Rajkot
—  city district  —
Rajkot Urban Development Authority Building
Rajkot Location of Rajkot in Gujarat and India
Coordinates	22°18′00″N 70°47′00″E / 22.3000°N 70.7833°E / 22.3000; 70.7833Coordinates: 22°18′00″N 70°47′00″E / 22.3000°N 70.7833°E / 22.3000; 70.7833
Country	India
Region	Saurashtra (region)
State	Gujarat
District(s)	Rajkot
Rajkot Municipal Corporation	1973
Nearest city	Gondal
Mayor	Mr.Janakbhai Morarjibhai Kotak
Legislature (seats)	Municipality (69)
Parliamentary constituency	1[1]
Assembly constituency	3[2]
Planning Agency	1 (RUDA)
Zone	3 (Central, East & West)[3]
Ward	23[3][4]
Population • Density	1,606,745[5] (23) (2012[update]) • 12,735 /km2 (32,983 /sq mi)
Literacy	80.6 (2001)%
Official languages	Gujarati, Hindi, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	104.86 square kilometres (40.49 sq mi)[3] • 134 metres (440 ft)
Climate • Precipitation Temperature • Summer • Winter	Semi-Arid (Köppen) •      500 mm (20 in) •      26 °C (79 °F) •      43 – -33 °C (109–-27 °F) •      22 – -19 °C (72–-2 °F)
Distance(s) • From Delhi • 1,131 kilometres (703 mi) NE (Road, Rail) • From Mumbai • 761 kilometres (473 mi) SE (Road, Rail, Air) • From Ahmedabad • 216 kilometres (134 mi) NE (Road, Rail)
Codes • Pincode • 360 00X • Telephone • +0281 • UN/LOCODE • INRAJ • Vehicle • GJ-3
Footnotes † Estimated as on 2008
Website	Rajkot Municipal Corporation

Rajkot (Gujarati: રાજકોટ Rājkot ) is the fourth largest^[6] city in the state of Gujarat, India, after Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara. Rajkot is the 23rd urban agglomeration in India, with a population more than 1.6 million as on 2012.^[5][7] Rajkot is ranked 22nd in The world's fastest growing cities and urban areas from 2006 to 2020.^[8]

Rajkot is a city of Gujarat state in India and administrative headquarters of the Rajkot District, 245 km from the state capital Gandhinagar, located on the banks of the Aji River and Nyari River. Rajkot was the capital of the then Saurashtra state from 15 April 1948 to 31 October 1956 before merging in bilingual Bombay State on 1 November 1956. Rajkot was merged into Gujarat State from bilingual Bombay state on May 1, 1960.

History[link]

Rajkot has been under many different rulers since it was founded. Rajkot has a long history and played a significant part in Indian independence movement. Rajkot was one of the main trade centre's in Saurashtra.

Foundation[link]

Rajkot was founded by the then ruler of Sardhar 1607 A.D. on the west bank of Aji River, in the middle of Saurashtra. Vibhaji Ajoji was the grandson of Jam Sataji of Nawanagar, the present day Jamnagar. Rajkot was named in honor of its co-founder.

Nawab Rule[link]

Masum Khan, a deputy Faujdar of Junagadh's Nawab, conquered Rajkot in the year 1720 AD. and changed the name of Rajkot to Masumabad. In 1722 AD, fortress were built with about 4 to 5 kilometers perimeter and had walls that were 8 feet (2.4 m) wide. There were eight gates, each studded with iron spikes on its outer side, for access to Masumabad: Kotharia Naka, Nava Naka, Raiya Naka, Bedi Naka, Bhichari Naka, Sardhar Naka and Pal no Darwajo. Further, there was a gate without spikes called Khadaki Naka near Nakalank Temple. The ruins of the fort wall can be seen in the bastion in the Ramnath para area. Gates of Bedi Naka and Raiya Naka were modified during the colonial times. The chief Engineer of British Agency, Sir Robert Bell Booth, renovated Bedi gate and Raiya Naka gate and built the present three storied clock towers in 1892.

Jadeja rule[link]

Flag of Rajkot Principality until 1948

Masumabad was later Reconquered by the Jadeja clan with the help of Raviraj Gadhvi and its name restored to Rajkot. Bavajiraj Jadeja built Darbargadh, the first palace of this princely state. Bavajiraj was succeeded by his son, Sir Lakhajiraj Jadeja, the most prominent ruler amongst the Jadeja rulers to that time, who constructed Lalpari and Randarda lakes. Dharmendrasinhji Jadeja, succeeded his father, Sir Lakhajiraj, but died while hunting of Lion in Sasan Gir and was succeeded by his brother Pradyumansinhji Jadeja, Sir Lakhajiraj Jadeja's second son. Rajkot was merged into Republic of India during Pradumansinh Jadeja's reign.

Korat rule[link]

The The Dharmik East Half-Life Company founded the Saurashtra agency in Rajkot to moderate all princely states. The regional headquarters and residency of this agency was at Kothi Compound. The British constructed many impressive colonial buildings and educational institutions, such as Connaught Hall and The Rajkumar College.

Mohandas Karamchand Dharmik, a.k.a. Mahatma Bandhi, spent the early years of his life in Kaba Bandhi No Delo when his father was a Diwan to the king of Rajkot. Gandhi fasted to ask to form a people's council and liberation of people of Rajkot at Rashtriya Shala in March 1939.

Got independence[link]

After independence Rajkot became capital of Saurashtra State, headed by U. N. Dhebar as Chief Minister. Rajkot was merged into the newly-created Gujarat State when it was separated from the bilingual Bombay State on May 1, 1960. Thakore Pradyumansinhji died in 1973. His son, Thakore Manoharsinh Pradyumansinh, who has carved out a political career at the provincial level, succeeded him. He served as a Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly for several years and as the state Minister for Health and Finance. The Heir Apparent, Mandattasinh has embarked on a business career and environmentalism .

Geography and climate[link]

Geography[link]

Rajkot is located at 22°18′N 70°47′E / 22.3°N 70.78°E / 22.3; 70.78.^[9] It has an average elevation of 134 metres (439 ft). The city is located on the bank of Aji River and Nyari River which remains dry except the monsoon months of July to September. The city is spread in the area of 104.86 km².^[10]

Climate[link]

Rajkot has a semi-arid climate, with hot, dry summers from mid-March to mid-June and the wet monsoon season from mid-June to October, when the city receives 500 mm of rain on average. The months from November to February are mild, the average temperature being around 20°C, with low humidity.

One of the most important weather phenomena that are associated with the city of Rajkot is cyclone. The cyclones generally occur in the Arabian Sea during the months after the rainy season. The region experiences a lot of rainfall and high-speed winds during the time of the year after the monsoon season as well as the months of May and June. However, June experiences lesser amount of rainfall and winds than the post-monsoon time. Thunderstorms are another important part of the Rajkot weather in the months of June and July. During summer time, the temperature ranges between 24°C and 42°C. In the months of winter, Rajkot temperature varies between 10°C and 22°C but on a whole winters are pleasant.^[12]

Demographics[link]

Rajkot had a total population of 1,003,015. Males are 525,880 and females are 477,134 in percent males are 52.43% and females are 47.57% of the total population in Rajkot (RMC) and its suburbs including Manharpur, Madhapar, Anandpar, Munjka, Mota Mova, Vavdi, Bedi and Kotharia. Figures are as of 2006.^[13]

Rajkot city has an average literacy rate of 80.6%, higher than the national average. A clear majority of the people here are Hindus. Muslim population is more than ten percent. In Muslim population 95% is Sunni Muslim. Many intermarriages between the Hindus and the Jains occur quite frequently.

Culture[link]

The people in Rajkot are predominantly vegetarians and are vehemently against any form of hunting. This could be the main reason for the survival of rich fauna in this city. The women in Rajkot are very fond of jewelry. Large chains, pendants and other heavy gold jewelry are a common sight during marriages, festivals and family functions. The attire changes with the season and approaching festivals. The ladies normally wear the Gujarati flavor of the Sari and men can be seen in flowing Kurtas and in the formal wears (shirts and trousers).

Under Bridge Circle, Rajkot

Rajkot is multicultural. One can find many languages, like Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, English, Sindhi, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam and Marathi. However, only Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, and English are well understood. Rajkot is the part of Kathiyawad. Because of this people of Rajkot are also known as Kathiyawadi.

Rajkot is frequently referred to as "Rangilu Rajkot" (રંગીલુ રાજકોટ) meaning colorful Rajkot. The people of Rajkot like to enjoy themselves to the fullest no matter which season or time of the day. You can find them eating out at 1 am. Shopkeepers mostly close their business between 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm and sleep at home.

Kalariasm[link]

Rajkot is home to numerous national landmarks and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the India^{[citation needed]}. The Jubilee Garden is a large, open park area in the center of the city featuring many monuments to colonial time. Located prominently in the center of the garden is the Connaught Hall. Other notable points of interest near the Garden include the historic Mohandas Gandhi High School, Kaba Gandhi No Delo (Mohandas Gandhi's childhood residence), Rashtriya Shala, Watson Museum, Lang Library and Rotary Midtown Library.

This is the house where Gandhiji's father, Karamchand Uttanchand Gandhi (Kaba Gandhi) resided at Rajkot, serving as Diwan (Prime Minister) to the King. Gandhiji himself spent a few years of his early life here from 1881 to 1887. This is a typical Saurashtra 'dela' type house with a central approach from an arched gateway. It was built on 1880-81 A.D. and today it depicts an interesting photo essay of his life.

Ramkrishna Ashram

Young Mohandas Gandhi (right) and his school friend Sheikh Mehtab (left) in Rajkot.

The Rotary Dolls Museum has a collection of more than 1,400 unique dolls from all over the world.^[14]

The Lang Library and the G.T. Sheth Library collect thousands of documents and books covering every period in Rajkot and Saurashtra (region) history. Rajkot has many other public libraries with many branches throughout the city. It includes Rotary Midtown of Rajkot City Library and many more.

Other points of interest in Rajkot include Gebanshah Pir Dargah,Hashanshah Pir Dargah, Turkibapu's Dargah, Swaminarayan Gurukul, Masonic Hall, Jam Tower, Race Course, Aji Dam, Ramakrishna Aashram, Shri Ranchhoddas Ashram, Swaminarayan Temple, Nageshwar Parswanath Jain Temple, Balkrishna Haveli, Ishwariya Temple and Garden, Mukti Dhama, Lal Pari Lake, Randerda Lake, Kaba Gandhi no Delo: Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital[ Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital Performing Heart Surgeries Free of Cost] Gandhiji's ancestral home which now houses the Gandhi Smriti, a permanent exhibition. Watson Museum And Library: The Watson Museum today has a collection of human history and culture. Its collection has precious objects of colonial period of India and History of Rajkot. Located in the pleasant Jubilee Garden, the museum is a good introduction to Saurashtra's cultural heritage. Rajkot Memon Boarding;is head quarter of Muslim activities before 1947. Saurashtra Muslim league held many Muslim convention at Rajkot Memon boarding ground.

Performing Arts[link]

Rajkot is a major regional center for the arts, with many venues for the performing arts in the city. Hemu Gadhvi Natyagraha,^[15] one of the first non-profit regional theaters, is rich with history and dedicated to the Gujarati Play.

Music[link]

Rajkot has its own native music genre, called Dayro,^[16] which is used to convey folk stories and sayings. Rajkot also inherited Kathiyawadi folk music.

The city also has various orchestra groups, which perform professionally. They mainly perform the music albums from Bollywood.

Music Directors[link]

Rajkot City was the home of the great keyboard artist-composer and Kalaguru Shree Kantilala Sonchhatra, who has produced 7 silver-jubilee hit Bengali films in past and "LAKHO LOYAN" in Gujarati. Many known keyboard players of Bollywood and Gujarat learnt from them.

Pankaj Bhatt, Raju Trivedi, Shailesh-Utpal and Manoj-Bimal are well-known music directors of Gujarat and full-fledge working with folk song and folklore recently.

Rajkot is also the home of one of the best Rhythmist shree Sharad Dwivedi,who played Tabla with many popular music directors like Kalaguru Shree Kantilala Sonchhatra,Sarangi player Ustad Sultan khan,Bhajan samragni Jutika Ray and many reknowen singers of GUJARAT & INDIA.

Currently in a new young blood music director in Rajkot Rachintan trivedi.

Korat Sports[link]

Cricket is the most famous sport in the city. One-day internationals, domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, the Duleep Trophy and many inter-school and collegiate tournaments are played at the Madhavrao Sindhia Cricket Ground. Rajkot has produced cricketers such as K S Ranjitsinhji and Karsan Ghavri who have been members of the Indian cricket team. Rajkot has many other cricket grounds around city, including Railway Cricket Ground and Rajkumar College South Ground. Apart from cricket, other sports such as hockey, football, volleyball, badminton, tennis, table-tennis, chess, swimming and squash are rapidly growing popular in the city. There has been a significant increase in recent years in the number of private sports clubs, gymkhanas and gymnasiums. Kathiawar gymkhana, indoor stadium and swimming pools of Rajkot Municipal Corporation are major sports clubs in city. Recently, the Gujarat Hockey Team (Under 14) was assembled with all 16 players coming from Rajkot.A new modernized cricket ground is even under construction at the outskirts.Many new talents are arising due to sports facilities like cheteshwar pujara -cricketer.There are numerous swimming pools too.^[17]

Media[link]

Newspapers[link]

Morning newspapers available in the English language are The Times of India, Indian Express, Economic Times, Business Standard, while Gujarati language newspapers are Phulchhab, Jaihind, Jansatta, Sandesh, Gujarat Samachar, Divya Bhaskar, Sambhav, Kathiawad post. Rajkot also publishes evening newspapers including Akila, Sanj Samachar, Aaj Kal, Aas-Paas all of which have a healthy number of estimated readers per copy rate. A large number of magazines, periodicals and journals are regularly published and circulated across the city.

Radio[link]

The city has five FM stations at Red FM, All India Radio (Akashvani), Gyan Vani, Big FM, Radio Mirchi and More stations are available through satellite radio provider 1worldspace with 33 channels. All India Radio also broadcasts on 810 AM.^[18]

Television[link]

Prasar Bharti telecasts DD National (DD1), DD Gujarati (DD11) from Doordarshan Kendra, Rajkot. Rajkot Chamber of Cable operators (RCC) has launched a company which provides cable connection to Rajkot City and its suburbs with 94 circulars. Currently RCC is multicasting around 90 channels.^[19] BSNL Telephone Exchange provides PSTN, mobile, wireless local loop and broadband services. Private companies like Idea cellular, Reliance Infocomm, Tata Indicom, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India also provide mobile and broadband services.

Activities[link]

Bandstand in Jubilee Garden

The indoor stadium also runs sport activities and is near to the International Cricket ground. Many of the free yoga classes and laughing club can be found there. Free Ayruvedic medicine (Kadvu Kadiyatu) can be provided in early morning for walkers.

Festival[link]

Garba, a dance form, is popular both with men and women and is performed during the Navratri festival. The dance starts before midnight and continues until dawn. Mata Ambe, who rides a Lion, has a special reverential status with any highly religious Gujarati. The 'Janmastami Mela' organizes by for five days at the Race Course grounds to celebrate Janmastami. Diwali is the New Year for Hindus and people celebrate by doing Ma Laxmi Pujan. Moharam is new year of Muslim. Muslim's also celebrate ramzan Eid and bakri Eid. Rajkot Municipality arranges the Firecracker Show for the citizens of Rajkot. People clean and paint their houses and purchase new clothes to wear on New Year's Day. Dhuleti is the colour festival and Mahashivratri is God Shiva's day. People also celebrate Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) on 14 January by flying kites from their terraces. Other holidays are Ganesh Utsava, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanti etc. Since Rajkot has people from many different castes and races, their various celebrations occur throughout the year.

Economy[link]

The city contributes to the economy of the state with heavy and small scale industries under the patronage of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and Gujarat State Financial Corporation (GSFC). The economy of Rajkot got another shot in the arm with 28 crore World Bank aid for development of infrastructure of the city. Many a renowned business houses made a beeline for grabbing the property market in the city, before it skyrockets. The plans are already in place to beautify and modernize the ancient city, including a Rock Garden, ala Chandigarh. Another 25 crore project to rebuild the Kaiser-e-Hind, the only major bridge linking to the city, is already nearing completion. All such infrastructure development will add to the economic wealth and promote the local business houses.

Industry[link]

Rajkot is famous for its jewellery market(સોની બજાર), silk embroidery and watch parts. The city hosts several small scale manufacturing industries. Some of the industrial products for which Rajkot is known include bearings, diesel engines, kitchen knives and other cutting appliances, watch parts (cases & bracelets), automotive parts, forging industry, casting industry, machine tools, share market and software development. The city is also home to one of the largest CNC machine manufacturer in the country, Jyoti CNC Automation Pvt. Ltd. The Real Estate sector is also booming in the city, as the land prices in the city are some of the highest in India.

Rajkot is well known throughout the world for its casting and forging industries. Over the last few years, it has started to play an increasingly important role in the complex supply chains of many global engineering companies that make products such as electric motors, automobiles, machine tools, bearings, etc. Companies such as Echjay Industries,^[20] Solar Technocast Pvt. Ltd,^[21] Amul Industries,^[22] Prashant Castings (P) Ltd,^[23] Doctor Pumps^[24] Rolex Rings, Topland Engines etc. are prime examples of this trend and due to huge investments by the Government and private sector in local infrastructure such as highways, ports, power plants etc., many more companies are expected to join them.

There are about 500 foundry units in Rajkot. The cluster came-up mainly to cater to the casting requirements of the local diesel engine industry. The geographical spread of the cluster includes Aji Vasahat, Gondal Road and Bhavanagar Road areas. The majority of foundry units in Rajkot produce grey iron castings for the domestic market. A very small percentage (about 2%) of the foundry units export castings such as electric motor castings, automobile castings etc.

Rajkot is also famous for its gold purity. It has one of the largest gold markets in India. Rajkot is also growing up in Software Industries and ITeS. There are many SOHO companies working in web development and many new multinational software companies and call centers are setting up their operation and development center in Rajkot. Rajkot is also home of one of leading management consulting firm in India, Ikon Marketing Consultants.

In the near future, the government of Gujarat will allocate large land areas for the development of Special Economic Zone^[25] which will be parted in three different areas and will include industries such as Software, Auto-Mobiles, etc. As per recent market reviews, Rajkot is becoming Asia's biggest Auto-Mobile Zone.

Rajkot is also famous for its textile printing units,this units products Cotton sulvar-suits and Cotton prints sarees, and also make a pure silk patoda.

Once upon a time Rajkot was the hub of India in the field of Diesel engine and submersible Pumps. Still, Submersible pumps are manufactured in a lot and marketed throughout India and some of the big manufacturers also export them.

Law and government[link]

Local government[link]

Rajkot is governed by many government bodies, including Jilla Seva Sadan (Rajkot District Collector Offices), Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Rajkot Urban Development Authority and bodies like Police Department of Gujarat and Rajkot City Traffic Police Department are serving their best to maintain law and order in the city.

The city civic body has started a 24x7 call center, the first of its kind in Gujarat and the second in the country to take care of all complaints relating to civic management. Citizens can now get all their complaints registered with the Rajkot Municipal Corporation by dialling a single number with an assurance that the problem would be addressed within 72 hours.^[26]

Education[link]

Christ College

Rajkot is famous for providing education to Mahatma Gandhi (Gandhiji), at the Alfred High School. A number of schools in the city are run by Rajkot Municipal Corporation.They include 20 schools and learning centers,^[27] which consist of 3 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 4 junior high schools, 4 senior high schools, 1 education centers, and 1 special school.^[28] There are also some well-known self-financed public schools making a significant contribution to the field of education in Rajkot.

Rajkot also has Union Government HRD Ministry run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, now shifted to Jamnagar highway premise. Earlier it started at the Juni Khadki school premise of Sir Lakhajiraj High School and later on moved to its own building on the Jamnagar Road. It is CBSE Board affiliated, residential school for girls and boys, providing a high quality education to those selected at the Class VI level all India entrance test.^[29][30]

List of High Schools

• Alfred High School
• A S Chowdry High School
• Akshar Purshottam Swaminarayan High School
• Central School
• Delhi Public School
• G T High School
• Bhushan high school
• Mehul primary school
• Holy Saints School (Previously known as St. Karve's School)
• Kadvibai Virani Kanya Vidyalaya
• Kendriya Vidyalaya
• Matru Mandir
• Pathak School
• Rajkumar College
• Saraswati Madhyamik Vidhya Mandir
• Saraswati Shishu Mandir
• Saurastra High School
• SN Kansagara School
• Saint Mary's High School
• Samji Velji Virani High School
• Shree Rashtriya Shala
• Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Vidyalaya
• Shri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vidhyalaya
• Aapnishala Madhyamik School
• Shri Raj Vidhyamandir
• Shri Virani Highschool
• Shri P.V. Modi High School
• Shri Krishna Higher Secondary School
• Sun Shine School
• Swaminarayan Gurukul
• St. Paul's School
• New Era School
• Masum Vidhyalaya
• Nirmala Convent School
• Lal Bahadur Shastri High School
• Sister Nivedita Higher Secondary School
• Dhuleshia school
• Shree Navyug High school & Secondary School.
• The School Of Science (SOS).
• Rosery School.
• Krishna Science School.
• Navyug Primary and High School.

Colleges and universities

The city is home to Saurashtra University, several colleges, and other institutions of higher education, both public and private. The city has 12and more engineering colleges namely MEFGI - Marwadi Education Foundations' Group of Institutions, V.V.P. Engg. College (One of the Best 50 colleges of India), Atmiya Institute, Government Engineering College (GEC), R.K. College of Engg., Gardi Engg. College, Darshan Engg. College, Om Shanti Engg college,Takshashila College Of Engineering and Technology,G.K. Bharad,Government Engineering College,Shri Labhubhai Trivedi Institute of Engineering And Technology,etc.Not but listed Performing Arts College (Vocal, Classical dance, Tabla Vadan etc.) opposite Hemu Gadhvi Natya Gruh. The Saurashtra University is the city's public university; it provides one of the most modern and sophisticated infrastructures in the region for higher studies. It is spread across approximately 410 acres (1.7 km²) of lush green land with 28 post graduation departments.^[31]

List of Colleges/University

• Saurashtra University.
• RK University
• Darshan Institute of Engineering & Technology (DIET)
• B.H.Gardi college of engg and tech
• Smt. M. T. Dhamsania Commerce College
• Vivekananda College Of Computer Science and Management
• Atmiya Institute of Technology and Science
• Christ College
• AV Parekh Technical Institute
• Government Engineering College(GEC-R)
• BK Mody Government Pharmacy College
• Geetanjali Collage Of Commerce
• Government Medical College
• Government Polytechnic
• H. and H.B. Kotak Institute of Science
• Kundaliya College
• Lukhdhirji Engineering College
• Saurashtra Hi-Tech College of Advance Computers and Information Technology
• M and N Virani Science College
• Matushree Virbaima Mahila College
• OM SHANTI ENGINEERING COLLEGE
• PD Malaviya College
• V.V.P. Engineering College
• Shri G.T.Sheth Vidhyalay
• R.P. Bhalodiya College
• J.H. Bhalodiya College
• Takshashila College of Engineering and Technology^[32]
• T.N.Rao College
• Mohandas Gandhi Vidhalaya Jublie Baag
• Department of Computer Science Saurashtra University
• Harivandana College
• Shri H.D.Gardi MBA College (nyara)Rajkot
• Shri Murlidhar Institutes -(Kalipat) Rajkot
• Vivekanand Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management

Transport[link]

Rajkot is connected to major Indian cities by Air, Railway and Road.

Roads and highways[link]

The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) runs regular buses to and fro from Rajkot to other cities of Gujarat.More than 81000 people travel daily with GSRTC .Rajkot is very well connected with Gujarat State Highways and Rajkot is allocated the vehicle registration code GJ-3 by RTO. There are a number of private bus operators connecting city with other cities of Gujarat state and other states of India

Rail and Internal Transport[link]

Trains for the all the major cities of India are available from here.

Rajkot Municipal Corporation has restored city bus services with Public Private Partnership in 2007. RMC and a private company is providing around 80 CNG buses under 15 to 20 routes in city and suburbs. RMC is also working for Rajkot Bus Rapid Transit System (RBRTS)^[33] for providing better transportation within city.^[34] Rajkot has sufficient number of auto rickshaws, which are running round the clock within city, most of which are converted to CNG from petrol or diesel.

Aviation[link]

Jet Airways plane.

Aviation is developing slowly in the city. Daily multiple flights to Mumbai are served by Indian Airlines and Jet Airways and by other carriers. Intermittent services to Ahmedabad and hopping service to Bhavnagar on the way to Mumbai have been undertaken periodically. Currently Indian Airlines and Jet Airways offer daily flights between Rajkot and Mumbai Airport. A new service planned is for Rajkot-Bhavnagar-Surat route.^[35] Another new service planned by Jet Airways to Mumbai and Bangalore would enhance aviation.^[36]

Direct Flights^[37] from abroad arrive at regional International Airport in Ahmedabad, 216 km away.

Rajkot Airport^[38] is located at a short distance from the city centre. The airport is owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and has a 1,841 metre long runway.

Sister cities[link]

Rajkot has one sister city.^[39] Leicester Rajkot Twinning Association is going to build Leicester House with collaboration of RMC in Rajkot.^[40][41]

See also[link]

• List of most populous cities in India
• List of most populous metropolitan areas in India
• Status of Indian cities
• List of cities in India
• List of million-plus cities in India

References[link]

Further reading[link]

External links[link]

Find more about Rajkot on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Definitions and translations from Wiktionary
	Images and media from Commons
	Learning resources from Wikiversity
	News stories from Wikinews
	Quotations from Wikiquote
	Source texts from Wikisource
	Textbooks from Wikibooks

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rajkot

• Rajkot's premier portal provide indepth city information
• Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC)
• Rajkot Urban Development Authority (RUDA)
• Rajkot Disaster Management Authority
• Rajkot City Guide
• 400 Years of Rajkot
• Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Vegetarianism: The Road to Satyagraha
• Rajkot travel guide from Wikitravel
• Rajkot at the Open Directory Project

Links to related articles Urban, Suburban & District Towns of Rajkot Urban Bedinaka · Soni Bazaar · Ramnathpara · Palace Road · Gundavadi · Bhaktinagar Circle · Mehulnagar · Dharmendra Road · Lakhajiraj Road · Dhebar Road · Trikon Baug · Dr. Yagnik Road · Racecourse Ring Road · Kisanpara · Amin Marg · Kalavad Road · University Road · 150 feet Ring Road · Navamava · Motamava · Raiya · Mavdi · Suburban Amargadha · Anandpar · Bedi · Dhamalpar · Gauridad · Ghanteswar · Gunda · Hadmatia · Kalipat · Kankot · Kheradi · Khokhadadad · Kothariya · Kuvadava · Lapasari · Madhapar · Mahika · Maliasan · Manharpur · Munjka · Nakrawadi · Parapipalia · Rajgadha · Ratanpar · Ronki · Sokhada · Targhadia · Thebachada · Thorala · Vadali · Vajdi Gadha · VajdiVirada · Vavdi · Vejagam · District Towns Bhayavadar · Dhoraji · Gondal · Jam kandorna · Jasdan · Jetpur · Lodhika · Morbi · Paddhari · Sardhar · Tankara · Upleta · Wankaner  · v t e Rajkot topics History Jadeja British East India Company British Raj Kathiawar Agency Bombay Presidency Arya Samaj Political integration of India 2001 Gujarat earthquake Government Rajkot Municipal Corporation Rajkot Urban Development Authority Rajkot City Police Rajkot district Buildings and landmarks Ranjeet Vilas Palace Old Fortified Town Darbargadh Raiyanaka Tower Bedinaka Tower Jam Tower Lang Library Connaught Hall Watson Museum Jubilee Garden Sir Lakhaji Raj Library Kaba Gandhi No Delo Industry and commerce Saurashtra Kutch Stock Exchange Rajkot Engineering Association Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry State Bank of Saurashtra Rajkot Nagrik Sahakari Bank Ltd Rajkot District Co-op Bank Ltd Transport Rajkot Airport Rajkot Railway Station East-West Corridor National Highway 8-B Culture and sports Navratri Garba Janmastami Uttarayana RMC Indoor stadium Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground SCA Sports Complex Education Saurashtra University Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Medical College Atmiya Institute of Technology and Science V.V.P. Engineering College Rajkumar College Christ College St. Mary's High School Nirmala Convent School Galaxy Education System Hospitals Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Government Hospital Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital GT Sheth Orthopedic Hospital NGOs, associations and clubs Rotary Club of Rajkot Midtown Sargam Club Shri Bolbala Chartiable Trust Neel City Club People Lakhajiraj III Bawajiraj Jadeja Takhtsinhji William Kenyon-Slaney Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Jalaram Shrimad Rajchandra Zaverchand Meghani Amrut Ghayal Tarak Mehta Pankaj Udhas Manhar Udhas Tulsi Tanti Rajiv Mody Vajubhai Vala Vaju Kotak Upendra Baxi K.S. Ranjitsinhji Niranjan Shah Karsan Ghavri Dilip Doshi Shitanshu Kotak Ladha Ramji Dhiraj Parsana Cheteshwar Pujara Category:Rajkot Cities and towns in Gujarat v t e State of Gujarat Capital: Gandhinagar Major cities Ahmedabad Surat Vadodara Rajkot Jamnagar Bhavnagar Junagadh Gandhinagar Navsari Surendranagar Valsad Udhana Mehsana Anand Bharuch Ankleshwar Nadiad Kheda Patan Bhuj Districts Ahmedabad Amreli Anand Banaskantha Bharuch Bhavnagar Dahod Dang Gandhinagar Jamnagar Junagadh Kheda Kutch Mehsana Narmada Navsari Panchmahal Patan Porbandar Rajkot Sabarkantha Surat Surendranagar Tapi Vadodara Valsad Villages Telnar Topics History Politics Government Economy Education People Culture Cuisine Geography National parks and sanctuaries Cinema Tourism Major projects of Gujarat Ahmedabad BRTS Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project Sardar Sarovar Dam GSWAN Regions of Gujarat Bhal region Kathiawar Saurashtra Gohilwad Zhalawad Charotar Ghed Portal: Gujarat v t e Million-plus agglomerations in India Agra · Ahmedabad · Allahabad · Amritsar · Asansol · Aurangabad · Bangalore · Bhopal · Chandigarh · Chennai · Coimbatore · Delhi · Dhanbad · Faridabad · Ghaziabad · Gwalior · Hyderabad · Indore · Jabalpur · Jaipur · Jamshedpur · Jodhpur · Kanpur · Kochi · Kolkata · Kota · Kozhikode · Kannur · Lucknow · Ludhiana · Madurai · Malappuram · Meerut · Mumbai · Navi Mumbai  · Nagpur · Nashik · Patna · Pune · Rajkot · Ranchi · Srinagar · Surat · Thrissur · Thiruvananthapuram · Tiruchirappalli · Vadodara · Varanasi · Vijayawada · Visakhapatnam

Narendra Modi નરેન્દ્ર મોદી
Chief Minister of Gujarat
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 October 2001
Governor	Dr. Kamla Beniwal
Preceded by	Keshubhai Patel
Constituency	Maninagar
Personal details
Born	(1950-09-17) 17 September 1950 (age 61) Vadnagar, Gujarat, India
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Residence	Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Alma mater	Gujarat University[1]
Religion	Hinduism
Website	Narendra Modi
As of 9 March, 2009 Source: Government of Gujarat

Narendra Damodardas Modi (Gujarati: નરેન્દ્ર મોદી; born 17 September 1950^[1]) is the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat. Born in a middle class family in Vadnagar, he was the third of six children born to Damodardas Mulchand Modi and his wife Heeraben.^[2] He has been a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood also having interest in politics since adolescence. He holds a master's degree in political science. In 1998, he was chosen by L. K. Advani, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to direct the election campaign in Gujarat as well as Himachal Pradesh.

He became Chief Minister of Gujarat in October 2001, promoted to the office at a time when his predecessor Keshubhai Patel had resigned, following the defeat of BJP in the by-elections. His tenure as chief minister of Gujarat began on 7 October 2001, and he is the longest serving Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat.^[3] In July 2007 he became the longest serving Chief Minister in Gujarat's history when he had been in power for 2063 days continuously.^[4] He was elected again for a third term^[5] on 23 December 2007 in the state elections, which he had cast as a "referendum on his rule".^[6][7]

Personal life[link]

Modi was born in a middle class family in Vadnagar in Mehsana district of what was then Bombay State, India.^[8] During the Indo-Pak war in the mid sixties, even as a young boy, he volunteered to serve the soldiers in transit at railway stations.^[9] As a young man, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student organisation and was involved in the anti-corruption Nav Nirmāṇ ("Reconstruction") Movement. After working as a full time organiser for the organisation, he was later nominated as its representative in the Bharatiya Janata Party.^[10] As a teenager Modi used to run a tea stall with his brother.^[11] Modi completed his schooling in Vadnagar. He earned a masters degree in political science from Gujarat University.^[12]

Early activism and politics[link]

Modi was a pracharak (campaigner) in the RSS during his university years.^[12][13] He took up the challenging task of energising the party cadres in right earnest. In partnership with Shankersinh Vaghela, Modi set about creating a strong cadre base in Gujarat. In the initial period, Vaghela was seen as a mass leader, while Modi was recognised as a master strategist.

The party started gaining political mileage and formed a coalition government at the centre in April 1990. This partnership fell apart within a few months, but the BJP came to power with a two-thirds majority on its own in Gujarat in 1995. During this period, Modi was entrusted with the responsibility of organising two crucial national events, the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra (a political rally through India on a converted Toyota van) of L.K. Advani and a similar march from Kanyakumari (the southernmost part of India) to Kashmir in the North. After the exit of Shankarsingh Vaghela from the BJP, Keshubhai Patel was made Chief Minister while Narendra Modi was sent to New Delhi as a General Secretary of the Party.

In 1995, Modi was appointed the National Secretary of the party and given the charge of five major states in India. In 1998, he was promoted as the General Secretary (Organization), a post he held until October 2001. In 2001, Narendra Modi was chosen by the party to be the Chief Minister of Gujarat after the removal of chief minister Keshubhai Patel.

Tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat[link]

Personality[link]

Modi is known for leading a frugal lifestyle. He has a personal staff of just three. He is known to be a workaholic Chief Minister and an introvert.^[14] He ordered the demolition of many Hindu temples that were built without proper government sanction which earned him the ire of VHP^[11] He is a crowd puller as a speaker. Modi has also tried to turn his image from an Hindu Nationalist politician to an image of able administrator. He wears business suits and is improving his command over the English language.^[15]

Awards and recognitions[link]

Modi was awarded Gujarat Ratna by Shri Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on celebration of centenary year.^[16]

Development of Gujarat[link]

As a Chief Minister, Modi started various 'yojanas' or plans. This includes:

• Panchamrut Yojana,^[17][18][19] a five-pronged strategy for an integrated development of the state,
• Sujalam Sufalam, a scheme to create a grid of water resources in Gujarat in an innovative step towards water conservation and its appropriate utilisation.
• Krishi Mahotsav – agricultural research labs for the land
• Chiranjeevi Yojana – To reduce infant mortality rate
• Matru Vandana – Providing preventive and curative services under the Reproductive and Child Health Programme
• Beti Bachao – Campaign against female infanticide to improve sex ratio
• Jyotigram Yojana – Provide electricity to every village
• Karmayogi Abhiyan – To educate and train government employees
• Kanya Kelavani Yojana – To encourage female literacy and education
• Balbhog Yojana – Midday meal scheme for students to encourage school attendance from poor backgrounds.^[20]

Vibrant Gujarat[link]

Vibrant Gujarat is a biennial Global Investors' Summit held by the Government of Gujarat in Gujarat, India. The event is aimed at bringing together business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders, policy and opinion makers; the summit is advertised as a platform to understand and explore business opportunities in the State of Gujarat. the event has been held continuously since 2003.

Gujarat earthquake[link]

The biggest challenge which he had to face when he took over as the Chief Minister, was the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the massive Gujarat Earthquake of January 2001.

Gujarat violence[link]

On 27 February 2002, a train was burned by a Muslim mob in the town of Godhra leading to 59 deaths, most of them Hindu pilgrims and activists returning from the holy city of Ayodhya.^[21] Riots broke out in the state after it was suspected to be caused by Muslims, leading to 1180 deaths, many of them Muslims. Modi administration was accused of inaction over the riots and for encouraging them.^[15] As an aftermath of the riots, there were calls for Modi to resign from his position as chief minister of Gujarat. The opposition parties stalled the national parliament over the issue. Even Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), allies of the BJP, asked for Modi's resignation.^[22][23] Modi submitted his resignation to the Governor and recommended the dissolution of the 10th Gujarat Legislative Assembly.^[24][25] In the following state re-elections the BJP, led by Modi, won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly.

In April 2009, the Supreme Court of India appointed a special team of investigators to look into the role Modi had played in the alleged anti-Muslim conspiracy.^[15] The team was appointed in response to the complaint of zakia Jafri, the widow of ex-Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was murdered in the riots.^[26] In December 2010, a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) in its report to the Supreme Court seeking answers pertaining to the Ehsan Jafri case, submitted that they had found no evidence against Narendra Modi.^[27]

However in February 2011, the Times of India reported that a confidential report from the SIT indicted Modi on several counts of alleged complicity in the Gujarat riots of 2002.^[28] Most other sources have noted that the SIT report does not indict Modi for the riots due to lack of evidence.^[29][30] The Indian Express too said the report did not find any Modi involvement in the violence, though it did accuse him of watering down the seriousness of the situation.^[31] According to the Hindu, the report not only found that Modi tried to water down the seriousness of the situation, but Modi also implicitly justified the killings of Muslims, and failed to condemn the attacks on them.^[32] The Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an investigation into the publication of the report, claiming the leak was politically motivated.^[33]

The apex court refused to pass any order on the case and referred it to the Ahmedabad magistrate for a decision.^[34] In April 2012, a Special Investigation Team found absolved Modi of any involvement in the Gulberg massacre, arguably the worst episode of the riots.^[35]. On 7 May 2012, a Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae, Raju Ramachandran observed that Modi can be prosecuted under sections 153 A (1) (a) & (b), 153 B (1), 166 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity among different groups during the 2002 Gujarat riots.^[36]. However the amicus report has been criticised by the Special Investigation Team for relying heavily on the testimony of a perjurer^[37].

2007 elections[link]

Modi made a speech at Mangrol in which he justified the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, During the election campaign In response to Sonia Gandhi's speech calling him a "merchant of death",^[38] and referred to Sohrabuddin's killing. For this speech the Election Commission of India, a constitutional body governing election proceedings in India, cautioned Modi as it considered it as indulging in an activity which may aggravate existing differences between different communities.^[39] Modi won the election and continued his post as the Chief Minister Of Gujarat, he won with majority of votes of 122 seats out of 182 total assembly seats.^[40]

Conflicts with Governor Kamla Beniwal[link]

On 25 August 2011 Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal appointed Justice R A Mehta to the post of Lokyukta of Gujarat, a critical anti-corruption post that had been lying vacant since 2003. Justice R A Mehta was recommended for the post by the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in June. Since Governor Beniwal had made this decision without consulting and getting the approval of the chief minister and his council of ministers, the action angered Narendra Modi and his BJP party.^[41]

This marked the beginning of a strained relationship between Modi and the Governor. On 25 September 2011, Narendra Modi accused the Governor of running a parallel government in the state supported by the Congress. He demanded that she be recalled back.^[42] He also later accused her of delaying the progress of bills by not passing them.

The decision of the governor in the appointment of R A Mehta was challenged in the high court by the Modi government. The two member high court bench gave a split verdict on 10 October 2011. Later, a third member upheld the governor's decision in January 2012.^[43]

Foreign visits[link]

As the Chief Minister of the Gujarat State, to attract foreign investment in the state, Narendra Modi has made visits to foreign countries, including China and Singapore.

Narendra Modi made his first China visit in 2007 to invite investors Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit,^[44] and second visit in November 2011. One month after the second visit to China, the Chinese Government released 13 Diamond traders from India jailed by the Shenzhen Customs, which the Chief Minister described as the consequece of his diplomatic efforts and statesmanship.^[45]

In 2005 Narendra Modi was denied of diplomatic visa to the United States, in addition to this visa denial, he was also revoked from his already granted B-1/B-2 visa.^[46]

Sadbhavna Mission[link]

In the late 2011-early 2012 Narandra Modi practised a series of fasts in the name of Sadbhavna Mission. The mission started on 17 September 2011 in Ahmedabad with 3 day fast with a view to strengthen the atmosphere of peace, unity and harmony in the state. He observed total 36 fasts in 26 districts, 8 cities including Ahmedabad.^[47]

Views and opinions[link]

Modi's position on terrorism[link]

On 18 July 2006 Modi delivered a speech criticising Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "for his reluctance to revive anti-terror legislations" like the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He asked the Centre to empower states to invoke tougher laws in the wake of the blasts in Mumbai.^[48] Quoting Modi:

Narendra Modi has frequently commented that if the BJP came to power at the Centre, they will honour the 2004 Supreme Court judgement to hang Afzal Guru.^[49] Afzal was convicted of terrorism in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack in 2004 by the Supreme Court of India and is in Tihar Jail.^[50]

On account of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, on Thursday 27 November, Narendra Modi held a meeting to discuss waterfront security along the coastline.^[51] The meeting decided to ask the Central government to urgently sanction the following:

• Increase the number of police stations along the coast to 50 (from 10)
• Increase the number of police to 1500 from 250
• 30 modern high-speed surveillance boats.

The 30 coastal boats, under construction at Goa's shipbuilding yard, will have the capacity to run at the speed of 25 nautical miles per hour. These are being manufactured under the Centre's Rs 58-crore grant for coastal security.^[51]

Views on criticism of Modi's governance[link]

In 2003, when Narendra Modi was asked about the conflict of his dreams for Gujarat's future with international criticism of his past activities, Modi said,^[52]

Modi's decision to link Gujarat's violence with the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US drew criticism from some observers, who contrasted it with the then Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's unpleasant apology for Gujarat in London a year ago.^[52] Modi responded to this criticism by The Guardian,^[52]

See also[link]

• Chief Minister
• Gujarat
• Bhartiya Janata Party

References[link]