Gujarat Formation Day: Know History, Importance And Facts On Gujarat
Gujarat is observing the 62nd anniversary of its creation as an independent state on linguistic grounds. Explore the History, Importance and Key Facts about Gujarat on the occassion of Gujarat Formation Day or Gujarat Sthapana Divas
The Gujarat Formation Day also known as Gujarat Sthapana Divas is commemorated every year on May 1 in recognition of the creation of Gujarat as a separate state out of the then Bombay state on linguistic grounds in 1960
Gujarat Formation Day
After India attained its independence in 1947, the demand for creation of States on linguistic grounds gained momentum across the country, including in Gujarat, where the Mahagujarat movement also known as the Mahagujarat Andolan played a significant role.
The Mahagujarat idea was first advocated by KM Munshi, a freedom fighter and it was presented at the Gujarat Sahitya Sabha for the first time in 1937 which was held in Karachi.
The creation of Gujarat can be credited to the Mahagujarat movement aka Mahagujarat Andolan - a political movement that demanded the creation of Gujarat state for Gujarati-speaking people from the then bilingual Bombay state of India in 1956.
In achieving the objective of a separate Gujarat state, a Mahagujarat conference was held in 1948 to include all Gujarati speaking people under one administration which eventually resulted in the formation of Gujarat on 1 May 1960, including the regions Saurashtra and Kutch.
Mahagujarat Janata Parishad was formed under the leadership of Indulal Yagnik Indulal who led the Mahagujarat movement for which he was arrested along with other leaders of the movement such as Dinkar Mehta, Dhanvant Shroff, etc.
Following the creation of Gujarat, Ahmedabad came to assume the status of chief city of the new state and housed all the government offices of the State, until they were transferred to Gandhinagar a decade later, in 1970.
Gujarat is 2nd largest producer of crude oil (onshore), 4th largest producer of natural gas, occupies first spot in Logistics in the country with 42 ports and 18 operational
airports, and is one of the leading industrialised states in India.
Key Gujarat Facts
Gujarat is regarded as the petroleum capital of India with several refinery units, and housing several Oil and Gas reserves. It is the world’s largest producer of processed diamonds, accounting for 72% of the world’s processed diamond share and 80% of India’s diamond exports.
Gujarat is marked as the largest manufacturer of denim in the country contributing 65 to 70 per cent to India’s denim production. It has 60 notified SEZs & also forms India’s chemicals and petrochemicals hub with 8 Chemical clusters
Gujarat is popular for it is folk and cultural fairs such as Kavant, Shamlaji, Tarnetar that adds to it grandeur.