Mar 26, 2004 02:27 PM
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(Updated Mar 26, 2004 10:11 PM)
Rajkot City is the premier city of Saurashtra or Kathiawad. The name Saurashtra means a hundred nations. Before Independence there were in fact more than a hundred small and big states in the area.
Modern Rajkot is a thriving city having a robust light engineering industry and is among the largest manufacturing centres in the world for Diesel engines.
It also has sari manufacturing industries and is the also the centre of the Agricultural trade of Saurashtra. Rajkot or saurashtra has a cultural milieu different from the rest of Gujarat.
The Society is orthodox and conservative and the general education levels are lower than that of the other major cities like Vadodra or Ahmedabad. The people are laid back and still insist an afternoon siesta! So do not b surprised if you see deserted roads and closed shops. There is no bandh or curfew and the noise you hear the snores of the folk enjoying their siesta!
It has a number of historical places associated with the British Raj and also many associated with Gandhiji. The Albert High School that Gandhiji studied in is now a dilapidated structure called the Mahatma Gandhi High School. The sad neglected school shows that what we do is just offer lip service to Gandhiji`s ideals rather than walk the path of truth he taught.
The city has a thriving jewelry business and the majority of the Diamond polishers come from Saurashtra. The main problem of Rajkot is water scarcity. Many industries have been closed due to this problem.
Rajkot is well connected to all major cities. In fact if we consider that it takes four hours @ to go to Ahmedabad or Vadodara or Veraval or Porbandar or Bhavnagar or Kandla and Just an hour and half to Jamnagar it will be understood as to how well Rajkot is placed to be central location for trade in the state. It is well connected by Rail to all parts of India as Rajkot is a Divisional headquarters for Western Railway. It is connected to Mumbai by Air also.
Rajkot is also the base for tourists who come to see Gir, Somnath and Dwarka temples and the beaches and bars of Diu. The oldest library in India set up by the British, The Lang Library is located in Rajkot. Food Kathiawadi food is typical and different from your normal Gujarathi Cuisine. The basic staple diet especially in rural belts is `Ringna na Oro and Rotla ( Baingan Bhartha and Bajra roti) washed down with milk or chaas and accompanied with fried chilies and `sambharo`. The other popular dishes are ghee and jaggery, Sev Tamatar`, and Lasanya Batata. Khichidi and Kadi are a must in the evening.
The people of Saurashtra are a colorful lot. Yes they are backward and feudal as compared to other parts of Gujarat and are ferocious in pushing their point of view. But they are also very hospitable. Driving is a nightmare with vehicles going helter skelter at full speed with little regard to life and limb. Traffic rules are non-existent and the Cops do`nt care.
Every other chap seems to be chewing tobacco or pan and to spit everywhere and on anyone their birthright. The smiles you get from these chaps give you nightmares; red stained broken teeth;. Yech! And the guy will pick his teeth with his finger spit at your feet and offer his hand for a shake;.
The place abounds with `Maldharis` of various types, the Bharwads, the Ahirs etc. They are the local cowboys who till the earth and tend the cattle and when they hit the town they are colorfully dressed in narrow churidars, chorniya .... a skirt like shirt, earrings and bracelets long whiskers and high-heeled shoes. Many carry a lathis and are willing to us it at the slightest provocation. Off course if you see them in their working clothes you will find them dusty and unwashed in this land of little water. They are well built and the ladies wear back less cholis;. But beware they are strapping gals as well built as the men and can throw you a long way off!
They congregate at the famous Tarnetar mela and its colorful with all the folk dressed in their finest. Please note that they may be illiterate but generations of cattle trading has honed their business skills and they will get better of you in most deals.
The other community of interest are the Darbars who are the descendents of the ruling class. They still live or strive to live like their ancestors. There are well-educated scions and illiterate yokels among them, all are feudal and clannish and have reputation of being daring and dangerous. Many still live in magnificent old houses.
There is a joke that typifies the people here.
Four chaps got in at Mumbai one from Surat, one from Vadodara, one from Ahmedabad and one from Rajkot. The Surat chap kept on eating all the way and when Surat came hurriedly gathered his belongings and jumped out.
The Vadodra man read the paper he carried from corner to corner and repeated it to ensure he did not miss out on anything. Just before the station came he carefully gathered his water bottle, his papers and his other belongings double checked everything and got off.
The Ahmedbad fellow gathered all his belongings checked to see if there was anyone else stuff he could take and moved out.
The Rajkot chap had gone off to sleep as soon as he got in at Mumbai, is woken up by the attendent at Rajkot and finds his belongings had been taken by the Ahmedabad fellow! Shrugs his shoulder picks up someone else luggage and walks cooly out!
Kris
