Charotar Migration - Role of Gaekwad Rule

Namaste. Avichal.org website followers

we welcome you.

Friends, through our article series
"Chalo Dharmaj",

we are trying to evaluate different
aspects of Dharmaj.

Today our topic is reviewing the start
of migrations that took place

over 100 to 150 years ago from Dharmaj
and surrounding charotar towns,

and understand the role of the then ruler

of the Baroda Princely State of,
Shrimant Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III.

Hence, we are on location,
in the heart of their kingdom,

at Vadodara's Madhav Bagh Palace

with their family member,
Shrimant Jeetendrasingh Gaekwad.

Before we begin, I would like to present
to His Highness, on behalf of Dharmajians,

a small gift - a book named
"Chalo Dharmaj"

and with it, given the involvement of
the Gaekwad rule in the towns of charotar,

another book named "Chalo Charotar"
as a token of our love and appreciation.

I would now like to request His Highness
to share a short introduction of him

and his relationship to Maharaja Sayajirao
Gaekwad III.

Thank you. Jai Swaminarayan.

Today we are gathered at a holy place,

at the request of Rajubhai

under the banner of Chalo Dharmaj.

Madhav Bagh was constructed in 1892.

My nephew, Rajya Sahib
Shrimant Shivrajsingh Gaekwad,

is the current owner and I would like to

thank him for allowing the shooting of

this particular documentary here.

My introduction: I am Himmat Bahaduur

Shrimant Jeetendrasingh Gaekwad
Rajyakarya Dhurandhar.

I am the son of Professor Maharaja
Gautamsinghrao Gaekwad saheb,

who was a cousin brother of
Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad.

I am also the great grand nephew of
Maharaja Sayajirao, our respected elder.

I studied in Baroda at MS University,

with whom I still have ties to today.

Based on today's goal and topic,

I am happy to share my knowledge.
Thank you.

Your Highness, can you please share the

connection of your family with Dharmaj and

any special memories you may remember?

I will first share some
historical background

to give some context to the
vastness of Baroda State.

Our borders started from Dwarka in
the East, about 700km from Baroda,

to Somgadh in the West,
which borders Maharashtra

and in the North ("uttar Gujarat")
from Patan to Sanjan in the South.

Vadodara, the city, was the
seat of the dynasty (Rajdhani).

People today assume that Baroda's ruler
means Baroda city's ruler, but

that is not the case. Baroda State's ruler

was referred to as a "Gurjar Naresh".

We basically had ties with Charotar,

I will explain this connection before
I come to Dharmaj,

Baroda State has ties with Charotar
dating as far back as 1690 to 1700s,

which is almost 300-325 years now.

Even when Swaminarayan Maharaj was
writing his "Shiksha patra",

my ancestors would meet with him.

That is why many key priests of the
Swaminarayan sect,

were present at Maharaja Sayajirao's
coronation, in 1875

held at Nazarbagh Palace
(the Gaekwad Royal Palace),

where they blessed him with their support.

Thus, the direct link with Dharmaj,

considering the link with the Charotar
community, goes back at least 300yrs.

Now talking about my personal connection,

I have many different connections.

Due to my studies in Baroda,
at what used to be

Maharaja Sayajirao's Bagikhana (Stable),

which was a very large estate where,

a school named Baroda High School,

the first co-ed English medium school,
was established.

It is there, that many of my classmates

were mostly the sons and daughters of the
Charotar Patidar community.

For example, Chandan Metal Corporation's
Menak Patel.

Secondly, his cousin, Monaben Patel,
who later married Samirbhai.

Vijay Patel, Sunil Patel.

Then, through the many Patidar
family friendships that we established,

that hailed from
Bhadran, Sojitra, and Rudel.

Rudel is a very beautiful town,
where Rajubhai Patel, who is involved

in implementing several Modi inspired
initiatives, comes from.

Besides that, there is also Vaso, Dharmaj

All these significant towns, had their
Mahal (center), in those days, in Bhadran.

"Mahal" means it was bigger than a Taluka
and smaller than a Province.

thus remaining very prominent.

Gaekwad sarkar had a rule, that anyone
in State Revenue Services

or the Police Department,

were required to train for at least
one year in the Charotar area.

This was compulsory, because,
during that era,

the Charotar patidars and their
distinct communities, for example,

Petlad's Bhramins, Petlad's Nagars
Petlad's Vaishnavs, Petlad's other

communities such as the mistry
or suttars (carpenters), all of them

in this region were considered to be
enlightened people.

So during my childhood, I must have
visited Dharmaj at least 10 times.

One of my closest friends, Jayesh Patel,
was also from there, but now

many of whom have migrated to the USA.

However, in my childhood,
I visited Dharmaj many times.

If I was to share a reference in Dharmaj,
it would be of "Ranchhodkaka" who was

a very famous person.

Ranchodbhai Ashabhai Patel,
Ashabhai Govindbhai Patel.

He lived opposite the famous
Das Ghara in Dharmaj,

and made his name in the film industry.

His son, Jayesh Patel, who has published
an incredible book on cricket,

and in my opinion, has the best Cricket
Museum collection and he lives in Dharmaj.

He is my age and he reconnected with me.

In my childhood days, I stayed
with Ranchhodkaka in Dharmaj.

I travelled with him to Calcutta,
His daughter lives in London, while

his other son, Pravinbhai, lives in
Bangalore, whom I visit too.

So my relationships with Dharmaj,
which began from my birth in 1965,

are still active today.

Your highness, with respect to the
Charotar villages, including Dharmaj and

what we call the "Cha Gaam" (six villages)
Patidar Samaj, and other villages/towns,

who began foreign migration
about 100-150 yrs ago, during that era,

when Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
was the ruler, what was his role in this?

This is a very important question.

Within this answer lies the reason and

understanding why, today, the most number
of people who have settled abroad, whether

as a nagrik, or non-resident Gujarati,
or non-resident Barodian, or a

non-resident Dharmajian, or as a
non-resident Bhadranian,

or as a non-resident Nadiadian.

That answer is in this explanation.

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III,

when he initiated his reign in 1875,

he had 5 very strong supporters.

These included, his two brothers,
of which one was my great grandfather

Senapati Himmat Bhaddur
Anandrao Kashirao Maharaj.

He was responsible for Manpower, the
police and the army departments.

His younger brother, Sampatrao Gaekwad,

managed the Education and
Library movements.

When he surveyed all the regions
of Baroda State,

to determine where to begin,
that is when he identified,

that there were 5 pockets or regions,
in which, if they wanted to institute

a new rule, and implement as a
pilot project within these pockets,

then observe them for 3 yrs, and if
after the 3 yrs, has a positive outcome,

then it would be considered a reform.

Based on this process they devised
a formula, which they applied in

Navsari, Amreli, Mehsana and most
importantly in Charotar areas.

In Baroda State, why did Charotars
recieve such prominnence?

Because the Patels and Amins of Charotar,
they were highly enlightened people.

For every new initiative that
the Gaekwad Sarkar proposed,

the best response was from this region.

Reforms such as the school movement,
a ban on child marriage,

removal of untouchability,
spread of library movement or

agricultural land reforms were a success.

They used to hold many large agricultural
exhibitions, etc, in those days,

more than 150yrs ago in Charotar area.
Where as event management and

exhibitions is something we see today.

The biggest observation was that,

the Charotar patidar community
were the most enterprising.

In particular, for the Amin community,
he defined A. M. I. N. as follows:

A for Ambitious. M for Meticulous
I for Intellectual, and N for Nature lover

This line, Maharaja Sampatrao created in
1877 for the Charotar Amin community.

The Patidars and Amins had won the Crown's
trust and the courts (Darbar) in

every village held a special seat for
each of these people.

I have with me names like
Somabhai Muljibhai to many others.

Already, we have many elaborate places.

If you go to the Dharmaj Library, or
Bhadran's beautiful Library,

you will find these recrods.

However, in this movement the first rule
they implemented around 1877, was

if any Charotar family person,
whether Patidar, Amin, or Bhramin,

If you took a Gaekwad Scholarship
for foreign migration,

and after settling abroad, in that day,
whatever pounds you earned and

sent back to your hometown,
then the Gaekwad Sarkar would,

for any younger family members,

their complete education responsibility,

the Raja would take care of.

Additionally, after education, they would
guarantee a job paying Rs15/mo.

Rs 7 to Rs 15 per month. The value of
Rs 1 was significant in those days.

The cost of gold was only Rs 9 per tola,
where 1 tola = 11.7g (0.41 oz), not 10g.

In such times, a Rs 7 per month assured
job was given to them.

Now suppose, you were the elder brother,
and you went abroad,

and you had a younger sister (Kanya),

then, the Sarkar was obligated to
give 5 yrs of education,

at 12yrs age provide for her marriage,

after marriage, provide all
household provisions,

pick up the cost of the 1st child delivery

and pay for 'Choli Bangadi", the cost of her
clothing and bangles before

her "vidai", or departure to her
husband's home.

this cost of approx Rs50,
was borne by the Gaekwad Sarkar.

So with this policy, the Charotars took
the most advantage and benefit.

After them, of those that took the most
advantage, it was the Navsari province.

We had many large provinces. However,
after seeing the success of this policy,

other leaders in the region, almost 250
such provinces, quickly adopted them.

Bhavnagar is a classic example,
Rajkot, Kutch and so on.

This is how migration took off.

So today, after 150yrs, when we see
Gujaratis settled all around the world,

the key reason is the progressive
policies adopted by the main ruler

in fostering and encouraging the community
to go abroad and settle.

Saheb, that is an amazing insight.

With great vision, it is possible to
create such impactful change, that

even after 150yrs, our 4th and 5th
generations are bearing it's fruits,

due to Sayajirao.

Today I gifted you some books.

I was only able to create those books
thanks to what our grandfathers and

great grandfathers did with the libraries
that existed in Dharmaj and elsewhere.

Now I want to understand for our readers,
for those Dharmajians who migrated, what

was the reason to remain connected?
That is between Sayajirao and them.

Classic example if we look in Dharmaj,
is a property called Rhodesia House,

on which, Alpitaben Patel and
Vikrambhai Patel, have created and

released this incredibly beautiful
coffee table book.

The title of this book is beautiful,

An African Odyssey - A Hundred Years of a
Gujrati Family in the Land of the Zambezi

Now this book created in 2019, is proof
of the topic I just discussed.

I am thinking of expanding here on this
one idea.

Now, we should do one thing.
I already have a copy of this book,

There is a person named Dr. Ishverbhai
Gordanbhai Patel (I. G. Patel) of Karamsad

who was the RBI Governor.
The whole world knows him.

As a simple example, even though
he was from Karamsad,

as we are discussing Dharmaj
and Charotar in general as well.

In 1980, September, he came to deliver
the University convocation speech.

At that time, my older cousin brother,
Lieutenant Colonel, His Highness,

Maharaja Fatehsinghrao, was the
Baroda University Chancellor,

who published the convocation
ceremony that year,

Why was Dr I G Patel invited as the Chief
Guest? Because he was a graduate of MSU.

From there he went on his own to Oxford,
after which, he became

a very successful and popular person.

.Saheb, I can assure you, and willing to
even gift a copy to the Dharmaj Library,

It is just an 8-10 page document.

In this document, Dr I G Patel Saheb
describes how Baroda State officials

and our Charotar's well educated,
as well as other sects of the community.

maintained relations. He has
described this in detail.

In paragraph number 3, he writes about my
grandfather, Diwan Bhadrasingh Maharaj,

where in 24hrs, despite the second world
war in 1943-44, his scholarship to London

and passage to London was approved.

When I read this, I had tears in my eyes.

He went to London, studied fully on the
Gaekwad Scholarship,

and then history played out for him.

Then, In his second last
paragraph, he discusses

Maharaja Pratapsinghrao, the then ruler,
who succeeded Maharaja Sayajirao III,

and is my paternal uncle ("KakaShri").

Maharaja Pratapsinghrao did something
special. Each time he traveled abroad,

he would invite any Baroda State
Scholarship holders or Baroda State

nationals who had settled there, to
evening garden parties.

Dr I G Patel attended 3 to 4 such garden
parties between 1948 to 1952.

Based on these experiences, he describes
how Maharaja Pratapsinghrao,

in those days, a king of stature

would easily engage with common
folk to learn about their difficulties.

then find ways to mitigate these
difficulties,

and encourage them to expose their
Indian culture in their new homes.

This document discusses in detail this
process from first hand experience.

This documented history is dated
September 1980, Convocation Address of

Dr I G Patel, the Reserve Bank of India
Governor, ex-student of Maharaja Sayajirao

University. Great salute to him as he
has mentioned my grandfather's name

Bhadhrasingrao Maharaj,
in paragraph number 3

and my revered uncles name,
His Highness Pratapsinghrao Maharaj

in the last 2nd or 3rd paragraph.

In this way he has given us a review of
history and the same applies to Dharmaj.

In Dharmaj, there are many people who

studied with me over 50 years ago, and now

have reached great heights abroad,

and most of them studied in MSU.

So even today, our relation with Dharmaj
and Charotar remains strong

and in order to make it tighter or closer,
this is the way.

When you remembered IG Sahib,

I suddenly remembered HM Patel Sahib,
a native of Dharmaj and both Finance

and Home Minister of India. I had watched
him work too.

This brings me to my next question.

For our family members, who are now,
scattered around the world,

how do we bring them back to Dharmaj?

First of all, I want to congratulate
you for your particular activity where

on the auspicious day of Agiyaras,
you share, on avichal.org,

you connect to like minded people
and share stories like this one.

I will present my personal message at
Indumati Palace to the Dharmajians.

The effort needed, for our Dharmajians,
who are all over the world,

For them, this new electronic medium,
makes it so easy to reconnect.

One can simply create a Facebook
account or page, then gather there.

From my side, whatever little knowledge
I can lend, like a stem to a flower,

or a flower to a petal, I will contribute

to the Dharmaj libraries, which I
believe there are two.

One was from Baroda State times,

and the other, built later,
a Ladies library,

Usually, In Baroda State, ladies were
given a separate library.

We will add these books to the libraries,

and on Dharmaj Day, which is held
on 12th January, we can have an

event during which we can share a
short presentation.

This way, Dharmajians who have
lost touch,

over the last 70yrs, due to
many reasons we have seen,

And hopefully, my presence will
also rekindle the memories, the old

traditions and relations of that time.

In this, I have one wish.

In Bhadran, there is a special dedication
statue of Maharaja Sayajirao III.

One is in the Gram Panchayat or
Taluka Panchayat.

The other is placed at the Bus Stand.

Maharaja Pratapsingh Rao, his successor,

can have a statue, which can be
designed by such architects that we know,

so his statue can be placed in Dharmaj,

given it is one of the jewels
of Baroda State, it's contributor.

I hope you can help in taking this
forward.

Definitely. We will discuss this further
at Indumati Palace, where we will also

address the younger generation with a
message in English.

Thank you for being at Madhav Bagh Palace.

I also wish to thank, my nephew for
permission to let us be here,

Rajubhai for his great work and

Bhavinbhai for the excellent videography.

We can now proceed to Indumati Palace,
which has a different history.

If we see the architecture of
this location,

it is Indo-sarcenic, jewish, combined
architecture.

Indumati Mahal Palace has a distinct
architecture which I wish for you to see.

Thank you very much.

Now we have arrived at
Indumati Mahal Palace.

I have a special request -

Regarding Dharmaj's history,

and more importantly,

for our younger generation,

can you please provide

a message in English?

I am thankful to Yuvraj Pratapsingh Rao
Sangramsinh Rao Gaekwad

for having given us the permission to
do this video clipping

at Indumati Mahal Palace premises
that belongs to

the Sangramsinh Raje part of the family.

Today, we are at one of the
most holy locations

called the Indumati Mahal Palace,

opposite the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Baroda

This is the location of the "devasthaan"
(home) of Baroda State,

which was made ready in the year of 1885.

Most of the Patel and Amin delegations

from Charotar, from various places like

Petlad, Dharmaj, Bhadran, Vaso,
Pij, Dakor, Umreth,

all these places, used to come and
meet the officials

who used to sit in this building

therefore we have decided to give,

a sort of orientation to this building

also as to my words.

Now, being the great grandnephew of
Maharaja Sayaji Rao III,

I am really privileged to

address you all today,

All my dear Dharmajians.

I am Jeetendrasingh Gaekwad,
Himaat Bahaddur Rajyakarya Dhurandhar

and my great granduncle,

Maharaj, barrister, Sampadrao Gaekwad,

the younger brother of
Maharaja Sayaji Rao III,

and my great grandfather, Himmat Bahaddur
Senapati Anandrao Kashirao Maharaj

were very very dear to the Patel
and the Amin community of Charotar.

My message to the Dharmajians is

Dharmaj is a beautiful town.

The basic features,
if you refer to the records of 1875,

during the coronation of
Maharaja Sayaji Rao III,

the mention of Charotar is there,

Dharmaj is there.

If you go to the Silver Jubilee chronicles

of Maharaja Sayaji Rao III reign of 1900

there, lots and lots has been written

about the Patels and Amins and the

enterprising Bhramins as well as the

other communities of Charotar

especially Dharmaj and Bhadran

Bhadran was the Mahal headquarters

of the entire Charotar region.

We always used to have

a lot of officials posted in Bhadran

so as to control Dharmaj

as well as the surrounding
areas of Charotar.

Now my message is that,

Let us come together

in this new world of technology,

the internet, the facebook, and

the electronic platform,

and form a very solid group.

Because, Dharmaj as an entity

has it's own specialty

of very clean roads

extremely green.

When I used to visit Dharmaj
in the 60s and 70s

at that time, I could never see

anything but shadow in the whole village.

Today, of course,
the situation is slightly different

Let us make Dharmaj green again.

I also hold, as well as, I preside
over the Royal Heritage Green Mission in

Bangalore, which is a very successful body
a very enterprising body.

I feel that, through email or
through the internet

we all come together, and before

this Dharmaj Day of
12th of January 2021,

we should make it a point to
get well connected,

have a small presentation of
15mins on PPT

at the Dharmaj Library,

because the libraries have been set up
by the Gaekwad Sarkar.

Way back my ancestors have been
"vahivatdaars" there.

Almost all the Patel families there,

all the Amin families there are closely

related to us.

We will revive the relationship
after 70 years of independence.

That will be a Royal Heritage revival
with Dharmaj, and,

most important is that we will take

the message of environment and ecology
planning further

from this particular, 12th January 2021.

We should also, and that is my desire,
as well as my wish,

and I put it in front of Rajubhai,
and before the August body of

the Dharmajian committee,

that we should have a nice bust of

Maharaja Pratapsingh Rao,
the last ruler of Baroda,

who happens to be my revered uncle,
my respected uncle, and

the grandson of Maharaja Sayaji Rao,
who has done enormous work

enormous work. All development of Charotar

during his reign from 1939 to 1952.

So with this, my message to the
Dharmajians is...

let us come forward,

let us work together

and despite the Corona crisis,

let us embrace

our ideologies together.

Today there is a limitation because
of the Corona crisis, we are not

allowed to embrace each other,
which we used to do

when we were school boys.

Most of the charotar Patel and Amin boys
have studied with me

in the Baroda High School in Bagikhana
during the 60s and early 70s.

So I wish you good luck and feel that

this message will go to all the nooks
and corners of this world.

Let us make a concrete beginning.

Jai Dharmaj. Jai Baroda State
Jai Gujarat, Jai Bharat.

Thank you very much.

Avichal Heritage Foundation and

the organizer of Dharmaj Day,
Dharohar Foundation,

will collaborate to spread your message
across the globe.

We hope that, with the blessings we
have received from Maharaja Sayaji Rao III

and inspired by his deep and broad ideas,

we can come together, and give back

something of value to the community.

With that, thank you very much. Namaste.

Thank you very much.