Meghpur
Encyclopedia
Meghpur also spelled as Meghpar (Gujarati: ) is a village in Kutch, state of Gujarat in western India
.
, the neighbouring villages are Naranpur and Godpur. Meghpur is reached by State Highway 47 (Bhuj to Mandvi
) and State Highway 48 (Bhuj to Mundra
).
As you turn into the road leading to the town from State Highway 47, you come across a garden created by the villagers with donations from overseas and the Gujarat Government
. As you enter the village itself, you come to the Meghpur Primary school followed by the town center square (bhathaan). The bus stop
is located in the square were there are shops, tea stalls and Shankar Mandir (Temple
).
There is a river alongside the old and new Meghpur and with the partnership of the Indian Government and the private sector 9 check dams have been built to converse water. The village enjoys a constant water supply with the old well and main supply tanks located behind the primary school. The new borehole has had to be located 3 km on the other side of the river due to the reduction in water following the 2001 Gujarat earthquake
that struck the region with frightening accuracy.
Meghpur was not harshly affected by the 2001 Gujarat earthquake that had caused severe damage in the region.
and Swaminarayan Sampraday
.
Meghpur is inhabited by various groups and communities. Many of these have reached this region after centuries of migration from neighbouring regions of Marwar
(Western Rajasthan), Sindh
, Afghanistan
and further.
Majority of the inhabitants are Leva Patel
, Rabaris and Meghvals. There are almost no houses of original founders, the Mistri
community in the village.
; many Meghpurians have settled down in Wembley
, Kensal Rise, Harlesden
, Kingsbury
, Harrow
, Edgware
, Kenton
, Queensbury
and Cardiff
. The Leva Patel's are commonly referred to as 'Kutchi
' as a community, this is a misconception because the Kutchi people are a complete different community with a their own Kutchi language
.
The Leva Patel community has formed a huge active society: Shree Kutch Leval Patel Community SKLPC
A number of Meghpurians migrated to Africa, especially Kenya
, Uganda
and Tanzania
in the early 1960s. Today Meghpurians can be found in the USA and as far as Australia
.
The Halai, Vaghjiani and Hirani clans make up the majority of Leva Patel families in Meghpur.
The usual cuisine consists of roti or rotlas, curd, butter milk, dal, curry, vegetables, papad, kachumbar. Dry rotlis or theplas and khakras and sev (of gram flour
) are made and stored as food during travelling etc.
Nowadays, food values are becoming more tasty and palatable than nutritious. The main delicacies in food items are-Dokla, Gathia, Undhia, Muthia, Raita, Dahi Wada, Kachori, Bhajia, Bhaji made of brinjal and lady's finger as a change from normal food, Dabeli
, Puri Shak, Pav Bhaji and Papdi.
There are many varieties of sweets like Mohanthal, Pendas, Halwa, Gulab Jamun and Jalebi. Seeds of Dhaniya or Dhana dal, Betal Leaf or Paan with Supari is eaten after food as the last item.
Tea
which was unknown 60 years ago has become the universal drink among all classes of people (reference required). Often villagers are seen late afternoon drinking tea and socialising in the main square (bhathaan).
. Kutchi
is also spoken, it draws heavily from its neighbouring language groups: Sindhi
, Punjabi
and Gujarati. Script of Kutchi language has become extinct reducing it to a dialect, occasionally written in the Gujarati script.
. It was built in 1990 with a beautiful garden in front and samajwadi by the side of it. The land for this school was donated by a local inhabitant based in Kenya.
the school was rebuilt in 1992 and now consists of 16 teaching rooms with modern teaching facilities including 4 computers which, 3 have been funded by a government grant and 1 has been funded by a Meghpurian NRI
.
, Mangos, Sugar Cane and Coconuts
for exporting internationally.
There is a huge flow of money coming in from the United Kingdom, Kenya, Australia and the Gulf Region
due in a large part to the non-resident Indians who have emigrated from the village during the last fifty years, who bring money and business to the village.
serving Meghpur is Bhuj Airport
, this is an Indian Military airbase
where daily flights operate to Mumbai
.
Bhuj is connected to Ahmedabad
, Mumbai, Delhi
and other major cities of India by trains.
Motor vehicles registered in Kutch district have their registration Number starting with GJ-12.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Geography
Meghpur is located 18 km south from BhujBhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
, the neighbouring villages are Naranpur and Godpur. Meghpur is reached by State Highway 47 (Bhuj to Mandvi
Mandvi
Mandvi is a city and a Municipality in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao of the Kachchh. The old city had a surrounding fort, and remains of the fort wall can still be seen to this day...
) and State Highway 48 (Bhuj to Mundra
Mundra
Mundra is a census town in Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Mundra Port is the largest private port in India.-Geography:The town of Mundra is located about 50 km from Anjar which is one of the major towns in the district of Kutch in Gujarat. The other important towns in this...
).
As you turn into the road leading to the town from State Highway 47, you come across a garden created by the villagers with donations from overseas and the Gujarat Government
Government of Gujarat
The Government of Gujarat also known as the State Government of Gujarat, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Gujarat and its 26 districts...
. As you enter the village itself, you come to the Meghpur Primary school followed by the town center square (bhathaan). The bus stop
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
is located in the square were there are shops, tea stalls and Shankar Mandir (Temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
).
There is a river alongside the old and new Meghpur and with the partnership of the Indian Government and the private sector 9 check dams have been built to converse water. The village enjoys a constant water supply with the old well and main supply tanks located behind the primary school. The new borehole has had to be located 3 km on the other side of the river due to the reduction in water following the 2001 Gujarat earthquake
2001 Gujarat earthquake
The 2001 Gujarat earthquake occurred on January 26, 2001, India's 52nd Republic Day, at 08:46 AM local time and lasted for over two minutes. The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat, India...
that struck the region with frightening accuracy.
Meghpur was not harshly affected by the 2001 Gujarat earthquake that had caused severe damage in the region.
History
The old Meghpur was actually located approximately half a mile from the present-day town centre, by the side of the river. Meghpur is approximately 600 years old and once used to have its own fort. The area was governed from the fort and ruins of the fort are all that remains today. In the olden times Meghpur used to host the 24 Gaam Samaj meetings and was very active in all Samaj activities.People
The main religion of the villagers is HinduismHinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Swaminarayan Sampraday
Swaminarayan Sampraday
Swaminarayan Sampraday , known previously as the Uddhav Sampraday, is a Hindu sect established by Swaminarayan...
.
Meghpur is inhabited by various groups and communities. Many of these have reached this region after centuries of migration from neighbouring regions of Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
(Western Rajasthan), Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and further.
Majority of the inhabitants are Leva Patel
Patel
Patel is a surname of Indian origin, originally meaning "headman" or"village chief". Patels are socially, economically and politically the most dominant caste in Gujarat Patels are basically Kurmis or Kunbis and are found in various geographical locations. The Kunbi are an Indian subcaste...
, Rabaris and Meghvals. There are almost no houses of original founders, the Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....
community in the village.
Leva Patel
The Leva Patel group of Kanbi's have 24 Ghams (villages) in Kutch. The Leva Patel community migrated out of Meghpur in the 1970s and came to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; many Meghpurians have settled down in Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
, Kensal Rise, Harlesden
Harlesden
Harlesden is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London, UK. Its main focal point is the Jubilee Clock which commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee....
, Kingsbury
Kingsbury
Kingsbury is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London. The name Kingsbury means "The King's Manor".-History:Kingsbury was historically a small parish in the Hundred of Gore and county of Middlesex. Until the nineteenth century it was largely rural with only scattered settlements....
, Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
, Edgware
Edgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, Kenton
Kenton
-Notable people:* Actress Michele Austin, best known as PC Yvonne Hemmingway in ITV's The Bill, attended Claremont High School in Kenton* Cricketer Denis Compton lived in Kenton* TV exercise instructor Mr Motivator lived in Kenton...
, Queensbury
Queensbury
Queensbury may refer to:* Queensbury, London* Queensbury, New York* Queensbury, West Yorkshire...
and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. The Leva Patel's are commonly referred to as 'Kutchi
Kutchi people
The Kutchi people traditionally reside in the Kutch region of the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat and in the Sindh province of Pakistan...
' as a community, this is a misconception because the Kutchi people are a complete different community with a their own Kutchi language
Kutchi language
Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :...
.
The Leva Patel community has formed a huge active society: Shree Kutch Leval Patel Community SKLPC
A number of Meghpurians migrated to Africa, especially Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
in the early 1960s. Today Meghpurians can be found in the USA and as far as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The Halai, Vaghjiani and Hirani clans make up the majority of Leva Patel families in Meghpur.
Food
The staple food is Rotlas made of Bajri (millet) which the local relish with butter milk or 'chhas', butter and jaggery or 'gud'.'khichhdi' made of rice and dal (pulses) is liked by everyone.The usual cuisine consists of roti or rotlas, curd, butter milk, dal, curry, vegetables, papad, kachumbar. Dry rotlis or theplas and khakras and sev (of gram flour
Gram flour
Gram flour is a cereal flour made from ground chickpeas. It is also known as chickpea flour, garbanzo flour, or besan . Used in many countries, it is a staple ingredient in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisines, and, in the form of a paste with water or yoghurt, a popular facial exfoliant in...
) are made and stored as food during travelling etc.
Nowadays, food values are becoming more tasty and palatable than nutritious. The main delicacies in food items are-Dokla, Gathia, Undhia, Muthia, Raita, Dahi Wada, Kachori, Bhajia, Bhaji made of brinjal and lady's finger as a change from normal food, Dabeli
Dabeli
Dabeli or Kutchi Dabeli or Kachchhi Dabeli is a snack of India, originating in the Kutch or Kachchh region of Gujarat. It is a spicy snack made by mixing boiled potatoes with a Dabeli Masala, and putting the mixture between Ladi-Pav and served with chutnies made from tamarind, date, garlic,...
, Puri Shak, Pav Bhaji and Papdi.
There are many varieties of sweets like Mohanthal, Pendas, Halwa, Gulab Jamun and Jalebi. Seeds of Dhaniya or Dhana dal, Betal Leaf or Paan with Supari is eaten after food as the last item.
Tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
which was unknown 60 years ago has become the universal drink among all classes of people (reference required). Often villagers are seen late afternoon drinking tea and socialising in the main square (bhathaan).
Languages
The languages spoken predominantly in Meghpur is GujaratiGujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
. Kutchi
Kutchi
Kutchi may refer to:* Kutchi people, an ethnic group in Sindh, Pakistan and Gujarat, India* Kutchi language, language spoken in Sindh, Pakistan and Gujarat, India* Kutch District, in Gujarat, India* Kuchi nomads of Afghanistan...
is also spoken, it draws heavily from its neighbouring language groups: Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
, Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
and Gujarati. Script of Kutchi language has become extinct reducing it to a dialect, occasionally written in the Gujarati script.
Bal Mandir
This is a school for young children aged 4 and younger, like a nurseryNursery school
A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
. It was built in 1990 with a beautiful garden in front and samajwadi by the side of it. The land for this school was donated by a local inhabitant based in Kenya.
Primary School
Meghpur Primary School was originally built in 1971. With the aid of Meghpurians living in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
the school was rebuilt in 1992 and now consists of 16 teaching rooms with modern teaching facilities including 4 computers which, 3 have been funded by a government grant and 1 has been funded by a Meghpurian NRI
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
.
Economy and Industries
Meghpur's major industry is farming and agriculture, there are many farmers in the village producing raw CottonCotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, Mangos, Sugar Cane and Coconuts
COcOnuts
COcOnuts is the second album released by Jane, comprising Animal Collective member Panda Bear, and Scott Mou. It was originally self-released on CD-R's, but later became the first album released by Psych-o-path Records in 2005. The Psych-o-path version was remastered by Rusty Santos and Edik Kleyner....
for exporting internationally.
There is a huge flow of money coming in from the United Kingdom, Kenya, Australia and the Gulf Region
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
due in a large part to the non-resident Indians who have emigrated from the village during the last fifty years, who bring money and business to the village.
Transport
The only airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
serving Meghpur is Bhuj Airport
Bhuj Airport
Bhuj Airport is located in Bhuj in the Kutch District of the state of Gujarat, India.The airport was previously made up of two bunkers/buildings near the Bhuj Rudra Mata Air Force Base, with which it shares the runway. On one side of the passing road there was an Indian Airlines bunker, and on the...
, this is an Indian Military airbase
Airbase
An airbase is a military airfield that provides basing and support of military aircraft....
where daily flights operate to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
Bhuj is connected to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, Mumbai, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and other major cities of India by trains.
Motor vehicles registered in Kutch district have their registration Number starting with GJ-12.
External links
See also
- Meghpur (village)Meghpur (village)Meghpur is a village in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India....
, a village in Uttar Pradesh, India
- SamatraSamatraSamatra is a small village located in the Kutch district of Gujarat state, India. The first settlement was established by two Varsani brothers by the names of Velji Bapa and Manji Bapa. From this other families, such as, the Gami, Pindoria, Hirani, Bhanderi, Kerai and Bhudiya families, gradually...
- BharasarBharasarBharasar is a small village in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India. The main religion of the villagers is Hinduism, Swaminarayan Sampraday. Nearby villages include Manukwa, Naranpur, Sukhpur and Samatra....
- KodkiKodkiKodki is a village, located 11 km west of Bhuj, in Kachchh District in the state of Gujarat, India. It is one of 24 gramas occupied by the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community ....