Foreign migration from Charotar
ચરોતરમાંથી વિદેશગમન…

Issue:-3 Year:-1

Tuesday,

Jet Sud Agiyaras (Nirjada Ekadashi) Vikram Samvat 2076

Date:- 2nd June 2020

Dear Dharmajians,

Namaste

Our series of articles is named “Chalo Dharmaj” where in on every Agiyaras we try to present different topics under different subjects with the focal point of our articles being Dharmaj, as it is the functional base of Avichal Heritage Foundation and Dharohar Foundation. However, as Dharmaj is also a part of Gujarat States’ Charotar region, so the subject of Charotar would not be out of place. Just as Dharmaj is known as the Non-Resident Indian village, the whole of Charotar is known as the Non-Resident Indian region. 

Charotar is the area between the two rivers, Mahi and Meshwo which includes some part of Anand, Kheda, and Mahisagar (previously solely under the Kheda district) districts. Before India acquired freedom, the villages of Charotar were under different rulers, like the Gaikwads of Vadodara, the Nawabs of Cambay, the Babi family of Balasinor and the British rulers. In those times, the Patidars of Charotar were the first to migrate to foreign soils and Shamaldas Desai of Nadiad was the first individual to do so in the year 1850. This migration flow increased gradually.

There were various sects or groups of Patidars who migrated under the flagship of Sardar Patel Samaj Federation. More than 20 plus sects still exist in present times. These sects still carry out within their community, youngsters meets,  mass marriages and cultural educational activities. Dharmaj falls under the Charotar Cha (six) Gaam Patidar Samaj. The word ‘Dhansobhavak’ has been coined to help the new generation to easily remember the names of villages covered under Cha Gaam – Dharmaj, Nadiad, Sojitra, Bhadham, Vaso, and Karamsad. In those earlier days, few families of Sojitra settled in Savli as they were given farmland to cultivate there by the Gaikwad Sarkar, and thus those few families are also included in Cha Gaam. These Cha Gaam Patidars began migrating quite early and were later followed by other villages of Charotar. Most of those villages were under the Gaikwad rule, who was instrumental in the migration story and efforts are on to acquire more details of this history.

We had requested feedback from our readers, and we are happy to say that the response is very encouraging. Dharmajians from around the world are sending information along with rare photographs too and we thankfully acknowledge them all. Alpita Patel of Avichal Heritage Foundation is preserving our heritage by editing and saving all such detailed information under the heading of #shareyourlegacystory. We applaud her efforts too. Kindly continue to send your stories to us at info@avichal.org or submit via this link. This way we can frequently meet, exchange ideas and information on this platform.

Rajesh Patel
Dharohar Foundation
Ph. No. + 91 9426500757
Email: rajesh.patel@mydharmaj.com

Translation Credit from Gujarati to English: Milan Rambhai Patel (Dharmaj), Vallabh Vidyanagar