GUJARAT-GEOGRIPHICAL ADVANTAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT

Gujarat has geographical advantage for its development, the coastline on the west starts from south and terminates in Gujarat. Hence for northern hinterland and for other countries ports of Gujarat are nearest.In 1512 and again in 1530 Surat was ravaged by the Portuguese Empire. In 1513, the Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa described Surat as an important seaport, frequented by many ships from Malabar and various parts of the world. By 1520, the name of the city was SuratThis was the only probable reason that in 1609, the English East India Company established a settlement at Surat , and this became the company's first headquarters town.When the harbor in Cambay began to silt up toward the end of fifteenth century, Surat eclipsed Cambay as the major port of western India. At the end of the 16th century, the Portuguese were undisputed masters of the Surat sea trade. On the banks of the Tapti River, there is still a picturesque fortress that was built in 1540.In 1608, ships from the English East India Company started docking in Surat, using it as a trade and transit point. In 1615, following the Battle of Swally, Captain Best, followed by Captain Downton, overcame Portuguese naval supremacy and obtained an imperial firman establishing an English factory at Surat. The city was made the seat of a presidency of the East India Company after the success of the embassy God of Wealth.The prosperity of Surat received a blow when Surat was ceded to the English as part of the dowry for Catherine of Braganza's wedding to Charles II in 1662. Shortly afterwards, in 1668, the East India Company established a factory in Bombay (Mumbai) and Surat began its decline.

Looking back to history of Indus Valley Civilization , the development was also due to geographical advantage.

The major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, date back to around 3300 BC, and represent some of the largest human habitations of the ancient world. The Indus Valley Civilization extended from across Pakistan and northwest India, with an upward reach from east of Jhelum River to Ropar on the upper Sutlej. The coastal settlements extended from Sutkagan Dor at the Pakistan, Iran border to Kutch in

modern Gujarat, India. There is an Indus site on the Amu Darya at Shortughai in northern Afghanistan, and the Indus site Alamgirpur at the Hindon River is located only 28 km (17 mi) from Delhi. To date, over 1,052 cities and settlements have been found, mainly in the general region of the Ghaggar-Hakra River and its tributaries. Among the settlements were the major urban centers of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, as well as Lothal, Dholavira, Ganeriwala, and Rakhigarhi. Only 90-96 of the over-800 known Indus Valley sites have been discovered on the Indus and its tributaries. The Sutlej, now a tributary of the Indus, in Harappan times flowed into the Ghaggar-Hakra River, in the watershed of which were more Harappan sites than along the Indus.The word "India" is derived from the Indus River. In ancient times, "India" initially referred to those regions immediately along the east bank of the Indus, but by 300 BC, Greek writers including Megasthenes were applying the term to the entire subcontinent that extends much farther eastward.

Dholavira developments:-Dholavira is an archaeological site in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District, in the state of Gujarat in western India, which has taken its name from a modern village 1 km (0.62 mi) south of it. Also known locally as Kotada timba the site contains ruins of an ancient Indus Valley Civilization/Harappan city. It is one of the five largest Harappan sites and most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. It is also considered as grandest of cities of its time. It is located on the Khadir bet island in the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in Great Rann of Kutch and the area of the full site is more than 100 ha (250 acres). The site was occupied from c.2650 BCE, declining slowly after about 2100 BCE. It was briefly abandoned and reoccupied until c.1450 BCE.

Development of Kandla Port Trust also due to geographical advantage.The British Royal India Navy first appraised the Kandla stream in 1851 for suitability as a port; however, they did not conduct a detailed survey until 1922. The Port of Kandla was created in 1931 with a single pier by erstwhile ruler of Kutch, Khengarji III, who personally identified the spot and also connected the port by extending the lines of Cutch State Railway from Anjar.

After Indian independence in the late 1940s, the new government selected the Port of Kandla as a promising outlet to the Arabian Sea.

Kandla, also Kandla Port or New Kandla is a seaport in Kutch District of Gujarat state in western India, near the city of Gandhidham. Located on the Gulf of Kutch, it is one of major ports on west coast. Kandla was constructed in the 1950s as the chief seaport serving western India, after the partition of India from Pakistan left the port of Karachi in Pakistan.When the Port of Karachi was lost to Pakistan, maritime trade in the area shifted to the Port of Mumbai (formerly Bombay). Mumbai's facilities were soon strained beyond capacity. In early 1948, the Indian government created the West Coast Major Port Development Committee to study the feasibility of building a major seaport to replace the Port of Karachi that went to Pakistan during partitioning. The Committee recommended locating a port at Kandla.In 1952, Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone for the upgradation and expansion the port on India's northwestern coast. The Port of Kandla was declared a major port in April 1955. The Kandla Port Trust was created by law in 1963 to manage the new port.

Lakhpat Port of KachchhToday it is sparsely populated Ghost town, a city of ruins of buildings and a magnificent fort surrounding them. Historically it has been very important trading post connecting Gujarat to Sindh. The waters of Sindhu riverused to flow into Lakhpat and further onto Deshalpar (Gunthli). Rice used to be cultivated and Lakhpat used to give an annual revenue of 800,000 Koris just from rice. It is also said that Lakhpat used to generate an income of 100,000 Koris everyday from maritime activities. The 7 km long fort walls was erected by Jamadar Fateh Muhammed in 1801. After the earthquake of 1819 a natural dam known as the Allahbund was formed, Sindhu changed its course of flow and started flowing into the Arabian sea further north. Thus Lakhpat lost its importance as a port.

It is believed that Guru Nanak on his way to Mecca for Haj stayed over here. This Gurdwara have his relics like footwear and palkhi. They are worshiped by the Udasi Sect

Development of Mandvi PortMandvi was founded by the Rao of Cutch State, Khengarji I in 1580The city Mandvi was named after Sage Mandavya (Mahabharata story), who lived here. He was also known as AM BABA.As per chronicles of Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas - many clans of their community, especially, Gohil, Bhatti, Jethwa, Solanki, Rathod clans & also Visavaria Brahmins shifted to Mandvi in between 15th to 16th Century AD, from Dhaneti. The establishment of the town dates back to the late 16th century (1581 AD) and is attributed to the first Jadeja ruler of Kachchh, Rao Khengarji I.In 18th century, the Mandvi merchants collectively owned a fleet of 400 vessels trading with East Africa, Malabar coast and the Persian Gulf. In the early 19th century, it was a major port of entry for the inland trade with Malwa, Marwar and Sindh.Mandvi was at the junction of two famous trade routes the maritime spice trade-route and the desert camel caravan route, acting as an important trade center.As most of the top ports of India were controlled by Europeans, especially the Portuguese, even the Mughals held the Maharaos of Kachchh in high esteem, as they needed the port of Mandvi for exports, imports and also for pilgrimages to Mecca.

Development of Tuna PortTuna Port was developed during mid-eighteenth century by Kingdom of Kutch, later known as Princely State of Cutch.Economy of the Kingdom of Kutch, largely depended on sea-trade and the kingdom had many ports such as Mundra, Mandvi, Tuna, Lakhpat, Jakhau, Sandhan, Sindri on its coast-line. The various Kutchi community were known for their trades with Muscat, Mombasa,Mzizima, Zanzibar, and others, and also for their shipbuilding skills.Fateh Mohammad (1786–1813), a shepherd-turned-king, had further developed the existing facilities at Mandvi, Tuna and Lakhpat ports, when Rao Raydhanji III of Kutch was his prime minister. There is a village by same name Tuna near the port from which Tuna Port got its name. In year 1900-01 during the reign of Jadeja King Maharao Shri Khengarji Bawa (1875–1942), the first railway lines from Tuna Port to Anjar were laid by narrow gauge line of Cutch State Railway,a railway promoted & owned by Princely State of Cutch.

The first train from Tuna Port to Anjar ran in year 1905. The line was in 1908 extended to Bhuj, then the Capital of Princely State of Cutch. This rail-line from Tuna to Anjar, no longer exists. Later, during decade of 1930, Tuna Port lost its importance, when Maharao Shri Khengarji III of Kutch, identified the location of present the Kandla Port and developed it as a new port. A new railway line connecting Anjar to Kandla were also laid by Cutch State Railway.

Salt Industry another geographical advantage in GujaratGujarat accounts about 77% of salt production of India.It is estimated that more than one lakhs labours are employed in salt industry.

Fishing Industry also geogriphical advantag in GujaratThe fishing industry is the most outstanding part of the financial growth and development of Gujarat as it has the largest coastal line in India. Gujarat has a vibrant potentiality fishery development. More ever, Gujarat is well known to be heterogeneous with respect to inland water resource. The people residing along the coastal belt of the state, the rivers lakes and reservoirs have been found traditionally engaged in fishing for the immemorial time but due to vegetarian food habits, religious restrains the domestic demand of it is very low, compared to other states as a result of it a major part of fish and fishery products produced in the state goes out either to other states or to foreign country.Gujarat has commercially important varieties of fishes like Pomfret, Hilsa, Bombay duck, Ribbon fish, Catfish, Rays, Cuttle fish, Shrimps etc., so Gujarat possesses a vast resource with favourable climates and environment condition for flourishing fish production through aqua culture. Due to awareness in fishing the state has exported 123213 metric tone of processed marine fish and fish products worth rupees 570.57 crore to Japan, China, USA and other countriesin 1996-97. It shows that if Government take proper measurements the fishing industry can be fully developed, so the economy of Gujarat as well as India will automaticallyuplift.It provides employment to a number of poor fishermen and other people involved in this industry.

This industry has its own economical importance too as it earns us invaluable foreign exchange.