Sinugra is a village near the town of Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is located 7 km from the nearest city Anjar. Villagers enjoy a good drinking water supply, and a steady electricity supply with few power shortages.
Sinugra
Sinugra | |
|---|---|
city | |
 | |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 86,388 |
Telephones are common, and nearly all of the houses have televisions and cable.
The village entrance has a big Chabutro and welcome gate.
History and heritage
About history of Sinugra, the village is one of the nineteen villages founded by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris. These Mistri community first moved in to Saurashtra in early 7th century and later a major group entered Kutch in 12th Century and established themselves at Dhaneti. Later from 12th century onwards they moved between Anjar and Bhuj and founded the villages of Anjar, Sinugra, Khambhra, Nagalpar, Khedoi, Madhapar, Hajapar, Kukma, Galpadar, Reha, Vidi, Ratnal, Jambudi, Devariya, Lovaria, Nagor, Chandiya, Meghpar and Kumbharia. The Mistris of these villages have built and developed the infrastructure around the villages in late 1890.
The village boasted of 200 odd houses made by rich Mistri families, ornate facades, intricate door carvings and metal grill windows and verandah depicting life of Queen Victoria. There were also huge wall and Ceiling paintings depicting scenes from Mahabharata & Ramayana. The village like other Mistri Village was well planned by Mistris, who were master-planners themselves, having wide main roads and streets and other infrastructure, temples, ponds, wells and was unique in its heritage.
However, most of it was destroyed in the earthquake of 2000. Sinugra Village being very near to Anjar also bore the heavy brunt of the quake and almost all old majestic houses built around 100 years ago were completely destroyed. There was also a good number of human casualty. Some of the old buildings, temples, Chabutro have been since re-constructed but the majestic houses with fine workmanship have been lost.
Notable persons
The Thakor Mandir, Chabutaro, Village Primary School named 'Seth Khora Ramji Prathmik Shala', Mahadev Temple being built by famous Seth Khora Ramji & brothers and Khoda Ratna Tank. Khora Ramji, Jetha Lira also built a Kutchi Kadia Dharamsala in Mathura. Among the famous railway contractors and colliery owners who hailed from this village and made it big during the early years of railway construction around 1860-1910 and some of them also started their own Colliery business in and around Jharia - Bokaro coalfields are Khora Ramji Chawda, Jetha Lira Jethwa, Khoda Ratna Taunk, Ranchhod Virjee, Premji Virjee, Dhanjee Virjee Chawda, Mulji Akhoy Chawda, Dahya Pachan, Manji Pachan, Mepa Pachan Jagmal Ladhha, Nanji Dossa, Kanji Murji, Kunwarji Nanji, Dahya Nanji, Mavji Nanji Tank, Kala Sava , Jeevan Sava Tank, Narain Veera, Lalji Raja Wadher, Ratna Manji Tank, Laddha Raja,Jeram Nanji, Shivjee Ananda Vadher, Kuvarjee Ananda Vadher, Raghu Pancha Taunk, Jairam Teja Chawda, Narayan Pachan Chawda, Lagdheer Ramji, Chonda Parbat Taunk, Ratanshi Manji Tank, Kalji Raja, Shamji Mepa, Devraj Pachan, Bheemje Mepa,Devshi Ladhha, Raja Mepa, Lalji Jeeva, Govind Ladhha, Jeevan Devraj, Ladhha Jeeva, Premji Karsan, Jairam Nanji, Kanji Manji, Dhanji Veerji, Kalji Raja, Govind Ladhha, Ranchhod Gangu Gohil, Joyram Shivjee Gohil,Seth Vallabhdas Kunwarjee Tank, Karsanjee Jetha Jethwa, Devram Jetha Jethwa, Hemraj Kanji Chawda, Jeevram Jairam Chawda, Balram Madhavjee Vadher.
Among the famous personalities of Sinugra Village - Dahya Pachan, Manji Pachan & Mepa Pachan Chawda of Sinugra with Jeevan Naryan Chauhan of Kumbharia were the pioneers, who lead the community into Railway Contracts in year 1850. Seth Khora Ramji Chawda was given "Paghdi" by Maharao Khengarji III of Kutch. Lifesketch of Khora Ramji Chawda is noted by British in Encyclopedia of Bengal, Bihar & Orissa. He was the first Indian to break monopoly of British in Coal-mining business in Jharia Coalfields Belt and started Khas Jharia, Fatehpur, Balihari, Jeenagora, Bugathdih and other collieries between 1895-1910 with his brothers Jairam Teja, Jetha Lira, Narayan Pachchan & Mulji Akhoy. Khora Ramji also owned fleet of Ships and used to trade in spice & dry-fruits, etc. with Muscat, Mombasa, etc. Among other famous person - Devraj Daya Chavda,who established himself at Jharsuguda and did magnificent works of Railways & Bridge construction was given title of Rai Bahadur by British authorities. Seth Vallabhdas Kunwarjee Tank of village established himself as industrialist in Mumbai & Vapi and was closely associated with Arvind Lalbhai.
Temples
Kuldevi Temples of many clans of these Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya community are also there in this village. For example Chawda clan have their Kuldevi Chamunda Mata's temple in village. Similarly, Tank clan Mistri community have their Kuldevi Chamunda Mata's temple in village.
Present status
Dhamubhai Vadher, was former Sarpanch of this village. Newly elected Sarpanch, is Bharatbhai Taunk[1].
- ^ Sarpanch Election result: “Kutch District” by kutchmitradaily.com, Kutchmitra Newspaper
References
<http://www.chawra.com/kgk/history2.htm> <http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Sinougra-houses-no-longer-live-up-to-their-claim-to-fame/274190/> <http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/20010312/ina12017.html> <http://www.india9.com/i9show/Gurjar-Kshatriyas-36231.htm><http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6135227/Kachchh>
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