Why is Gandhinagar the capital city of Gujarat and why not Ahmedabad?

 

 

 

Ahmedabad is a significant city of Gujarat. In the past, the city was the capital of Gujarat. At the point when the twin city of Gandhinagar was created, Ahmedabad lost that status. Truly, this city which is arranged on the banks of the Sabarmati River, has seen discontinuous changes and numerous adjustments before. Different administrations, directly from the Sultanate line and Mughal line, to the Maratha and the British, governed the city. That is the reason the historical backdrop of Ahmedabad is so rich.

 

 

 

On the off chance that we go further back, we find that during the thirteenth century, the ruler Pethasinh of Pethapur, managed over the town of Shertha. After the downfall of Pethasinh, the Sultanate of Patan utilized that region as a fight ground. The regularly called Ahmedabad line, which in history by and large shows up as Muzaffarid line, managed over Gujarat from 1391 to 1583. During that period, Ahmedabad was set up. It is additionally guaranteed that the area of the present Ahmedabad is same as where the city of Karnavati existed. Karnavati was established by Karna Solanki somewhere in the range of 1063 and 1093 AD on the banks of the Sabarmati River. Afterward, the city lost its wonder and character. It was then restored by Ahmed Shah I.

 

The Muzaffarid tradition was set up by Zafar Khan Muzaffar (later called Muzaffar Shah I) in 1391. He was the Governor of Gujarat under the Delhi Sultanate controlled by Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad container Tughluq IV. Zafar Khan's dad, Sadharan, was a Rajput who had grasped Islam and changed his name to Wajih-ul-Mulk. Zafar Khan Muzaffar had crushed Farhat-ul-Mulk close Anhilwada Patan and made the city his capital. Prior to that, Farhat-ul-Mulk was made Governor of Gujarat in 1377 by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. Afterward, it was chosen to supplant him and Sikandar Khan was designated as Governor of Gujarat by the Delhi ruler. Be that as it may, Farhat-ul-Mulk didn't permit him to have his spot. He crushed and murdered Sikandar Khan.

 

Mausoleum of Ahmed Khattu Gang Baksh, the spiritual guide of Ahmad Shah I, the founder of Ahmedabad city

 

Encouraged by the sacking of Delhi by Timur in 1398, Zafar Khan Muzaffar declared himself independent in 1407 and used the opportunity to establish himself as the ruler of an independent Gujarat. Thus a new empire (Gujarat Sultanate) was established. The next ruler of the empire was his grandson, Ahmad Shah I. He established the city of Ahmedabad in 1411 on the banks of the Sabarmati River. He also made Ahmedabad the capital of his empire. The city was developed in a grand style and it was called Shahr-i-Mu’azzam (the great city). During the Muzaffarid rule, Ahmedabad became one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world.

 

The Sultanate reached its zenith during the rule of Mahmud Shah I Begada, the most prominent ruler of the Gujarat Sultanate. His name was Abu’l Fath Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah I. He was popularly named as Mahmud Begada. Through his conquests, he expanded the Gujarat Sultanate to its maximum. He also conquered Malwa, and remained on throne for 43 years from May 1458 to November 1511. He founded a city called Mahemdabad (Memdavad) which is in Kheda district. Mahemdabad has some historical structures. One is Bhammariyo Kuvo (Kuvo means well), Chanda-Surajno Mahal (palace) and Roza-Rozi (mausoleum). People believe that Bhammariyo Kuvo is connected with Ahmedabad, Pavagadh and Junagadh through secret passages. The town is a popular tourist destination.

 

The Gujarat Sultanate began to decline by the 16th century. The Portuguese snatched Diu in 1509 after the Battle of Diu. Mughal Emperor Humayun attacked Gujarat in 1535. But he could not take Gujarat. Akbar took control of Gujarat in 1573 and made Gujarat a province. The last ruler was Muzaffar Shah III. He was imprisoned in Agra. In 1583, he escaped from prison. He could muster help from some well-wishers and regained Gujarat. But he was defeated by Akbar’s General, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan. During the Mughal period, Ahmedabad became Gujarat’s leading centre of textiles. It is also claimed that Emperor Jehangir had visited Ahmedabad in 1617 and found the city dirty! He called the city ‘Gardabad’, ‘City of dust’. But his son, Shah Jahan spent many years in Ahmedabad. He got the Moti Shahi Mahal constructed there. In 1753, the Mughal rule ended and the city went under the Maratha generals, Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad. The decline of the city was triggered due to a power struggle between the two.

 

 

 

 

Also Read :- Who is the current CM of Gujarat?