Monday 19 September 2011

Sports & Recreation

Gujarat Sports and Recreation acts as a catalyst for Health and well being Therapy. It rejuvenates, relaxes, inspires and enlightens.

There are many independent sports associations with National and Regional affiliate in Gujarat. They conduct a variety of tournaments, as well as coaching activity in the state. The Gujarat Cricket Association, an affiliate of the BCCI conducts its own tournaments in the open (without age restrictions) as well as age group related circuits. The Sports Authority of Gujarat also conducts state level tournaments for under 19 age group.



Under the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the President of the Gujarat Cricket Association(GCA), the supreme body of cricket in the state, Gujarat aims to use this powerful game to bring changes in society. GCA represents four important committees that include BCCI work committee, Tour and program committee, Finance committee and Junior cricket committee. Indian Premier League (IPL) matches will be organized under GCA in 2010 and further developments in Cricket aim to set Gujarat on higher scale in the field of Sports.

Operational as an Autonomous organization of the Government known as SAG since May 1993, Sports in Gujarat see a new light as SAG enables Gujarat school children and sports persons in five main national forums, namely :

SGFI Games (School Games Federation of India)
National Rural Games (organised by the Sports Authority of India)
National Women’s Sports Festival (organised by the Sports Authority of India)
Subroto Mukherjee Cup for football (organised by the Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society sponsored by the Indian Air Force Sports Control Board)
The Jawaharlal Nehru Cup for hockey (organised by J. L. Nehru Hockey Tournament Society).
Sports Authority of Gujarat plays a vital role in identifying and set activities that is aimed at creating interest and opportunities of participation in different games in various, including, rural areas.
Goal Strategies for Sports:
Popularize Culture of Sports
By creating a state-wide conducive atmosphere for the culture of sports to take root and thrive
Identify talent through scientific methods to be trained in sports hostels
Promote Excellence
Sports Environment in Gujarat focus mainly on Children/students, women and in General
Schools :Identify Talent, provide equipment and coaching to schools, provide assistance to rural schools, organize Vacation camps and arrange for competitions


Women :Provide Self Defence Training and scholarships. Promote women talents and nurture them


General :Set up Taluka Fitness centers and host National Events.

Gujarat has State of Art complex and facilitates Sports grounds for various Games like
Indoor and Outdoor games, few to mention here:

Art Culture & Lifestyle


Experience the aesthetic appeal with the Arts, Culture and Lifestyles in Gujarat. It earns the reputation of finer things in life as Arts reflects medium of expression and communication, culture reflects the finer details of moral and traditional values and Lifestyles is the very existence of Gujaratis, unmatched ‘lifestyle living’ in the country.

In Gujarat, Arts is an expression. The brilliant blend of Arts, culture and Lifestyle make spaces for peace and soulful well being. In Gujarat, there is freedom for Artists as they create an image on a canvass or click a photograph that appeals to the eye. With ample mediums to work on innovative, witty and submissive forms, Arts present something to our sense – perceptions as they make way to articulate lifestyles. Gujarat stand unique with Arts as a form of expression as it is a home to many world renowned Artists and flourishing talents shaping up the Art World. The State also has a fantastic pool of artists and a new breed of collectors and investors in the Art Talents.

In Gujarat, Music is speech of angels. The music and dance blend the rich traditions with its folk music and dance. The Garba dance is the spiritual expression of Gujarat and the spirit of festivity of the traditional festival reaches worldwide. Music and folk dances have evolved since ancient times and continues to lure people to its rich tradition even today as it retain its original form or even blend to modern forms. Folk songs, classical music and array of distinctive classical ragas have exemplary features with distinctive music variations. Gujarat is known to have produced its own folk instruments besides the vast contributions to classical and folk music. Also modern culture of pop thrive its existence with the youth catching faster on western and other music forms pertaining to other countries.

In Gujarat Crafts is an exclusive talent. Handicrafts of Gujarat, differs in its proportions of its patterns to the element of wonderful exquisite artifacts in various forms. Ancient crafts exist in Gujarat blend with unique traditional intricate work and finer details with artistic and aesthetic appeal. The handicrafts products of skilled craftsmanship are popular all over the world. It mirrors vibrant culture of the State.

In Gujarat, Traditions speak. Gujarat is a land of traditions. Festivity spirit continues all round the year as spirituality is in every breath of the Gujarati soul. Gujarat has fairs and festivals apart from many other rituals and traditions. Gujarat is also popular for the lifestyle and cuisines that go with the celebrations. Traditions almost remain unchanged and you get acquainted with the modern living as Gujarat develops on a faster growth to modernity, influenced by outside culture. Unmatched traditions in the world, it speaks of ‘Home is where the heart is.’



In Gujarat, Life matters, Living Justifies :
Arts

Culture & LifeStyle

Music & Dance

Handicrafts

Literature

Festivals

Fairs

In Gujarat, Knowledge is Power. Literature is traced back to the bygone Sultanate era. Gujarati Literature stand as a mix of classics and contemporary Literature with its Prose, Poetry, Plays, Biography-Autobiographies, Fiction and non fiction. More, the State is sound with many Literature writers and poets with contributions of multi language Literature like English, Hindi and esp. Sanskrit Literature.
Enculturation and Culture: Gujarat is influenced with enculturation; a culture shared with members of the society and passed on from one generation to the next. Enculturation has unified people with common sense experience and influence that lead to knowledge and appreciation of cultural traditions and lifestyles. The aspect of joining hands to greet or bow down comes through age influences as offering reverence. Social systems of learning, religious practices and forms of artistic expressions have led way to more balanced lifestyles in Gujarat. People of Gujarat are found to be sharing cultural traits and patterns with other regions and also extend beyond national boundaries towards International culture.

In Gujarat, Lifestyles sustain. Gujarat is ‘heaven on earth’. Ask anyone in the world and Gujarat is the most cherished place to visit in India. Gujarat is the Land of the Legends – where individuals have peace of mind, are spiritual and live in harmony. The people are enterprising oriented, cooperative, and supportive. They possess warm and friendly nature with qualities of humanity, Gujaratis are found to be most generous and loyal. It is said, Attitude and all is that ‘Makes a Big Difference’

Why Gujarat

A State on the Move

If you have a Passion for Good Living, Gujarat is For You.
If you wish for development and growth, Gujarat is For You.
If you aim for "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam",
Gujarat is For You

Strategic Location
Strategically located on the West Coast of India, Gujarat is also a Gateway to the rich land-locked Northern and Center Vicinity of the country. Gujarat spearheads the Indian march for the “Global Economic Super Power” status with access to all Major Port based Countries like UK, Australia, China, Japan, Korea and Gulf Countries, etc.

Winds of Change
Gujarat has witnessed Winds of Change under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the CM who believes that "Future of India belongs to Gujarat. With the inherent strength and immense potential, Gujarat is destined to bring glory to the nation."

Road Ahead To Glory
Gujarat is on road ahead to new heights of development by bringing about quality and speedy changes. Gujarat has immense potential and strengths. Efforts are aimed to bring qualitative changes in the life of a common man with the Panchamrut Philosophy :
Jan Shakti
Powering the vision with its active contributions in education,
healthcare and many other sectors.



Gyan Shakti
Knowledge is Power in Gujarat - Synergizing Excellence and Innovative thoughts with talent
and technology. Here wisdom sets its pace to achieve goals with an inspiring force .



Urja Shakti
Gujarat has set a time frame for Electricity Management. Broadband connectivity and
uninterrupted electricity supply has remained instrumental in rural development.



Jal Shakti
Harnessing Water Resources with emphasis on harnessing rain water and
scientific management of water.



Raksha Shakti
Enhancing Physical, Social, Economic Security. Security and
well being of citizens.

Gujarat Fact File



Area:1,96,024 sq km
Population:50,671,017
Capital:Gandhinagar
Principal Language:Gujarati

Other Languages :English, Hindi and other Indian languages
Literacy Rate:79.8%
Rainfall :93.2 cm
Temperature:Summer: min 25 degrees to 45 dig’s
Winter: min 15 degrees to max 35 dig’s
Season:November to February
Eco System:Ranges from deserts, scrublands, grasslands, deciduous forests, and wetlands to mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, and gulfs.



Muslim History Of Gujarat

Introduction
Talk about Muslims of Gujarat and pictures of genocide of 2002 come to mind. How is that Muslims, who have lived and shaped Gujarati identity for over a millennium, are now living on the fringe of Gujarati society? TwoCircles.net series on Gujarat will trace Muslim presence and contributions to Gujarat and reveal their present condition.
Exactly 600 years ago, four Ahmads stood by the side of the river Sabarmati with a rope in hand laying the foundation of the city of Ahmedabad. Presence of these four Ahmads was no accident; these were chosen after a vision by the newly-crowned Sultan of Gujarat Ahmad Shah I. According to his vision, the first planned city of medieval India was to be established by four persons named Ahmad who had not missed any of their obligatory prayers. After a frantic search across Gujarat four Ahmads – Sultan Ahmad Shah I, Shaikh Ahmad Khattu of Sarkhez, Qazi Ahmad Jod of Patan, and scholar Malik Ahmad came together on 7 Zil Qa’da 813 ( 2-3 March 1411) to establish a city that has survived many ups and downs in its 600-year-old history.
But Muslim history of Gujarat does not begin with the establishment of Ahmedabad. In fact, Muslims were already in Gujarat for 600 years before Allauddin Khilji’s army appeared in this region in 1297. Just like Muslims arrival in Malabar in Kerala, as soon as Islam began spreading in Arabian Peninsula, Muslims began to make their presence felt in the coastal region of Gujarat. The first Muslim foray into Gujarat appears to be in 15 hijri or the year 635 CE when governor of Bahrain sent an expedition to Thana and Bhaurch. The contact with Muslim continued for several centuries in the form of raid, trade, and migration.
Famous jali of Sidi Saeed Masjid of Ahmedabad
After Sindh, it is Gujarat where the first Muslim rule was established in Indian sub-continent. Sanjan, a small town on the coast saw the establishment of an independent principality. Three rulers Fadl Ibn Mahan, Muhammad bin Fadl, and Mahan ibn Fadl ibn Mahan ruled successively from 813 CE to 841 CE. Sanjan, which was called Sandan by Arabs find references in travelogues of Arab writers as an important port and industrial town.
Jama Masjid established by the Mahan dynasty continued to function even after the end of dynasty. Local Hindu rulers allowed Muslim population to live, trade, and pray. But Sanjan was not the only Muslim inhabitation. Historigrapher Abul Hasan Ali Masudi reached Cambay in 915 CE and he saw a large number of Arab Muslim settled in Cambay, Chembur, Thana, Sopara, Sanjan, and Bharuch. He wrote that Muslim led honourable life under Hindu kings and they had built a number of mosques where regular prayers were offered.
A number of these mosques have survived, making Gujarat site of some of the oldest mosques of India. Sanjan still has a functioning jama masjid but its date cannot be confirmed. The oldest mosque in Gujarat is the Jama Masjid of Bharuch which was completed in the year 1065. Also in Bharuch is probably the oldest Islamic structure Madrasa Maulana Ishaq built in 1038 CE. Both buildings were constructed well before Muslim ruled Bharuch.
While riches of Gujarat attracted traders and migration, it also made an attractive target for Mahmood Ghaznavi who attacked the temple at Somnath in the year 1024. About 150 years later it was Shahabuddin Ghori who attacked Gujarat but failed twice and not until 1197 when his general Qutubuddin Aibak had some success in Gujarat.
The story of modern Gujarat doesn’t begin till we see the establishment of sovereign Sultanate of Gujarat by Muzaffar Shah I by declaring his independence in 1407. Four years later his grandson Ahmad Shah I, founder of Ahmedabad, becomes the Sultan and start giving shape to a region that we recognize as present day Gujarat.

All Chief Ministers of Gujarat

Dr. Jivraj Narayan Mehta
Shri Balwantray Mehta
Shri Hitendra K. Desai
Shri Ghanshyambhai C. Oza










Shri Chimanbhai J. Patel
Shri Babubhai J. Patel
Shri Madhavsinh F. Solanki
Shri Amarsinh Chaudhary










Shri Chhabildas Mehta
Shri Keshubhai Savdasbhai Patel
Shri Sureshchandra Rupshanker Mehta
Shri Shankersinhji Laxmansinhji Vaghela












Shri Dilipbhai Ramanbhai Parikh
Shri Narendra Modi