Thinker Group India: 55). 1st May ,Happy Birthday Gujarat,IND

Friday 1 May 2015

55). 1st May ,Happy Birthday Gujarat,IND

IT was on May 1, 1960 that the Bombay presidency was divided into Maharashtra and Gujarat. And so Gujarat was given its own identity at last. Today, it is not only India's most industrialised state, well-known for the entreprenuerial acumen of its people, but it is also rich in heritage, handicrafts, culture and natural beauty. Mahatma Gandhi may belong to the whole nation, but he had his origins in Gujarat and the start of his ground-breaking movement in India was right here in Ahmedabad.

We talk to prominent people about what it is like any other one. I feel proud of being a Gujarati as any one else who hails from another state would feel about his own identity. I think what makes this state special are things like the heritage of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. We should not forget that. Then there are things like prohibition, khadi and village industries and the consideration for the down trodden— ideals that Gandhiji stood for — which should be followed by all.

On May 1, 1960, I was in Ahmedabad and had just got appointment as a reader of economics in the Gujarat post graduate college of social sciences.

As Gujarat became a separate state, we were full of enthusiasm and aspiration looking forward to a separate identity that was distinct. At that time, leaders like Jay Prakash Narayan believed in party-less democracy.

We had great hopes — there was the discovery of oil in Kalol, plus we wanted that the spirit of liberalism, wisdom, entrepreneurship and social affability that Gujaratis had would be high-lighted.

Now that I look back, I say that there is a gap between aspirations and achievement. There are villages where there is a perennial droughtlike condition and politicians have betrayed the trusting, gullible people of Gujarat. Though there has been an industrial revolution, we need a green revolution as well. So here,see the few things but biggest of gujarat.