Sinugra (also spelled Shinoogra / Sinogra / Sinougra) is a village 5 kms from 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.
Sinugra | |
|---|---|
village | |
 Chabutro at Sinugra Village entrance built by Seth Khora Ramji in 1900 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Kachchh |
| Panchayat | Gram Panchayat |
| Elevation | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 370110 |
| Telephone code | 02836 |
| Vehicle registration | GJ-12 |
| Sex ratio | 0.894 ♂/♀ |
| Distance from Bhuj | 60 kilometres (37 mi) |
| Distance from Ahmedabad | 350 kilometres (220 mi) |
History
About history of Sinugra, the village is one of the nineteen villages founded by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris. These Mistri community first moved into 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.[1][2][3] [4][5][6] The Mistris of these villages have built and developed the infrastructure around the villages in late 1890.
Heritage
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. Sinugra was known as Pride of Kutch for its unique artistic heritage.[7] [8]
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
Seth Khora Ramji Chawda of village, a railway contractor and miner, was noted by British as first Indian to break monopoly of Europeans in Jharia coalfields belt.[9][10] Among other famous person - Devraj Daya Chawda, who established himself at Jharsuguda and did magnificent works of Railways & Bridge construction was given title of Rai Sahib by British authorities. [9][10]Seth Vallabhdas Kunwarjee Tank of village established himself as industrialist in Bombay & founded special chemical factories at Vapi and was closely associated with Kasturbhai Lalbhai.[11] Further, there were a number of of railway contractors from the village.
School
Village has Primary School named Seth Khora Ramji Prathmik Shala built by Seth Khora Ramji & borthers in 1910, which has been named after him. caters to both boys and girls of village.
Temples
Kuldevi Temples of many clans of these Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya community are also there in this village. For example, Tank clan Mistri community have their Kuldevi Chamunda. It is known as Chotila - Chamunda's temple.
The Thakor Mandir of Sinugra built by Seth Khora Ramji Chawra, Pachhan Ramji Chawra, Teja Ramji Chawra, Akhai Ramji Chawra, Jetha Lira Jethwa and Khoda Ratna Tank in 1900. It is a remarkable piece of architect with beautiful & colorful carvings of Gods and idols. Further, Jadeshwar Mahadev temple also built by Seth Khora Ramji is worth seeing. The Swaminarayan Temple & Dharamshala are also there is Village. A small temple of Ramdev Pir is also there in village. After the earthquake of 26 January 2001 all the temples and Chabutro have been rehabilitated to their past glory by donations from the Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya community.
Further, a mosque belonging to Mohammedan community is also there.
Present status
Villagers enjoy a good drinking water supply, and a steady electricity supply with few power shortages. Telephones are common, and nearly all of the houses have televisions and cable.
The village entrance has a big Chabutro and welcome gate.
Economy
Most of villagers are involved in agriculture, others go to nearby Anjar for their jobs and businesses.
Sarpanch
Dhamubhai Vadher, was former Sarpanch of this village. Newly elected Sarpanch, is Bharatbhai Taunk.[12]
References
- ^ History of Kutch Gurjar Kshatiryas, migration from Saurashtra - Dhaneti founded, their Villages, Madhapar founded, Surnames, etc
- ^ Gurjar Kshatriyas, also known as Mistris, came to Kutch from Rajasthan. They are skilled in building construction. They first established themselves at Dhaneti and were granted 18 villages by the rulers of Kutch. They are famous designers and developers of buildings and bridges.
- ^ Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya & other communities of Kutch
- ^ Community website giving brief history and social activities
- ^ Gurjar Kshatriya website giving details of Settlements
- ^ Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj History
- ^ Sinougra houses no longer live-up to their claim to fame : Indian Press Report after earthquake giving details of Mistri of Kutch - Migration to Fiji, Africa & details of artistic houses in their village of Sinougra, Kookma & Pramod Jethi, curator of the Aina Mahal Trust Museum, Bhuj and an authority on Kutchi art says, People from Sinougra were working in the construction of the Howrah Bridge. In fact, many Victorian buildings in Kolkata have been built by the karigars (artisans) of the region. After earthquake, Sinugra the village, one of the 18 of the ‘mistry gams’ or craftsmen villages scattered in Anjar and Mundra Talukas, has now nothing to show that it was once the home to some of Kutch’s finest artisans. The scenario is no different in Kookma, Madhapar, Deoria, Khamara and the other craftsmen villages of the region. When the 1948 earthquake destroyed the village, its residents from East Africa to Kolkata rebuilt it with care, making the walls, facades, the jharokhas of the houses — the entire architecture was some of the finest repository of their ancestral skills. But the post-2001 quake years did not witness any such painstaking effort.
- ^ In shambles lies Pride of Kutch : Indian Press Report after earthquake giving details of Sinogra & other villages of Mistris of Kutch - Rare painting from Mahabharata, Ramayana, Queen Victoria, floors adorned with specially designed tiles of British firm Garlicks & Co. The ceilings of each room in these majestic buildings had been painstakingly hand-painted -- some of which were as big as 30 feet X 30 feet. There were rare paintings of Queen Victoria, Lord Krishna with gopis, floral murals, intricate carving in iron grills and wooden jaalies, besides the exquisite `jharokhas' which made each of these buildings a masterpiece. According to curators of the Kutch Museum in Bhuj, these paintings, jaalis and jharokhas are worth preserving for their uniqueness and rarity. The century-old art and interior design was unique to Sinogra because they have never been painted or created again anywhere else. The entire village belongs to `mistris' and kadias or masons who designed the buildings and the village layout themselves.
- ^ a b Nanji Bapa ni Nondh Pothi, 1999: Life Sketch of Seth Khora Ramji Chawra. Khoda Ratna Tank. Rai Sahib Devraj Dahya Chawda.
- ^ a b Diary of Golden Days at Jharia - A Memoir & History of Gurjar Kashtriya Samaj of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia - written by Natwarlal Devram Jethwa of Calcutta/Sinugra complied by Raja Pawan Jethwa (in English) in 1998
- ^ Sansmurti - A memoir published in 2002: by Nanalal Amarsinh Chauhan from Bagalkot. Life-sketch of Seth Vallabhdas Kunwarjee Tank
- ^ Sarpanch Election result: “Kutch District” by kutchmitradaily.com, Kutchmitra Newspaper