology sector, and improvement in transportation and communications. Ahmedabad is experiencing a significant growth in population, which has resulted in a construction and housing boom. However, this has in turn raised serious challenges regarding the city's infrastructure and power supply.^[12]

Geography and climate

Ahmedabad is located at 23°02′N 72°35′E / 23.03°N 72.58°E / 23.03; 72.58 in western India at an elevation of 53 metres (174 feet). The city sits on the banks of the River Sabarmati, in north-central Gujarat. It spans an area of 205 km² (79.15 square miles). The Sabarmati frequently dries up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water. The city is located in a sandy and dry area. Many of the localities and roads are often spread in sand, reflecting the intensifying fallout caused by deforestation. The steady expansion of the Rann of Kutch threatens to increase desertification around the city area and much of the state. Except for the small hills of Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra, the city is almost flat. Two lakes are located within the city's limits — Kankaria Lake, and Vastrapur Lake. Kankaria lake, located in the neighbourhood of Maninagar, is an artificial lake developed by the Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aybak in 1451.

The city witnesses three main seasons — summer, monsoon and winter. Barring monsoon, the climate is very dry. The weather is hot through the months of March to June, with the average summer temperature ranging from a maximum of 43 °C (110 °F) to a minimum of 23 °C (73 °F). The months of November through February have an average maximum temperature of 36 °C (97 °F) and a minimum of 15 °C (59 °F) and the climate is extremely dry during that period. Cold northerly winds are responsible for a mild chill in January. The southwest monsoon brings a humid climate to Ahmedabad from mid-June to mid-September. The average rainfall is 93.2 cm (36.7 inches), but infrequent heavy torrential rains cause the river to flood.^[13] The highest temperature recorded is 47 °C (116.6 °F) and the lowest is 5 °C (41 °F).^[14] In recent years, Ahmedabad has suffered from increasing air, water and soil pollution from neighbouring industrial areas and textile mills. Vehicular traffic congestion is an increasingly severe problem, especially along the smaller roads of the old city.

Ahmedabad is divided by the Sabarmati into two physically distinct eastern and western regions. The eastern bank of the river houses the old city, which includes the central town of Bhadra. This part of Ahmedabad is characterised by packed bazaars, the clustered and barricaded pol system of shanty buildings, and numerous places of worship. It houses the main railway station, the General Post Office as well as landmark buildings of the Muzaffarid and British eras. The colonial period saw the expansion of the city to the western side of Sabarmati facilitated by the construction of Ellis Bridge in 1875 and later with the modern Nehru Bridge. This part of the city houses educational institutions, modern buildings, well-planned residential areas, shopping malls, multiplexes and new business districts centred around C. G. Road, Ashram Road, and more recently, the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway.^[15]

Civic administration

Ahmedabad city officials
Mayor	Amit Shah
Municipal Commissioner	I. P. Gautam
Police Commissioner	K. R. Kaushik

Ahmedabad is administered by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Some of the regions surrounding the city are administered by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). The AMC was incepted in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act, 1949. For administrative purposes the city is divided into five zones and 43 wards. Three corporators are elected from each ward,^[16] and in turn they elect a mayor. Executive powers are vested in the municipal commissioner, who is an IAS officer appointed by the Gujarat state government. The daily affairs of the municipality school board, the VS hospital, the MJ library and the AMTS bus service are some of the main responsibilities of the mayor. The city serves as the headquarters of Ahmedabad district and as the seat of the Gujarat High Court.

The Ahmedabad city police are headed by a Police Commissioner, an IPS officer. Electricity in the city is provided by Torrent Power AEC Limited, which was earlier a state-run corporation. The city elects one member to the Lok Sabha and seven to the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha. There are two main political parties that have won a significant number of seats in elections — the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress. Of the 7 assembly seats of Ahmedabad, 5 were won by the BJP and two by the Congress Party during the legislative elections in 2002. In the 2005 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation elections, the BJP won 96 seats, while 32 went to the Congress, leaving a lone seat for an independent candidate.^[17]

Economy

Ahmedabad is the largest inland industrial centre in western India, and has historically enjoyed a reputation as an important base of commerce, trade, and industry. Under Muzaffarid rule, the city was a major trade destination for western India, because of its proximity to the port at Surat and for its access to the hinterland of Gujarat. In the 19th century the textile and garments industry developed and thrived in the city — on May 30, 1861 Ranchhodlal Chhotalal founded the first Indian textile mill called the Ahmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company Limited. This was followed by the establishment of a series of textile mills such as the Calico Mills in 1880 by Maganbhai, and other mills founded by industrialists like Ambalal Sarabhai and Kasturbhai Lalbhai.^[18] The textile industry expanded rapidly during the First World War and also encouraged by the Swadeshi movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, that promoted goods manufactured in India.^[19] Arvind Mills, located in Ahmedabad, is one of the largest textile mills in the country.

Ahmedabad has a thriving chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry. Two of the biggest pharmaceutical companies of India — Zydus Cadila and Torrent Pharmaceuticals — are based in the city. The city serves as the corporate headquarters of the Adani Group, which is a leading multinational trading company. The Nirma group of industries that runs a large number of detergent and chemical industrial units has its corporate headquarters in the city. It has created major mercantile and artisan corporations and guilds that are a key influence on the economic life of Gujarat. The completion and operation of the Sardar Sarovar Project of dams and canals has improved the supply of potable water and electricity for the city. In recent years the state has increased investment for the modernisation of the city infrastructure, providing for the construction of larger roads and the construction of better infrastructure for water supply, electricity and communications. The information technology industry has developed significantly in Ahmedabad.^[20] A NASSCOM survey in 2002 on the "Super Nine Indian Destinations" for IT-enabled services had ranked Ahmedabad fifth among the top nine most competitive cities in the country.^[21]

Ahmedabad has traditionally attracted migrant workers from different parts of Gujarat such as Kutch, Saurashtra, Kathiawad and from neighbouring states such as Rajasthan, Sind, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. This diverse labour force is integral to the factories and they provide vital household labour and services for the city's large middle class. Ahmedabad plays a strong and significant role in providing commercial resources and market access for the economies of neighbouring cities. A majority of the citizens of Ahmedabad are traders and businessmen, known as Vanias who belong to the Vaishnavite or the Jain faith. The city's eminent educational and industrial institutions have attracted students and young skilled workers from different parts of India.^[22]

Demographics

File:Temple4.jpg

The world's first Swaminarayan Temple was built in Ahmedabad by the instructions of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

According to the 2001 national census, the population of Ahmedabad was 35 lakhs (3.5 million). This figure was limited to the municipal region. The total population of the Ahmedabad Urban Agglomeration (which includes the region governed by AUDA) came to 45.19 lakhs (4.5 million).^[23] There are 886 females to every 1000 males. Ahmedabad has a literacy rate of 79.89%, which is the highest in Gujarat (87.81% males and 71.12% females are literate).^[24] According to the census for the Ninth Plan, there are 30,737 rural families living in Ahmedabad. Of those, 5.41% (1663 families) live below the poverty line.^[25] Approximately 440,000 people live in slums in the city.^[26] Ahmedabad has traditionally been home to a large population of Vanias (or traders), belonging to the Vaishnava and Jain sects of Hinduism. Most of the residents of Ahmedabad are native Gujaratis and speak Gujarati, of which the dialects of Kathiawar and Saurashtra are predominant. Hindi and English are commonly spoken, especially for the purposes of commerce, education, politics and government.

Ever since its foundation, the city has attracted migrant workers from all over Gujarat and from the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Sindh and Maharashtra. There is a sizable population of Punjabis, Marathis, Tamils, Sindhis, Malayalis and Marwaris who bring in their native language and culture to the city. The military base near the city and government institutions bring peoples from across India. The city's population has increased dramatically due to the expansion and modernisation of the local economy. Ahmedabad also enjoys great religious diversity. According to the 2001 census, 84.62% of the population in Ahmedabad is Hindu, 2.92% is Jain, 11.4% is Muslim and 0.72% is Christian.^[27] The community of Muslims is culturally significant in Ahmedabad and dates back to the times of the sultanate. A majority of Muslims live in the old town, especially Bhadra. The city is home to a major population of Parsis and a community of 300 Bene Israel Jews living in Ahmedabad.^[28]

Culture

Ahmedabad enjoys a thriving cultural tradition, being the centre of Gujarati cultural activities as well as diverse traditions of different ethnic and religious communities. Popular celebrations and observances include Uttarayan — a kite-flying day on 14 January every year. The nine nights of Navaratri are celebrated with people performing Garba, the folk dance of Gujarat at venues across the city. The festival of lights — Deepavali is celebrated with the lighting of lamps in every house, decorating the floors with the rangoli and bursting of firecrackers. Other festivals like Holi, Eid ul-Fitr, and Christmas, are also celebrated with enthusiasm. The annual Rathyatra procession on the Ashadh-sud-bij date of the Hindu calendar and the procession of Tajia during the Muslim holy month of Muharram are an integral part of the culture of the city. The people of Ahmedabad enjoy rich culinary traditions. The most popular form of meal, a typical Gujarati thali (meal) consists of roti, dal, rice and Shaak (cooked vegetables, sometimes with curry), with accompaniments of pickles and roasted papads. Popular beverages include buttermilk and tea, and sweet dishes include laddoos and mango. There are a large number of restaurants which serve a wide array of Indian and international cuisines. Most of the food outlets serve only vegetarian food, as a strong tradition of vegetarianism is maintained by the city's Jain and Hindu communities. The first all-vegetarian Pizza Hut in the world opened in Ahmedabad.^[29]

The architectural history of Ahmedabad stretches across the last millennium. The Sultanate fused Hindu craftsmanship with Islamic architecture, giving rise to the Indo-Saracenic style. Many mosques in the city are built in this fashion. After independence modern buildings came up in Ahmedabad when renowned architects like Louis Kahn, Le Corbusier and Charles Correa were invited to Ahmedabad.^[30]

Various parts of Ahmedabad are known for their speciality of folk art. The Paldi area is famous for shops selling works of embroidery from Kutch and Saurashtra region. The artisans of Rangeela pol are famous for making bandhinis (tie and dye work), while the cobbler shops of Madhupura sell traditional mojri footwear. High-quality idols of Ganesh and other religious icons are made in huge numbers in the Gulbai Tekra area. The shops at the Law Garden are famous for their mirror work handicraft. Victorian architecture is showcased in most colleges, the railway stations and government buildings, constructed mainly during the colonial period.

Many Gujarati intellectuals migrated to Ahmedabad due to its prosperity. Three main literary institutions were started in Ahmedabad for the promotion of Gujarati literature — Gujarat Vidhya Sabha, Gujarati Sahitya Parishad and Gujarat Sahitya Sabha. Musicians and instrumentalists from across the world come to perform at the popular classical music festival held each 1 January by the Saptak School of Music. The Sanskar Kendra, one of the many buildings in Ahmedabad designed by the Le Corbusier, is a city museum depicting history, art, culture and architecture of Ahmedabad. The Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial have a permanent display of photographs, documents and other articles of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel respectively. The Calico Museum of Textiles has a large collection of Indian and international fabrics, garments and textiles. Ahmedabad maintains a strong popular literary tradition in large public libraries maintained by the literary societies, research and government institutions and colleges. The Hazrat Pir Mohammad Shah Library has a collection of rare original manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sindhi and Turkish languages.^[31]

Cricket is the most popular sport in the city. Both one-day internationals and test matches are played at the Sardar Patel Stadium. The stadium has a capacity of 48,000 and has frequently served as venue for matches during major tournaments as the 1987 Cricket World Cup, the 1996 Cricket World Cup and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Ahmedabad has a second cricket stadium at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Sports Club of Gujarat, which as the home ground of the Gujarat cricket team, is the venue for domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, the Duleep Trophy and many inter-school and collegiate tournaments. Even though other sports are overshadowed by the popularity of cricket, football (soccer), field hockey, badminton, tennis, squash and basketball are gaining popularity at collegiate levels. There has been a significant increase in recent years in the number of private sports clubs, gymkhanas, gymnasiums and sports teams sponsored by corporations, private associations, schools and colleges. There are a large number of public and neighbourhood grounds where city youth congregate in evenings to play cricket and soccer. Ahmedabad's rich sports traditions have produced legendary sportsmen such as Jasu Patel and younger stars such as Parthiv Patel and Geet Sethi, a 5-time winner of the World Professional Billiards Championship and a recipient of India's highest sporting award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.

Transport

Rickshaws and scooters navigating through packed roads in front of the Teen Darwaja

Ahmedabad is one of the six operating divisions of the Western Railway. Railway lines connect the city to all towns in Gujarat, as well as major cities in India. The Ahmedabad Railway Station and the Maninagar Railway Station are the main terminals of the city. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport serves both domestic and international traffic for the city and the neighbouring cities of Gandhinagar, Mehsana and Nadiad. The airport connects the city with destinations across India and to cities in the Middle East, the Far East and select destinations in Western Europe.

National Highway 8, that connects Delhi to Mumbai, passes though Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is connected to Vadodara through National Expressway 1, a 94 km (58 miles) long highway with only two exit’s, which is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project.^[32] Ahmedabad is directly connected by highways to Bhavnagar, Nadiad, Mehsana, Surendranagar, Bhuj, Rajkot and Gandhinagar. The city's main arteries of traffic include the Mahatma Gandhi Road, C. G. Road, the Jawaharlal Nehru Road, the Ashram Road and the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway. Auto rickshaws and taxis provide the most popular medium of transport. The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service runs the local bus service in the city. In 2005, AMTS began a drive to convert all its petrol and diesel engine buses to run on CNG engines in an effort to reduce the effects of air pollution in the city. At present, AMTS has 750 buses servicing the city.^[33] Bicycles and motorcycles are the most popular medium of transport with the city's young people and students.

Education and media

Schools in Ahmedabad are run either by the municipal corporation, or privately by individual entities, trusts and corporations. A majority of the schools are affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board. Some schools like the Delhi Public School and the Kendriya Vidyalayas are associated with the Central Board for Secondary Education. A large number of colleges in the city are affiliated with the Gujarat University and offer courses in a variety of fields and subjects. Other deemed universities in Ahmedabad include the Nirma University of Science & Technology and the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University.^[34] The prestigious Gujarat Vidyapith was established in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi, and has the distinction of being one of the first institutions of higher learning managed entirely by Indians and outside of British control.

Prestigious institutions such as the Indian Institute of Management, the National Institute of Design, the Mudra Institute of Communications, the National Institute of Fashion Technology and the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology are located in Ahmedabad. Many academic and scientific institutions of national repute were set up in Ahmedabad in the 1960s, largely through the efforts of prominent astrophysicist and industrialist Vikram Sarabhai. The most important of these are the Physical Research Laboratory and the Space Applications Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation.^[35] The Ahmedabad Management Association is a famous institution established to impart management training and experience to young students and professionals. A satellite campus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay will start functioning in the city from July 2007 accommodating around 4,000 students. The IIT will offer courses with a focus on the skilled-labour needs of Gujarat such as textiles, aeronautical, marine, and ship engineering.^[36]

Ahmedabad has a number of newspaper publications. The major English dailies published and sold in the city are Times of India, Indian Express, Asian Age, and Economic Times. There are three main Gujarati dailies in the city — Sandesh, Gujarat Samachar, and Divya Bhaskar, and a large number of magazines, periodicals, and journals, are regularly published and circulated across the city. The city is home to the historic Navajivan Publishing House — founded in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi — which is one of India's premier publications company. The Gujarat film and television industry has a small but significant presence in the city. The city has two local FM stations: Radio Mirchi (91.9 MHz) and All India Radio (96.7 MHz). All India Radio is broadcast on the AM band.^[37] Satellite radio was launched in the city by WorldSpace in 2005.^[38] Households receive television through two main cable networks — InCablenet and Siti Cable, while DTH has little popularity in Ahmedabad. A network of optical fibre cables connects almost the entire city. The city's telephone services are provided by landline and mobile operators like BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, Airtel, Hutch, and Tata Indicom. Broadband Internet services are provided in most parts of the city by the telecom companies.

References

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^ ^a ^b A. Srivathsan (2006-06-23). "Manchester of the east". Young World. The Hindu. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
^ Setu City Map: Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar. Setu Publications. 1998. p. 1.
^ "History of Ahmedabad". Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 2006-05-10.
^ Mirza, Unjum (1997). "Independence Day". Socialist Review. Retrieved 2006-06-01. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
^ "When LD Engineering structured the revolt". ahmedabad.com. 2000-06-24. Retrieved 2006-05-10.
^ Yagnik, Achyut (2002). "The pathology of Gujarat". Seminar Publications, New Delhi. Retrieved 2006-05-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
^ Sinha, Anil. "Lessons learned from the Gujarat earthquake". WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia. Retrieved 2006-05-13.
^ "Gujarat riot death toll revealed". BBC News. 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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^ Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
^ "Incredible India (Ahmedabad page)". Ministry of Tourism, India. Retrieved 2006-03-26.
^ "Weatherbase entry for Ahmedabad)". Canty and Associates LLC. Retrieved 2006-05-08.
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^ "Administrative setup". Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 2006-05-10.
^ Dasgupta, Manas (2005-10-16). "BJP wrests control of Ahmedabad municipal body". The Hindu. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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^ "Industry and Commerce". The Ahmedabad Chronicle: Imprints of a millennium. Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design. 2002. p. 34.
^ Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
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^ "WorldSpace Satellite Radio Lights Up Ahmedabad". Worldspace Satellite Radio. 2005-11-03. Retrieved 2006-07-30.

External links

[population-1] "India: metropolitan areas". World Gazetteer. Retrieved 2006-03-04.

[Manchester-2] A. Srivathsan (2006-06-23). "Manchester of the east". Young World. The Hindu. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[3] Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)

[4] Setu City Map: Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar. Setu Publications. 1998. p. 1.

[5] "History of Ahmedabad". Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 2006-05-10.

[6] Mirza, Unjum (1997). "Independence Day". Socialist Review. Retrieved 2006-06-01. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[7] "When LD Engineering structured the revolt". ahmedabad.com. 2000-06-24. Retrieved 2006-05-10.

[8] Yagnik, Achyut (2002). "The pathology of Gujarat". Seminar Publications, New Delhi. Retrieved 2006-05-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[9] Sinha, Anil. "Lessons learned from the Gujarat earthquake". WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia. Retrieved 2006-05-13.

[10] "Gujarat riot death toll revealed". BBC News. 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[11] Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)

[12] Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)

[climate-13] "Incredible India (Ahmedabad page)". Ministry of Tourism, India. Retrieved 2006-03-26.

[temperatures-14] "Weatherbase entry for Ahmedabad)". Canty and Associates LLC. Retrieved 2006-05-08.

[15] "Urban Structure and Growth". The Ahmedabad Chronicle: Imprints of a millennium. Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design. 2002. p. 83.

[administration-16] "Administrative setup". Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 2006-05-10.

[17] Dasgupta, Manas (2005-10-16). "BJP wrests control of Ahmedabad municipal body". The Hindu. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[18] Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)

[19] "Industry and Commerce". The Ahmedabad Chronicle: Imprints of a millennium. Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design. 2002. p. 34.

[20] Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)

[21] "Ahmedabad joins ITES hot spots". The Economic Times. 2002-08-16. Retrieved 2006-07-30.

[22] Jeremy Smith (2000-10-19). "Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city". The Temple News. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)

[23] "Ahmedabad yet to become a mega city". The Hindu. 2001-04-07. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[24] "Literacy in Gujarat". Mediaware Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 2006-04-03.

[25] "BPL Census for ninth plan". Ahmedabad District Collectorate. Retrieved 2006-05-10.

[26] "Slum Population in Million Plus Cities". Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 2006-05-11.

[27] "Census GIS Household". Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 2006-05-11.

[28] Nathan Katz. "The Last Jews in India and Burma". Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs. Retrieved 2006-04-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

[pizza-29] Senapaty, Sumitra (2002-11-16). "Bon `veggie' appetit". Internet Edition. The Hindu Business Lines. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[30] "Architectural Legacies of Ahmedabad". The Ahmedabad Chronicle: Imprints of a millennium. Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design. 2002. p. 103.

[31] "Arts and Literature". The Ahmedabad Chronicle: Imprints of a millennium. Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design. 2002. pp. 44–59.

[32] "PM flags off Ahmedabad expressway". Internet Edition. The Hindu Business Line. 2003-01-30. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[AMTS-33] "Take the smart route, hop on to a hi-tech bus". Ahmedabad edition (print). The Times of India. 2005-04-06. p. 5.

[universities-34] "List of University (State wise) - Gujarat". University Grants Commission, India. Retrieved 2006-03-30.

[isro-35] "Ahmedabad". Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organisation. Retrieved 2006-03-30. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

[IIT-36] "IIT's happening at last: satellite campus in offing". Ahmedabad edition. The Indian Express. 2006-07-22. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[Radio-37] Alan G. Davies. "Radio Stations in Gujarat, India". Asiawaves. Retrieved 2006-03-30.

[Worldspace-38] "WorldSpace Satellite Radio Lights Up Ahmedabad". Worldspace Satellite Radio. 2005-11-03. Retrieved 2006-07-30.

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@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
   | pages=1}}</ref>
-In 1487, [[Mahmud Begada]] the grandson of Ahmed Shah, fortified the city with an outer city wall 10&nbsp;km (6&nbsp;miles) in circumference. This wall consisted of [[Ahmedabad's Darwajas|twelve gates]], 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements. Ahmedabad was ruled by the Muzaffarid dynasty till 1573 when [[Muzaffar II]] was the Sultan of Ahmedabad. Gujarat was then conquered by the [[Mughal]] emperor [[Akbar]] in 1573. During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the Empire's thriving centres of trade, mainly in textiles which were exported as far as Europe. The Mughal ruler [[Shahjahan]] spent the prime of his life in the city, sponsoring the construction of the [[Moti Shahi Mahal]] in [[Shahibaug]]. The armies of the [[Maratha]] generals Raghunath Rao and Damaji [[Gaekwad]] captured the city and ended Mughal rule in Ahmedabad. A famine in 1630 and the constant conflicts between the [[Peshwa]] and the Gaekwad armies virtually destroyed many parts of the city, causing its population to flee.<ref>{{
+In 1487, [[Mahmud Begada]] the grandson of Ahmed Shah, fortified the city with an outer city wall 10&nbsp;km (6&nbsp;miles) in circumference. This wall consisted of [[Ahmedabad's Darwajas|twelve gates]], 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements. Ahmedabad was ruled by the Muzaffarid dynasty till 1573 when [[Muzaffar II]] was the Sultan of Ahmedabad. Gujarat was then conquered by the [[Mughal]] emperor [[Akbar]] in 1573. During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the Empire's thriving centres of trade, mainly in textiles which were exported to regions as far as Europe. The Mughal ruler [[Shahjahan]] spent the prime of his life in the city, sponsoring the construction of the [[Moti Shahi Mahal]] in [[Shahibaug]]. The armies of the [[Maratha]] generals Raghunath Rao and Damaji [[Gaekwad]] captured the city and ended Mughal rule in Ahmedabad. A famine in 1630 and the constant conflicts between the [[Peshwa]] and the Gaekwad armies virtually destroyed many parts of the city, causing its population to flee.<ref>{{
  cite web
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
  |accessdate=2006-05-10
-}}</ref> The [[British East India Company]] took over the city in 1818 as a part of the conquest of India. A military cantonment was established in 1824 and a municipal government in 1858. In 1864, a railway link between Ahmedabad and [[Mumbai]] (then Bombay) was established by the [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railways]], making Ahmedabad an important junction in the traffic and trade between [[North India|northern]] and [[South India|southern India]]. Large numbers of people migrated from rural areas to work in textile mills whose success established a world-class, robust industry.
+}}</ref> The [[British East India Company]] took over the city in 1818 as a part of the conquest of India. A military cantonment was established in 1824 and a municipal government in 1858. In 1864, a railway link between Ahmedabad and [[Mumbai]] (then Bombay) was established by the [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railways]], making Ahmedabad an important junction in the traffic and trade between [[North India|northern]] and [[South India|southern India]]. Large numbers of people migrated from rural areas to work in textile mills whose success established a robust industry.
 The [[Indian independence movement]] developed strong roots in the city when in 1915, [[Mahatma Gandhi]] established two [[ashram]]s &mdash; the [[Kochrab Ashram]] near [[Paldi]] in 1915 and the [[Sabarmati Ashram|Satyagraha Ashram]] on the banks of the Sabarmati in 1917 &mdash; that would become centres of intense nationalist activities. During the [[Non-Cooperation Movement|mass protests]] against the [[Rowlatt Act]] in 1919, textile workers burned down 51 government buildings across the city in protest against a British attempt to extend wartime regulations after the [[First World War]].<ref>{{
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
  |accessdate=2006-06-01
-}}</ref> In the 1920s, textile workers and teachers conducted protests and strikes, demanding civil rights, and better pay and working conditions. In 1930, Gandhi initiated the [[Salt Satyagraha]] from Ahmedabad by embarking from his ashram on the famous [[Dandi Salt March]]. The city administration and economy were rendered functionless by the large masses of people that took to the streets in peaceful protests in the early 1930s, and again in 1942 during the [[Quit India Movement|Quit India movement]]. Following the independence and [[partition of India]] in 1947, the city was scarred by intense communal violence that broke out between [[Hindus]] and [[Muslims]].
+}}</ref> In the 1920s, textile workers and teachers conducted protests and strikes, demanding civil rights, and better pay and working conditions. In 1930, Gandhi initiated the [[Salt Satyagraha]] from Ahmedabad by embarking from his ashram on the famous [[Dandi Salt March]]. The city administration and economic institutions were rendered functionless by the large masses of people that took to the streets in peaceful protests in the early 1930s, and again in 1942 during the [[Quit India Movement|Quit India movement]]. Following the independence and [[partition of India]] in 1947, the city was scarred by intense communal violence that broke out between [[Hindus]] and [[Muslims]].
 [[Image:Sabarmati Ashram.jpg|thumb|left|170px|The Sabarmati Ashram established by [[Mahatma Gandhi]].]]
@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
  |accessdate=2006-05-13
-}}</ref> The following year, [[2002 Gujarat violence|communal riots]] between Hindus and Muslims spread to Ahmedabad, paralysing the city for over a month.  The crisis resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,044 people across the state.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = | coauthors =| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4536199.stm| title = Gujarat riot death toll revealed| work =  | publisher = BBC News| pages = | page = | date = 2005-05-11| accessdate = 2006-07-30| language = }}</ref> The displacement of thousands of Muslims led to the erection of refugee camps around the city. In recent years, the effects of [[globalisation]] and the liberalisation of the [[Indian economy]] has energised the city's economy.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = Jeremy Smith | coauthors =| url = http://www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2000/10/19/News/Professor.Sees.Philadelphia.In.An.Indian.City-5883.shtml?norewrite200607311201&sourcedomain=www.temple-news.com | title = Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city| work =  | publisher = The Temple News| pages = 2| page = 1| date = 2000-10-19| accessdate = 2006-07-31| language = English }}</ref> The city has witnessed the establishment of scientific and service industries, expansion of the [[information technology]] sector, and improvement in transportation and communications. Ahmedabad is experiencing significant population growth, which has resulted in a construction and housing boom. However, this has in turn raised serious challenges regarding the city's infrastructure and power supply.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = Jeremy Smith | coauthors =| url = http://www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2000/10/19/News/Professor.Sees.Philadelphia.In.An.Indian.City-5883.shtml?norewrite200607311201&sourcedomain=www.temple-news.com | title = Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city| work =  | publisher = The Temple News| pages = 2| page = 1| date = 2000-10-19| accessdate = 2006-07-31| language = English }}</ref>
+}}</ref> The following year, [[2002 Gujarat violence|communal riots]] between Hindus and Muslims spread to Ahmedabad, paralysing the city for over a month.  The crisis resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,044 people across the state.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = | coauthors =| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4536199.stm| title = Gujarat riot death toll revealed| work =  | publisher = BBC News| pages = | page = | date = 2005-05-11| accessdate = 2006-07-30| language = }}</ref> The displacement of thousands of Muslims led to the erection of refugee camps around the city. In recent years, the effects of [[globalisation]] and the liberalisation of the [[Indian economy]] has energised the economy of the city.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = Jeremy Smith | coauthors =| url = http://www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2000/10/19/News/Professor.Sees.Philadelphia.In.An.Indian.City-5883.shtml?norewrite200607311201&sourcedomain=www.temple-news.com | title = Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city| work =  | publisher = The Temple News| pages = 2| page = 1| date = 2000-10-19| accessdate = 2006-07-31| language = English }}</ref> The city has witnessed the establishment of scientific and service industries, expansion of the [[information technology]] sector, and improvement in transportation and communications. Ahmedabad is experiencing a significant growth in population, which has resulted in a construction and housing boom. However, this has in turn raised serious challenges regarding the city's infrastructure and power supply.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = Jeremy Smith | coauthors =| url = http://www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2000/10/19/News/Professor.Sees.Philadelphia.In.An.Indian.City-5883.shtml?norewrite200607311201&sourcedomain=www.temple-news.com | title = Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city| work =  | publisher = The Temple News| pages = 2| page = 1| date = 2000-10-19| accessdate = 2006-07-31| language = English }}</ref>
 ==Geography and climate==
 [[Image:River-Sabarmati-1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|River Sabarmati]]
 {{main|Geography of Ahmedabad}}
-Ahmedabad is located at {{coor d|23.03|N|72.58|E|}} in western India at an elevation of 53&nbsp;[[metre]]s (174&nbsp;feet). The city sits on the banks of the River Sabarmati, in north-central Gujarat. It spans an area of 205&nbsp;[[square kilometre|km²]] (79.15 [[square miles]]). The Sabarmati frequently dries up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water. The city is located in a sandy and dry area. Many of the localities and roads are often spread in sand, reflecting the intensifying the fallout cause by deforestation. The steady expansion of the [[Rann of Kutch]] threatens to increase [[desertification]] around the city area and much of the state. Except for the small hills of [[Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra]], the entire city is almost flat. Two lakes are located within the city's limits &mdash; [[Kankaria|Kankaria Lake]], and [[Vastrapur Lake]]. Kankaria lake, located in the neighbourhood of [[Maninagar]], is an artificial lake developed by the Sultan of Delhi, [[Qutb-ud-din Aybak]] in 1451.
+Ahmedabad is located at {{coor d|23.03|N|72.58|E|}} in western India at an elevation of 53&nbsp;[[metre]]s (174&nbsp;feet). The city sits on the banks of the River Sabarmati, in north-central Gujarat. It spans an area of 205&nbsp;[[square kilometre|km²]] (79.15 [[square miles]]). The Sabarmati frequently dries up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water. The city is located in a sandy and dry area. Many of the localities and roads are often spread in sand, reflecting the intensifying fallout caused by deforestation. The steady expansion of the [[Rann of Kutch]] threatens to increase [[desertification]] around the city area and much of the state. Except for the small hills of [[Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra]], the city is almost flat. Two lakes are located within the city's limits &mdash; [[Kankaria|Kankaria Lake]], and [[Vastrapur Lake]]. Kankaria lake, located in the neighbourhood of [[Maninagar]], is an artificial lake developed by the Sultan of Delhi, [[Qutb-ud-din Aybak]] in 1451.
 The city witnesses three main seasons &mdash; summer, monsoon and winter. Barring monsoon, the climate is very dry. The weather is hot through the months of March to June, with the average summer temperature ranging from  a maximum of 43&nbsp;[[Celsius|°C]] (110&nbsp;[[Fahrenheit|°F]]) to a minimum of 23&nbsp;°C (73&nbsp;°F). The months of November through February have an average maximum temperature of 36&nbsp;°C (97&nbsp;°F) and a minimum of 15&nbsp;°C (59&nbsp;°F) and the climate is extremely dry during that period. Cold northerly winds are responsible for a mild chill in January. The southwest [[monsoon]] brings a humid climate to Ahmedabad from mid-June to mid-September. The average rainfall is 93.2&nbsp;[[centimetre|cm]] (36.7 inches), but infrequent heavy torrential rains cause the river to flood.<ref name=climate>{{
@@ Line 162: / Line 162: @@
 }}</ref> and in turn they elect a [[mayor]]. Executive powers are vested in the municipal commissioner, who is an [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] officer appointed by the Gujarat state government. The daily affairs of the municipality school board, the VS hospital, the MJ library and the AMTS bus service are some of the main responsibilities of the mayor. The city serves as the headquarters of Ahmedabad district and as the seat of the [[Gujarat High Court]].
-The Ahmedabad city police are headed by a [[Police Commissioner]], an [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] officer. Electricity in the city is provided by [[Torrent Power]] AEC Limited, which was earlier a state-run corporation. The city elects one member to the [[Lok Sabha]] and seven to the Gujarat [[Vidhan Sabha]]. There are two main political parties that perform well in elections &mdash; the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and the [[Indian National Congress]]. Of the 7 assembly seats of Ahmedabad, 5 were won by the BJP and two by the Congress Party during the legislative elections in 2002. In the 2005 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation elections, the BJP won 96 seats, while 32 went to the Congress, leaving a lone seat for an independent candidate.<ref>{{cite news | first = Manas| last = Dasgupta| author = | coauthors =| url = http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/16/stories/2005101605480800.htm| title =  BJP wrests control of Ahmedabad municipal body| work =  | publisher = The Hindu| pages = | page = 1| date = 2005-10-16| accessdate = 2006-07-30| language = }}</ref>
+The Ahmedabad city police are headed by a [[Police Commissioner]], an [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] officer. Electricity in the city is provided by [[Torrent Power]] AEC Limited, which was earlier a state-run corporation. The city elects one member to the [[Lok Sabha]] and seven to the Gujarat [[Vidhan Sabha]]. There are two main political parties that have won a significant number of seats in elections &mdash; the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and the [[Indian National Congress]]. Of the 7 assembly seats of Ahmedabad, 5 were won by the BJP and two by the Congress Party during the legislative elections in 2002. In the 2005 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation elections, the BJP won 96 seats, while 32 went to the Congress, leaving a lone seat for an independent candidate.<ref>{{cite news | first = Manas| last = Dasgupta| author = | coauthors =| url = http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/16/stories/2005101605480800.htm| title =  BJP wrests control of Ahmedabad municipal body| work =  | publisher = The Hindu| pages = | page = 1| date = 2005-10-16| accessdate = 2006-07-30| language = }}</ref>
 ==Economy==
@@ Line 177: / Line 177: @@
 Ahmedabad has a thriving chemicals and [[pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceuticals industry]]. Two of the biggest pharmaceutical companies of India &mdash; [[Zydus Cadila]] and [[Torrent Pharmaceuticals]] &mdash; are based in the city. The city serves as the corporate headquarters of the [[Adani Group]], which is a leading multinational trading company. The [[Nirma]] group of industries that runs a large number of detergent and chemical industrial units has its corporate headquarters in the city. It has created major mercantile and artisan corporations and guilds that are a key influence on the economic life of Gujarat. The completion and operation of the [[Sardar Sarovar Project]] of dams and canals has improved the supply of [[potable water]] and [[electricity]] for the city. In recent years the state has increased investment for the modernisation of the city infrastructure, providing for the construction of larger roads and the construction of better infrastructure for water supply, electricity and communications. The [[information technology]] industry has developed significantly in Ahmedabad.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = Jeremy Smith | coauthors =| url = http://www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2000/10/19/News/Professor.Sees.Philadelphia.In.An.Indian.City-5883.shtml?norewrite200607311201&sourcedomain=www.temple-news.com | title = Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city| work =  | publisher = The Temple News| pages = 2| page = 1| date = 2000-10-19| accessdate = 2006-07-31| language = English }}</ref> A [[NASSCOM]] survey in 2002 on the "Super Nine Indian Destinations" for IT-enabled services had ranked Ahmedabad fifth among the top nine most competitive cities in the country.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?art_id=19195158| title = Ahmedabad joins ITES hot spots| work =  | publisher = The Economic Times| date = 2002-08-16| accessdate = 2006-07-30}}</ref>
-Ahmedabad has traditionally attracted migrant workers from different parts of Gujarat such as [[Kutch]], [[Saurashtra]], [[Kathiawad]] and neighbouring states such as [[Rajasthan]], [[Sind]], [[Maharashtra]], and [[Madhya Pradesh]]. This diverse labour force is integral to the factories and they provide vital household labour and services for the city's large middle class. Ahmedabad plays a strong and significant role in providing commercial resources and market access for the economies of neighbouring cities. A majority of the citizens of Ahmedabad are traders and businessmen, known as ''Vanias'' who belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] or the [[Jainism|Jain]] faith. The city's eminent educational and industrial institutions have attracted students and young skilled workers from different parts of India.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = Jeremy Smith | coauthors =| url = http://www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2000/10/19/News/Professor.Sees.Philadelphia.In.An.Indian.City-5883.shtml?norewrite200607311201&sourcedomain=www.temple-news.com | title = Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city| work =  | publisher = The Temple News| pages = 2| page = 1| date = 2000-10-19| accessdate = 2006-07-31| language = English }}</ref>
+Ahmedabad has traditionally attracted migrant workers from different parts of Gujarat such as [[Kutch]], [[Saurashtra]], [[Kathiawad]] and from neighbouring states such as [[Rajasthan]], [[Sind]], [[Maharashtra]], and [[Madhya Pradesh]]. This diverse labour force is integral to the factories and they provide vital household labour and services for the city's large middle class. Ahmedabad plays a strong and significant role in providing commercial resources and market access for the economies of neighbouring cities. A majority of the citizens of Ahmedabad are traders and businessmen, known as ''Vanias'' who belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] or the [[Jainism|Jain]] faith. The city's eminent educational and industrial institutions have attracted students and young skilled workers from different parts of India.<ref>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = Jeremy Smith | coauthors =| url = http://www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2000/10/19/News/Professor.Sees.Philadelphia.In.An.Indian.City-5883.shtml?norewrite200607311201&sourcedomain=www.temple-news.com | title = Professor Sees Philadelphia in Indian city| work =  | publisher = The Temple News| pages = 2| page = 1| date = 2000-10-19| accessdate = 2006-07-31| language = English }}</ref>
 ==Demographics==
@@ Line 208: / Line 208: @@
 }}</ref> Ahmedabad has traditionally been home to a large population of [[Vanika|Vanias]] (or traders), belonging to the [[Vaishnava]] and [[Jain]] sects of [[Hinduism]]. Most of the residents of Ahmedabad are native [[Gujarati people|Gujaratis]] and speak [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], of which the dialects of [[Kathiawar]] and [[Saurashtra]] are predominant. [[Hindi language|Hindi]] and [[English language|English]] are commonly spoken, especially for the purposes of commerce, education, politics and government.
-Ever since its foundation, the city has attracted migrant workers from all over Gujarat and from the neighbouring states of [[Rajasthan]], [[Sindh]] and [[Maharashtra]]. There is a sizable population of [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]]s, [[Marathi]]s, [[Tamil people|Tamils]], [[Sindhi people|Sindhis]], [[Malayali]]s and [[Marwaris]] who bring in their native language and culture to the city. The government institutions and military base near the city bring peoples from across India. The city's population has increased dramatically due to the expansion and modernisation of the local economy. Ahmedabad also enjoys great religious diversity. According to the 2001 census, 84.62% of the population in Ahmedabad is Hindu, 2.92% is [[Jain]], 11.4% is Muslim and 0.72% is Christian.<ref>
+Ever since its foundation, the city has attracted migrant workers from all over Gujarat and from the neighbouring states of [[Rajasthan]], [[Sindh]] and [[Maharashtra]]. There is a sizable population of [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]]s, [[Marathi]]s, [[Tamil people|Tamils]], [[Sindhi people|Sindhis]], [[Malayali]]s and [[Marwaris]] who bring in their native language and culture to the city. The military base near the city and government institutions bring peoples from across India. The city's population has increased dramatically due to the expansion and modernisation of the local economy. Ahmedabad also enjoys great religious diversity. According to the 2001 census, 84.62% of the population in Ahmedabad is Hindu, 2.92% is [[Jain]], 11.4% is Muslim and 0.72% is Christian.<ref>
 {{cite web
@@ Line 269: / Line 269: @@
  |accessdate=2006-03-30
-}}</ref> The prestigious [[Gujarat Vidyapith]] was established in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi, and played the unique role of being one of the first institutions of higher learning managed entirely by Indians and outside of British control.
+}}</ref> The prestigious [[Gujarat Vidyapith]] was established in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi, and has the distinction of being one of the first institutions of higher learning managed entirely by Indians and outside of British control.
-Prestigious institutions such as the [[Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad|Indian Institute of Management]], the [[National Institute of Design]], the [[Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad|Mudra Institute of Communications]], the [[National Institute of Fashion Technology]] and the [[Center for Environmental Planning and Technology]] are based in Ahmedabad. Many academic and scientific institutions of national repute were set up in Ahmedabad in the 1960s, largely through the efforts of prominent astrophysicist and industrialist [[Vikram Sarabhai]]. The most important of these are the [[Physical Research Laboratory]] and the [[Space Applications Centre]] of the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]].<ref name=isro>{{cite web|url= http://www.isro.org/centres/cen_ahe.htm|title= Ahmedabad|accessdate= 2006-03-30||publisher= Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organisation}}</ref> The [[Ahmedabad Management Association]] is a famous institution established to impart management training and experience to young students and professionals. A [[satellite campus]] of the [[Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay]] will start functioning in the city from July 2007 accommodating around 4,000 students. The IIT will offer courses with a focus on the skilled-labour needs of Gujarat such as textiles, aeronautical, marine, and ship engineering.<ref name=IIT>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = | coauthors =| url = http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=193791| title = IIT’s happening at last: satellite campus in offing| work = Ahmedabad edition| publisher = The Indian Express| pages = | page = 1| date = 2006-07-22| accessdate = 2006-07-30| language = }}</ref>
+Prestigious institutions such as the [[Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad|Indian Institute of Management]], the [[National Institute of Design]], the [[Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad|Mudra Institute of Communications]], the [[National Institute of Fashion Technology]] and the [[Center for Environmental Planning and Technology]] are located in Ahmedabad. Many academic and scientific institutions of national repute were set up in Ahmedabad in the 1960s, largely through the efforts of prominent astrophysicist and industrialist [[Vikram Sarabhai]]. The most important of these are the [[Physical Research Laboratory]] and the [[Space Applications Centre]] of the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]].<ref name=isro>{{cite web|url= http://www.isro.org/centres/cen_ahe.htm|title= Ahmedabad|accessdate= 2006-03-30||publisher= Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organisation}}</ref> The [[Ahmedabad Management Association]] is a famous institution established to impart management training and experience to young students and professionals. A [[satellite campus]] of the [[Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay]] will start functioning in the city from July 2007 accommodating around 4,000 students. The IIT will offer courses with a focus on the skilled-labour needs of Gujarat such as textiles, aeronautical, marine, and ship engineering.<ref name=IIT>{{cite news | first = | last = | author = | coauthors =| url = http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=193791| title = IIT’s happening at last: satellite campus in offing| work = Ahmedabad edition| publisher = The Indian Express| pages = | page = 1| date = 2006-07-22| accessdate = 2006-07-30| language = }}</ref>
 [[Image:All India Radio Ahmedabad.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Broadcasting tower of the All India Radio, Ahmedabad]]
 Ahmedabad has a number of newspaper publications. The major English dailies published and sold in the city are ''[[Times of India]]'', ''[[Indian Express]]'', ''[[Asian Age]]'', and ''[[Economic Times]]''. There are three main [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] dailies in the city &mdash; ''[[Sandesh]]'', ''[[Gujarat Samachar]]'', and ''[[Divya Bhaskar]]'', and a large number of magazines, periodicals, and journals, are regularly published and circulated across the city. The city is home to the historic [[Navajivan Trust|Navajivan Publishing House]] &mdash; founded in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi &mdash; which is one of India's premier publications company. The Gujarat film and television industry has a small but significant presence in the city. The city has two local [[Frequency modulation|FM]] stations: [[Radio Mirchi]] (91.9&nbsp;[[Megahertz|MHz]]) and [[All India Radio]] (96.7&nbsp;MHz). All India Radio is broadcast on the [[Amplitude Modulation|AM]] band.<ref name=Radio>{{