- Ode, Gujarat
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Ode — town — Coordinates 22°37′19″N 73°06′58″E / 22.62194°N 73.11611°ECoordinates: 22°37′19″N 73°06′58″E / 22.62194°N 73.11611°E Country India State Gujarat District(s) Anand Population 18,454 (2001[update]) Time zone IST (UTC+05:30) Area
• 39 metres (128 ft)
Ode is a small town and a municipality in Anand district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Patel-The name is enough.
Contents
Location and transport
Ode is located at 22°22′N 73°04′E / 22.37°N 73.06°E in western India at an elevation of 39 metres (128 ft), approximately 10 mi (16 km) northeast of the centre of Anand. The closest railway station is at Umreth, about 4 mi (6 km) north of Ode on the Western Railway’s Anand-Godhra railway line. Ode is about 8 mi (13 km) northeast of the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway [1], and about 25 mi (40 km) from Vadodara Airport. Ode is served by the Gujarat state transport system providing bus services to major cities and surrounding villages.
Temples
Ode has many temples including Ranchhodji's Mandir, Swaminarayan Mandirs(Old,New),Ram Mandir, Vaishnav Mandir, Pranami Mandir and many others.
History
Ode was known in ancient times as Pranavpur. In former prosperous times, the Banzara (Gypsy) community built a Vav (a well with steps) and an inn for large numbers of visitors. Part of this inn was used as a middle school until 1945. During the struggle for Indian independence, Ode was the center for the area’s Satyagraha movement. In 1930, Narshibhai Jivabhai Patel of Nar sacrificed his life for the movement. The 'Narshi-Bhavan' monument was built in his memory. This building was used as a Dharmashala (guest house) as well as a girls' school.
Population
The town has a population of about 20,000 within a 9.9-square-mile (26 km2) area. The local population consists of, Patidars, Harijans, Brahmins, Banias, Kshatriyas, Muslims and Christians. Once, it had a sizable population of learned Brahmins who attracted many young pupils to learn Sanskrit and astrology. The majority of the population is Patidar, who are involved in various types of business. Many have settled abroad in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Middle East, Australia and African countries. The village folk are very kind and they co-operate with each other at all times.
Education
The local Education Board operates a primary school for boys and another for girls. Both these schools were built with a generous donation from Marghabhai Kishabhai Patel. The Sardar Patel Vinay Mandir high school is managed by the Ode Kelavani Mandal under the guidance of the Charutar Education Society. This board also manages a kindergarten. Under the umbrella of various educational bodies, several educational programs cater to youths and adults. These programs include typing classes, painting, music and home science. Two colleges, Devjibhai Muljibhai Pater Arts College and Shanabhai Shankerbhai Patel Commerce, affiliated with Gujarat University are located on the Dakor Road. Pramukhswami English Medium School is located near the water works on the Ode Kelavni Mandal Campus at Bijahar Talav.
Also in this college they run the B Ed course as well and trustees also built the hostel for the B Ed students.
The Mangaldas Laxmidas Patel Public Library near the hospital is equipped with a large quantity of books on a broad spectrum of subjects.
Medical
Ode has a Jivabhai Patel Charitable Dispensary that has provided a valuable service since its establishment. Bhikhabhai Jivabhai Patel has donated generously to the Kasturba Maternity Home near the hospital. Rambhai B. Patel also contributed to build and equip the operating theater for the hospital. This hospital has been a boon to Ode and surrounding villages.
Business and Industries
Agriculture is the main source of income for Ode. Tobacco, peanuts and bananas are the main income sources for farmers. Ode has a co-operative dairy that operates in association with Amul Dairy to serve the farmers. There are several small scale industries like poultry farms, printing presses, screen printing presses, machine shops,Devi Vijay Saw mills,Jay Ambe Ply & Hardware and auto garages. In order to support the cash crop industry and small businesses, Ode is home to several transport companies. It has a co-operative bank and branch offices for the Central Bank of India, Dena Bank and Urban Bank. Ode Seva Samiti provides financial assistance to various organizations aimed at the town’s multi-purpose development.
Religious and Social Institutions
Ode boasts many temples catering to its mostly Hindu population. However, it respects other faiths and as a result it also has two mosques for Muslims and a church for Christians.
Its Hindu temples include Jankidas Mandir, Ramji Mandir, Narandev Temple, Goverdhan Mandir, Swaminarayana Mandir, Kabirsahib’s Mandir, Pranamy Mandir, Jain Derasar, Ambamata Mandir, Khodiarmata Mandir, Bhadrakalimata Mandir, Bahucharajimata Mandir, Veraimata Mandir, Kaleshrimata Mandir, Totramata Mandir, Dudheshawer Mahadev, and Nilkanth Mahadev.
Ode enjoys the presence of Four community halls. Nathabhai Jethabhai Prathna Hall located near the ST Bus stand, Diwaliba Vadi at Ranchodji Mandir, Sardar Patel Vadi and the two-storey Ashervad Vadi. These facilities are large enough to hold large dinners and weddings.
Prominent Buildings
Tower House
Tower house was one of the first large buildings built in Ode and is in the centre of the town. It was built by Rambhai Ghelarbhai Patel, who was a wealthy rice merchant who traded between Calcutta and Rangoon in Burma/Myanmar. Work began in 1932 on Rambhai's return from Calcutta and was completed in 1934. The complex originally comprised 3 separate dwellings, built for each of Rambhai Ghelarbhai Patel's sons, Ambalalbhai, Thakorbhai, and Appabhai Patel. Their descendents are still residents of the properties. Annexes to the original building were later built and today the complex comprises around 7 dwellings.
Tower House is a focal point in the town, as the tower part of the building contains an original wind-up town clock. It was recently repaired to full working order and now strikes bells at each hour and half hour.
Today the descendants of the three brothers shree ambalalbhai, thalorbhai, and appabhai patel are still residence of the properties. Today most of the sons and daughters of these three brothers live abroad and spread the buissness all over the world.
2002 violence
Ode was a location of the Hindu-Muslim 2002 Gujarat violence. Twenty-six people were burnt alive in Ode, which falls under the jurisdiction of Khambolaj Police Station area on March 1, 2002. Violent incidents from the town, however, were reported from February 28 and continued until March 2. In May 2008 the remains of victims of the violence were recovered from a well in the center of the village [2]
References
External links
- Ode Village map view 22°37′19″N 73°06′58″E / 22.621855°N 73.116095°E
Categories:- Cities and towns in Anand district
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