Walking Tall

Walking Tall

Morbi is a small town located in Gujarat. In spite of being small it’s well known all over the world for its industries; especially ceramic industry. Morbi has made a mark as the largest ceramic manufacturer in India. What distinguishes Morbi is its unrelenting spirit of getting up again and again after being devastated. Morbi had twice been devastated by natural forces like flood and earth quake which shattered the town but could not shatter the spirit of its industrious people. The people of Morbi have rebuilt the town again with unending zeal and have made it the ceramic hub of the country. The real spirit of Morbi is neither in getting up again nor in its being the ceramic hub but it’s in the enterprising spirit of its people who are confident of defying all the odds and raising above all the standards. It’s not about companies or factories; it’s about people.

As a morbian I am proud of this unrelenting spirit and I think a lot of people can benefit by observing these success stories. I have tried to cover the major contributors to this industry and to the pride of having the least unemployment. Morbi has become a mini- India, name any state and you can find its people in Morbi. As a matter of fact there are lots of foreign people who frequent the streets of Morbi and are doing business with this small town.

Talking about the indomitable spirit which created the heroes out of common men I am going to take you on the roller coaster ride of the ceramic industries. We would enchant ourselves by these heroes. These successful heroes are born before our eyes and they climb the ladders of success before our eyes. The reader gets the chance to participate in their every struggle and win like them. We can accompany them in their ride to super success and feel that rush of adrenaline in our blood. What hurdles they faced and how they managed to rise in spite of these difficulties? How they gained momentum which decision in their life propelled them towards success? These are some questions which I have tried to unravel in the pages which have acted as wings to propel these heroes to their today’s position. I hope that we will together enjoy this flight and try to feel the sharp curves and smooth hills riding on the ever changing and ever flowing current.

Live a life that can come in books and inspire the millions…….

My Morbi 7# The Jadejas of Kutch (II)

The Jadejas of Kutch (II)

Allyaji was succeeded by his son Rawaji. Rawaji on succeeding to the Gadi attacked Paddhadri and laid it waste (by sowing salt in its fields) in revenge for his father’s murder claiming compensation from the Nawanagar Darbar and finally receiving seven villages of which Ghunda still remains under Morbi. Rawaji enlarged and beautified the town of Morbi and surrounded it by a wall.

On Rawaji’s death in 1764 AD, he was succeeded by his son Pachanji, after whose death in 1772 AD without issue his brother Waghji came to Gadi. With the help of Amirji Diwan of Junagadh, Waghji invaded Wagad in Kutch. The Rao of Kutch instead of meeting them in battle appeased them with rich presents. Waghji overran Khakhreechi, the town under Malia and laid it waste with help of Gaekwar troops led by Fatehsinh Rao. He died in 1785 AD and was followed by his eldest son Hamirji who died without issue and was succeeded by his brother Jiyaji.

Throughout his reign Jiyaji knew no peace. At the instigation of Khawas Meraman of Nawanagar, Dado Khachar of Jasdan made inroads on the Morbi territory more than once; but in 1792 AD, he was overtaken near Chotila by the Morbi army and a hand-to-hand fight ensued which resulted in Dado Khachar and his followers being killed. The next foe confronting Jiyaji was Jadeja Junoji of Nagdawas who was plundering Morbi territory. With the help of the Peshwa’s army, he took Nagdawas, demolished its fort wall and compelled Junoji to flee. This was in 1795 AD.

Kutch then attacked him. In 1880 AD Mehta Bhanji led a large Kutch army which besieged the port of Vavania. Jiyaji not only offered a stout resistance but eventually defeated the invaders in 1801 AD. Jiyaji then feigned peace and goodwill with Malia subjects and with the help of Mianas headed by Chief Dosaji of Malia overran a great part of Wagad. On his return the Chief of Malia was taken prisoner by Jiyaji. This roused the Mianas against Morbi itself. Jiyaji however subsidized Babaji Apaji, a Gaekwar Officer, who had encamped near Morbi on a Mulkgiri expedition, to reduce the Mianas; Babaji marched against Malia but failed to take it. Nevertheless he compelled the Morbi Darbar to hand over to him the village of Hadala which was promised as a reward for his services and his descendants enjoy the village to this day. The Mianas did not cease to give trouble until they obtained the liberation of Dosaji, the Chief of Malia.

The Khavas of Jodiya and Balambha when driven away by the Jam Saheb of Navanagar sought shelter with Jiyaji who gave them the village of Kanpar where they resided unmolested until they were re-installed in the District of Amran.

On the arrival of Colonel Walker in Kathiawar, Morbi was in a distressed condition but no less than other States it regained prosperity and peace with the settlement. In 1820-21 AD Kutch incursions recommenced and the Morbi Darbar invoked the aid of British Government. A small English contingent was dispatched to assist Morbi and the Rao of Kutch compromised by paying compensation.


  

References

1.       Interact club of Morbi, article by Sheth Ami H. And Patel Kavita B. 1994-95

2.       The Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages in the Western India States Agency. Second Edition. Published by the Manager, Government of India Press, New Delhi, 1935.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyana

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaekwar

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