History of Rajkot

Rajkot is the fourth largest city of Gujarat state. It is situated on the banks of Aji River in the western part of India. Rajkot has been under different rulers since it was founded. Rajkot has a large history and had a significant part in the Indian independence movement. Rajkot was home for many personalities like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Rajkot is in a transition period of growing cultural, industrial and economical activities. Rajkot is the 26th largest city of India and the 22nd fastest growning urban area of the world. [" [http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/urban_growth1.html City Mayors World's fastest growing urban areas (1)] ", Retrived on December 13, 2007]

Foundation and Early period

Rajkot is founded by Thakore Sahib Vibhoji Ajoji Jadeja of Jadeja clan in 1620. Thakore Sahib Vibhoji Ajoji Jadeja was grandson of Jam Shri Satarsal (Sataji) Vibhaji Jadeja of Nawanagar.

This region has seen Ghaznavid Empire ruled by Mohammad Ghaznavi and Muzaffarid dynasty ruled by Mahmud Begada before jadeja settlement. Jadeja of Nawanagar lost battle of Bhuchar Mori in c. 1590 against Mughal Empire. Thakore Sahib Vibhoji Ajoji Jadeja was sent to delhi as prisoner after the death of his father at the battle. He was placed under the guardianship of Jodhaji Soda, who was his maternal uncle from one of Akbar's wives. He joined the Imperial forces and supported Shah Jahan in expelling the Vaghelas from Sardhar. Then after, He married the daughter of the Vaghela chief and made Sardhar his capital. He received Ardoi, Rib, Ribda and Kalipat, which he converted into a separate principality for his services to the Emperor. His son continued in the Imperial service, receiving further lands in reward. Rajkot was named after Raju Sandhi in 1620, who was co-founder of princely state of Rajkot with Thakore Sahib Vibhoji Ajoji Jadeja.

Thakore Sahib Vibhoji Ajoji was succeeded by Thakore Sahib Mehramanji I Vibhoji, who helped in the suppression of the Kathi tribes with Imperial forces of Mughal Empire. He was reward from Azam Khan, the Subedar of Gujerat by that expanded boarders of Rajkot state. Thakore Sahib Bamanioji Sahibji and his son Thakore Sahib Mehramanji II Bamanio were brave and skillful soldiers. They seized Rajkot and a number of villages from the Nawab of Junagadh and consolidated their control over Rajkot and its surrounding villages until 1720.

Nawab rule

Masum Khan, a deputy Faujdar of Junagadh's Nawab, conquered Rajkot in 1720. Masum khan changed name of Rajkot to Masumabad. He also built the fortress in 1722, which was about 4 to 5 kilometers in perimeter and its walls were 8 feet wide. Fortress was built to protect Rajkot from attack of other rulers. There used to be a wide and deep moat all around the fortress wall, which do not exist today because of ruins and relics. There were Eight Gates for access Masumabad, which were studded with iron spikes on its outer side for defense purposes. These were "Kotharia Naka", "Nava Naka", "Raiya Naka", "Bedi Naka", "Bhichari Naka", "Sardhar Naka" and "Pal no Darwajo". Further, there was a gate without spikes called "Khadaki Naka" near Nakalank Temple. Debris of fort wall can be seen in the bastion in Ramnath para area. Gates of Bedi Naka and Raiya Naka were modified during the colonial times. The chief Engineer of British Agency, Sir Robert Bell Booth, renovated Bedi gate and Raiya Naka gate and built the present three storied clock towers in 1892. Town within the gates and to the west of Aji River was the old fortified town of Rajkot. Masum Khan ruled for 12 years until he was conquered by Thakore Sahib Ranmalji Mehramanji in 1732. Also Rajkot name was comes from the person named Raju Sandhi

Jadeja rule

Masumabad was conquered by Thakore Sahib Ranmalji Mehramanji in 1732. Name of the state was restored to Rajkot. Thakore Ranmalji's son and successor, Lakhoji I, succeeded him in 1746. He later abdicated in favour of his eldest son but resumed the throne when the latter died unexpectedly in 1794. Displeased with his grandfather's action, Ranmalji II deposed him and expelled him to Nawanagar. Thereafter, the family reigned uneventfully, accepted British protection in 1818, and quietly developed their little state. The capital became the headquarter of the British Political Agent, and soon developed into a modern town. It became an important centre of education, with several famous institutions being established there.

British rule

His Highness Thakore Sahib Bawajiraj Mehrmansinhji and his son, Thakore Sahib Sir Lakhajiraj III Bawajiraj, were model rulers who slowly developed their state into a haven of liberal learning, discourse and intellectual activity. The state became a favourite venue for meetings of various India wide political, cultural and intellectual organisations. British constructed many impressive colonial buildings and educational institutions, which are Connaught Hall, Masonic Hall, Lang Library, Watson Museum and The Rajkumar College. Peasant, youth, farmers' and citizens' councils were encouraged and prospered. However, all this changed when His Highness Thakore Sahib Pradyumansinhji Lakhajiraj succeeded his father in 1930. Although he received a liberal education and was the first of his line to be sent abroad, his interests and inclination were the reverse of his father and grandfather. The British authorities restricted him from exercising full powers for a year and placed him on probation, but he gave full vent to his proclivities when he received full powers a year later. He taxed his subjects heavily, hoarded goods then sold them at inflated prices to his own subjects after creating scarcity, then frittered away the proceeds on his own pastimes. Unlike his father, who lived frugally and spent practically the entire revenue on developing his state, Dharmendra used 50% of the state funds on himself. Not surprisingly, he became the butt of many demonstrations, strikes and boycotts, organised by Congress and other left-wing organisations. Mahatma Gandhi did fasting to ask to form people's council and liberation of people of Rajkot at Rashtriya Sala in 1939. Thakore Sahib Dharmendrasinhji's early death in 1940 during hunting of Lion in Sasan Gir, came as relief to his subjects.

His Highness Thakore Sahib Pradyumansinhji Lakhajiraj tried his best to reverse his late brother's failures, but time and circumstances were not on his side. Although he did manage to improve the lot of his subjects, War conditions hampered progress for several years. No sooner had the Second World War ended, before the events of partition, independence and merger overtook any plans he had. The state merged with its neighbours to form the United State of Saurashtra in February, 1948 and then after rajkot became capital of State of Saurashtra headed by U. N. Dhebar as chief Minister and Jam Saheb of Navanagar as Raj Pramukh in 1948.

Post independence

Rajkot was the capital of the then Saurashtra state from April 15, 1948 to October 31, 1956 before merging in bilingual Bombay State on November 1, 1956. Rajkot was merged into Gujarat State from bilingual Bombay state on May 1, 1960. Thakore Sahib Pradyumansinhji died in 1973. His son, Thakore Sahib Manoharsinhji Pradyumansinhji, who has carved out a political career at the provincial level, succeeded him. He served as a Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly for several years and as the state Minister for Health and Finance. The Heir Apparent, Yuvraj Sahib Mandattasinhji has embarked on a business career.

On January 26, 2001 a devastating earthquake centred near Bhuj, measuring 6.9 on the richter scale, struck the city.

References

* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/rajkot.htm Rajkot Principality] , "Jadeja Dynasty: Rajkot principality".
* [http://rulers.org/indstat2.html Indian States before 1947] , Retrieved on February 4, 2008

Further reading

* List of Thakore Sahibs of Rajkot State from 1620 to till date