India - Gujarat State - Background
After gaining independence in 1947, the Indian National Congress party (INC) ruled the Bombay state (which included present-day Gujarat and Maharashtra). On May 1, 1960, Gujarat was created out of 17 northern districts of the former state of Bombay. Congress continued to govern Gujarat after the state's creation in 1960. During and after India's State of Emergency of 1975-1977, public support for the Congress Party eroded, but Congress continued to hold government until 1995.
Gujarat has had 14 different Chief Ministers since its formation in 1960. Dr. Jivraj Narayan Mehta 1 May 1960 - 19 September 1963 of Indian National Congress was the first Chief Minister. In the 1995 Assembly Polls, the Congress lost to the BJP and Keshubhai Patel came to power.
In 2001, following the loss of 2 assembly seats in by-elections, Shri Keshubhai Patel resigned and yielded power to Shri Narendra Modi. The BJP retained a majority in the 2002 election, and Shri Narendra Modi served as Chief Minister of the state from 07 October 2001 to 21 May 2014. Gujarat has witnessed Winds of Change under the leadership of Narendra Modi, who believed that "Future of India belongs to Gujarat. With the inherent strength and immense potential, Gujarat is destined to bring glory to the nation."
In 2002, after a fire on a train resulted in the death of 58 Hindus, hundreds of Muslims were killed across Gujarat by Hindu mobs. Hundreds of mosques and Muslim-owned businesses and other kinds of infrastructure were looted or destroyed and, in the end, as many as 2,000 Muslims were killed. India's National Human Rights Commission, an official body, as well as numerous domestic and international human rights investigators, found evidence of complicity in the attacks by officials of the Gujarat state government, headed then and still by State Minister Modi. In the months following the violence, the Modi government in Gujarat was widely accused in India of being reluctant to bring the perpetrators of the killings of Muslims to justice.
The events of Gujarat made news across the world and human rights organization filed many reports, but neither the news nor these reports could persuade the Indian government or, for that matter, the global community, to take any action. A report entitled, “The Gujarat Massacre Affected Minority Women, The Survivors Speak” based on first-hand accounts of women who survived these attacks revealed the details.
Gujarat has emerged to be an Industrial hub with India’s most Industralised State. Gujarat pays a 27% tax of India. Gujarat is India’s ‘Petro Capital’ State with 30% of Petrochemicals, 50% Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals business. Ranking on top in Marine Production, Fisheries and Ports, the state has manufacturing India’s 90% soda ash, 70% salt and 20% caustic soda. Petroleum and chemicals and Petroleum Investment Region (PCPIR) is being set up at Dahej which may further add to strengthen the sector base.
Over a period of time, Gujarat has also succeeded in widening its industrial base. At the time of inception in 1960, the industrial development was confined only to four major cities namely Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat and Rajkot and some isolated locations such as Mithapur and Valsad. Today, almost all the districts of the state have witnessed industrial development in varying degree. Such a massive scale of industrial development has been possible on account of judicious exploitation of natural resources, such as minerals, oil and gas, marine, agriculture and animal wealth. The discovery of oil and gas in Gujarat in the decade of 60s has played an important role in setting up of petroleum refineries, fertilizer plants and petrochemical complexes. During the same period, the state government has also established a strong institutional network.
Gujarat Population Census Data shows that it has total population of 6.03 Crore [ie, 60,300,000] which is approximately 4.99% of total Indian Population. Literacy rate in Gujarat has seen upward trend and is 79.31% as per 2011 population census. Of that, male literacy stands at 87.23% while female literacy is at 70.73%. Gujarat is a home to incredible diversity due to its geographic and strategic location. Its Gujarati pride and rich cultural heritage is reflected in the arts, music, literature, religious traditions, cuisine, fairs and festivals of every city and place.
Gandhinagar is the State Capital of Gujarat. Named after ‘Gandhi’, the father of the nation, it is situated 32 kms away from Ahmedabad and is proudly the best planned city in India. Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, Rajkot are some major cities of Gujarat which have been located to have the best of tradition, history, architecture, culture and philosophy of Gujarat in an atmosphere of luxury, beauty and comfort.
The social life comprises various languages, customs, festivals, celebrations, costumes, food habits and dwellings of people living in different regions of Gujarat. The cultural edifice has been built in Gujarat due to its geographical, social, religious and occupational diversity. The humble natured, persevering and hard working Guajarati’s residing in its cities, towns and villages have expanded their economy and business ventures not only in Gujarat but all over India and the rest of the world.
Ensembles, lifestyles and ways of living vary all over Gujarat. The fairs and festivals are full of enthusiasm, entertainment and spirituality. Gujarat is known world over for its Navratri celebration which sees people immersed in the spirit of dance for nine nights. The dance forms depend on the unique styles that have emerged in different cities. people have adopted this traditional dance and its varied forms by the name of ‘Garba’ and ‘Raas’.
Although the principal language of Gujarat is ‘Gujarati’ and other languages spoken are Hindi and English, Gujarat encompasses many languages and dialects throughout to its many regions, castes and traditions. People of North Gujarat speak ‘northern Gujarati’, Central Gujarat speaks ‘Charotari’, Saurashtra speaks ‘Kathiawadi’, South Gujarat speaks ‘Surti’ and Kutchh speaks ‘Kutchi.’
The state of Gujarat has a tropical climate based monsoon. The daily average temperature is between January and January 27, in the range of 27 degrees centigrade to the minimum of 13 degrees centigrade and the maximum of 27 degrees centigrade to 41 degrees centigrade in May. Rainfall is mainly from June to September, mainly during the southwest monsoon. Approximately 90% to 95% of the rainfall is recorded during the period of three months. 300 mm in northwestern area and 2000 mm in south Gujarat.
The rainfall in 60% of the state of Gujarat is less uneven and unreliable and therefore drought in every three years of Saurashtra Kachchh and North Gujarat areas. Since 1900, there has been a shortage of water and food at least 30 times in the state. Water conservation is mainly concentrated in the southern and central regions of the state. In order to meet the growing population in the state of Gujarat and to meet the growing economic growth, the demand for increasing water needs to be met from the limited supply of water. To meet the problem of water scarcity, the state government has given priority to irrigation irrigation to save water.
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