Gujarat Day 2025: Celebrating the Spirit, Culture, and Growth of the Jewel of the West
On May 1, Gujarat celebrates its Foundation Day, a significant event marking the creation of the state following the division of the Bombay State in 1960. Known as the "Jewel of the West," Gujarat commemorates this day not just as a historical milestone but as a testament to its enduring spirit of unity, development, and cultural pride.
Formation of Gujarat: A Linguistic Movement
Gujarat officially became a state on May 1, 1960, following the linguistic reorganisation of the Bombay State. The division created two new states: Gujarat for Gujarati-speaking people and Maharashtra for Marathi speakers. This transformation was formalised through the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960. Since then, Gujarat Foundation Day has been celebrated with enthusiasm across the state, highlighting the people's aspirations and achievements.
A Land of Cultural Riches and Historical Legacy
Gujarat boasts a remarkable heritage—from the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation to the grandeur of the Solanki and Mughal dynasties. The state's architecture, trade routes, and historic towns bear witness to its role as a confluence of diverse traditions and influences. Celebrations on Gujarat Day reflect the pride in this deep-rooted legacy through cultural performances, exhibitions, and community gatherings.
The Birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi
One of the most revered aspects of Gujarat's identity is being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, a global symbol of peace and non-violence. His home, the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, continues to attract visitors worldwide, serving as a powerful reminder of his message of truth, tolerance, and social justice.
Economic Powerhouse with Global Aspirations
Beyond its cultural strength, Gujarat has established itself as a key player in India's economic landscape. With its strategic coastal location, robust industrial base, and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, the state continues to drive innovation and investment. Its ports, business hubs, and infrastructure projects are vital to India's economic momentum.
Celebrations Across the State
On Gujarat Day, grand events are held across cities and villages alike, showcasing traditional dances, music, and local crafts. It is a day to recognise the hard work and resilience of its people, who have helped shape Gujarat into a vibrant, forward-looking state.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Join hands to save this city': Aaditya Thackeray to Mumbaikars
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday launched the party's mobilisation campaign titled 'Ladha Aaplya Mumbaicha' (Fight for our Mumbai), where he expressed the need to fight for Mumbai on the lines of the historic Samyukta Maharashtra movement in the 1950s. 'They (the BJP) want to take away Mumbai from the Marathi manoos and gift it to Adani,' he said. 'Come and join the battle to save this city.' Aaditya was speaking at a gathering at Kalidas Auditorium in Mulund, where he made a presentation to show how lands across Mulund, Kurla, Malvani and Deonar had been allocated to the Adani group in the name of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. 'All Dharavi residents should get homes in Dharavi only and not elsewhere,' he said, adding that the BJP, to 'serve its master', wanted to hand over Mumbai to him. Hitting out at the BJP-Adani liaison, Aaditya said that to clean up the Deonar dumping ground for Adani's Dharavi project, the BMC would have to spend over ₹2,000 crore. 'And to recover this money, the BMC has proposed to levy a garbage collection tax on Mumbai's citizens,' he said. Referring to Eknath Shinde by his Thackeray-given moniker Bhrashtanath Mindhe (Corrupt and Subservient), he alleged that he had played a role in the BJP's plan to give Mumbai to Adani. Pointing out that Monday was the anniversary of Hindu king Chhatrapati Shivaji, Aaditya lamented that it was also a time when Mumbai, Maharashtra and the Marathi manoos were in danger. 'As they failed in their plan to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, they are now conspiring to take it from the Marathi manoos by handing the city to the Adani group,' he said. Aaditya emphasised that once the city fell into the hands of a businessman, the people's representatives would have no control. 'So we will have to fight for Mumbai like we did during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. This fight is not of a political party but of all Mumbaikars. Come and join it to save Mumbai,' said Aaditya in what sounded like the Sena (UBT')s campaign theme for the upcoming BMC polls. The Mumbai civic polls are crucial for the Sena (UBT), which suffered a serious setback in last year's assembly elections, winning only 20 seats in the state, 10 of these in Mumbai. The BMC has been the Shiv Sena's and Thackeray family's source of strength and influence for decades. Aaditya also pointed out how all his allegations regarding corruption in the BMC and infrastructure projects in Mumbai had turned out to be true. 'I was the first to raise my voice on the cement road scam,' he said. 'Today, we can all see the condition of the roads and the quality of work. In October 2024, I warned about corruption in the Thane-Borivali belt, and now the Supreme Court has forced the authorities to cancel the tender.' Aaditya clarified that his party had no personal conflict with anyone, including Adani. 'But if you charge at Mumbai, we will stand in front of you, we will fight and we will win,' he said.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: PM Modi to meet multi-party delegations; amid reunion buzz, NCP factions to mark foundation day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet members of the multi-party delegations, who had travelled to world capitals to convey India's stand following Operation Sindoor, on Tuesday, sources said. Official sources said the members will be sharing their feedback with the PM, whose government has praised the work of the seven delegations comprising over 50 persons, mostly current MPs. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already met the delegations and praised their efforts in conveying India's strong stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Four delegations were led by the ruling alliance, including two BJP MPs, one JD(U) MP and one of Shiv Sena, while three were led by opposition MPs, one each of the Congress, DMK and NCP(SP). NCP foundation day Amid buzz of a possible reunion, the two rival factions of the NCP – led by veteran leader Sharad Pawar and his nephew and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar – will hold separate 'Foundation Day' gatherings in Pune on Tuesday. Despite the reports of a potential reunion between Ajit's ruling NCP and Sharad's Opposition NCP(SP), both sides have insisted there was no such proposal on the table. Frequent meetings between Sharad and Ajit Pawar at public and private events have fuelled speculations about the factions reuniting after a split in the party in July 2023. On Tuesday, while Sharad Pawar will address workers and office-bearers at a function in the morning, Ajit Pawar will participate in a programme in the evening in Pune, the home turf of the Pawar family. According to political observers, party workers are expecting clarity and future roadmaps for their respective factions from the top leadership. Stampede petitions in Karnataka HC Karnataka High Court on Monday said it will hear on Tuesday the petitions of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and DNA Entertainment Pvt Ltd challenging criminal cases against them in the stadium stampede incident. The stampede occurred on June 4 in front of the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB team's IPL victory celebrations. Eleven people died and 56 were injured in the incident. Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah of the Congress government will travel to New Delhi on Tuesday to meet the Congress high command, where he is expected to discuss various developments, including the stampede. Siddaramaiah had on Sunday denied reports that the Congress high command had sought information from him regarding the stampede. CPI(M)'s delegation to J&K During a meeting of its central committee earlier this month, the CPI(M) decided it would send a party delegation led by general secretary M A Baby to Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday as part of its campaign against terror. The other members of the delegation include Lok Sabha MPs Amra Ram, K Radhakrishnan and Su Venkatesan, and Rajya Sabha MPs John Brittas, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya and A A Rahim. The party is also planning to hold a week-long campaign in June against 'terrorism, war mongering and efforts to spread communal hatred' using the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. – With PTI inputs
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
India's first envoy to Bolivia has a Gujarat connection, is a native of Okha
Ahmedabad: Rohitkumar Vadhwana, 44, made history when he was recently appointed as the first ambassador to the Plurinational State of Bolivia. He heads India's first mission in the South American country known for its natural resources. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At La Paz, the highest capital city in the world at nearly 12,000 feet in the Andes mountains, Vadhwana has a tall task at hand. "Now, I am in La Paz, tasked with setting up an embassy from the ground up," explains the envoy with a Gujarat connection, the scale of the job evident in his voice. "First, we set up the office and recruit staff. It's a matter of laying the foundation of the Indian mission," says Vadhwana, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 2010 batch with an illustrious career. His path has taken him from Embassy of India in Iran to Indian High Commissions in the UK and Kenya. He also had a stint as deputy permanent representative to the UNEP and UN-Habitat during his tenure in Nairobi. Speaking to TOI about his 'unconventional' journey from the coastal town of Okha to the highlands of La Paz, he said, "I did not know about the Union Public Service Commission exams till I graduated in 2003. In Porbandar, he earned his LLB degree from Saurashtra University and also pursued an MA through distance learning. "It was advice from a well-wisher that put me on the path to becoming a civil servant. I enrolled at the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) in 2004-05 and other organisations for preparations," he said. In Ahmedabad, while he was preparing for his career in civil service, he also achieved a personal milestone – he met Femida Shaikh, the love of his life, and the couple eventually married. Vadhwana even took a year's break to address challenges of their inter-religious union. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The couple is now in La Paz, making new friends in the Spanish-speaking country. Vadhwana's family, including his parents and sister, are still in Okha. "I want to promote India's soft and hard power in the country," he says. "It is significant today as Bolivia celebrates its 200 years of independence this year, and India opening a diplomatic mission here is a symbolically high point in bilateral relations." The last fiscal year saw India exporting automobiles and pharmaceuticals to Bolivia and importing gold and fertilisers from Bolivia. It is trade of about $2.3 billion, which fell to less than half a billion dollars mainly due to the restriction of gold export from Bolivia, indicate official sources. "As a mission, we are committed to increasing bilateral trade," he said. "India is keen explore collaborations in critical sectors such as infrastructure, mining, minerals, and energy."
