Modern Gujarat

The history of modern Gujarat started with the advent of the Europeans in 1614 AD.

The era of modern Gujarat first started when the Portuguese established several enclaves along the Gujarat coastline. The Portuguese built naval ports in present day Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

The British East India company founded their first base in India at Surat in 1614. This seemingly small commercial event eventually led the company to a dominant presence in India. Many of the local Maratha rulers of Gujarat acknowledged British sovereignty in return for retaining local independent rule. The rule of the British officials paved one of the first of many paths to modern Gujarat.

The Indian independence movement was very active in Gujarat during the administration of the British Raj. The greatest of all Gujarati Indian freedom fighters was great Mahatma Gandhi. He was joined in his noble task by other Gujarati Indian freedom fighters like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, KM Munshi, Narhari Parikh, Mahadev Desai, Mohanlal Pandya and Ravi Shankar Vyas.

Mahatma Gandhi led the salt satyagraha in Gujarat. It was one of the most visible images of Gujarat during pre-independence days. Modern Gujarat still shows the grit of such single minded dedication which has helped contemporary Gujarat to grow into an industrial powerhouse.

Gujarat saw large post independence turmoil. After independence, Gujarat was included under the old Bombay state. Bombay state had a Gujarati speaking north and a Marathi speaking south. Bombay state was finally demarcated into Gujarat and Maharashtra states. Modern Gujarat was thus formed with Ahmedabad as its capital.

The capital was shifted from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar. Gandhinagar is the present capital of modern Gujarat.