111-586: Ambani is a Gujarati surname found in the Indian State of Gujarat . Notable people: Gujaratis The Gujarati people , or Gujaratis , are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who reside in or can trace their ancestry or heritage to a region of the Indian subcontinent primarily centered in the present-day western Indian state of Gujarat . They primarily speak Gujarati , an Indo-Aryan language. While Gujaratis mainly inhabit Gujarat, they have
222-537: A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008 . Malacca has diverse tropical rainforest and experiences an equatorial climate . Situated immediately south of the Titiwangsa Mountains , the state is mostly level and dotted with inselbergs , with Bukit Gapis as the highest point. Although it was the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates , namely the Malacca Sultanate ,
333-458: A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008. Malacca City along with George Town was confirmed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. Malacca is one of four Malaysian states without hereditary monarchies, despite being the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates, as the local monarchy was abolished when the Portuguese conquered it in 1511. The head of state of Malacca
444-916: A diaspora worldwide. Many notable independence activists were Gujarati, including Mahatma Gandhi , Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Vallabhbhai Patel . Despite significant migration primarily for economic reasons, most Gujaratis in India live in the state of Gujarat in Western India. Gujaratis also form a significant part of the populations in the neighboring metropolis of Mumbai and union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu , formerly colonial possessions of Portugal . There are very large Gujarati immigrant communities in other parts of India, most notably in Mumbai , Pune , Delhi , Kolkata , Chennai , Bangalore and other cities like Kochi . All throughout history. Gujaratis have earned
555-528: A mouse deer . In self-defence, the mouse deer pushed the dog into the river. Impressed by the courage of the deer, and taking it as a good omen of the weak overcoming the powerful, Parameswara decided then to found an empire at that spot. He named this empire after the tree where he had just taken shelter. This story shows remarkable similarities with and was probably adapted (as some historians argued) from folk-tales from Kandy , Sri Lanka, and Pasai , Sumatra (both of which pre-date Malacca). The "Malacca tree"
666-519: A campaign of "de-Indianization", eventually resulting in the expulsion and ethnic cleansing of Uganda's Indian minority. Gujarati and other Indians started moving to the Kenya colony at the end of the 19th century when the British colonial authorities started opening up the country with the laying down of the railroads . A small colony of merchants, however, had existed on the port cities such Mombasa on
777-574: A force of some 1,200 men and seventeen or eighteen ships. They conquered the city on 24 August 1511. After seizing the city Afonso de Albuquerque spared the Hindu , Chinese and Burmese inhabitants but had the Muslim inhabitants massacred or sold into slavery. It soon became clear that Portuguese control of Malacca did not also mean that they controlled the Asian trade centred there. The Malaccan rule
888-685: A long history in Tanzania starting with the arrival of Gujarati traders in the 19th century. There are currently over 50,000 people of Indian origin in Tanzania. Many of them are traders and they control a sizeable portion of the Tanzanian economy. They came to gradually control the trade in Zanzibar . Many of the buildings constructed then still remain in Stone Town , the focal trading point on
999-663: A long tradition of seafaring and a history of overseas migration to foreign lands, to Yemen Oman Bahrain , Kuwait, Zanzibar and other countries in the Persian Gulf since a mercantile culture resulted naturally from the state's proximity to the Arabian Sea. The countries with the largest Gujarati populations are Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and many countries in Southern and East Africa. Globally, Gujaratis are estimated to constitute around 33% of
1110-651: A lot of enthusiasm even from the generations brought up in UK. Gujarati Hindus also maintain their caste affiliation to some extent with most major castes having their own community association in each population center with significant Gujarati population such as Leicester and London suburbs. Patidars form the largest community in the diaspora including Kutch Leva Patels, followed closely by Lohanas of Saurashtra origin. Gujarati Rajputs from various regional backgrounds are affiliated with several independent British organizations dependent on caste such as Shree Maher Samaj UK, and
1221-581: A migrant past. Early European travelers like Ludovico di Varthema (15th century) traveled to Gujarat and wrote on the people of Gujarat. He noted that Jainism had a strong presence in Gujarat and opined that Gujaratis were deprived of their kingdom by Mughals because of their kind heartedness. His description of Gujaratis was: ...a certain race which eats nothing that has blood, never kills any living things... and these people are neither moors nor heathens... if they were baptized, they would all be saved by
SECTION 10
#17327881070731332-684: A part of Pakistan's small Hindu community . A number of them belong to the dalit community. There is relatively a large number of Gujarati Muslims settled in Sri Lanka. They mainly represent the Dawoodi Bhora and the Memon community , and there is also a minority of Sindhi people in Sri Lanka. These communities are mainly into trading businesses and lately, they have diversified into different trades and sectors. Gujarati Muslims started their trading route between India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in
1443-740: A pivotal role in establishing Islam in the region. Miller (2010) presented a theory that the indigenous scripts of Sumatra ( Indonesia ), Sulawesi (Indonesia) and the Philippines are descended from an early form of the Gujarati script . Tomé Pires reported a presence of a thousand Gujaratis in Malacca ( Malaysia ) prior to 1512. The Gujarati language continues to be spoken in Singapore and Malaysia. The Gujarati community in Hong Kong
1554-510: A policy of Africanization. The 1968 Committee on "Africanisation in Commerce and Industry" in Uganda made far-reaching Indophobic proposals. A system of work permits and trade licenses was introduced in 1969 to restrict the role of Indians in economic and professional activities. Indians were segregated and discriminated against in all walks of life. During the middle of the 1960s many Asians saw
1665-631: A public-private partnership installed 100,000 LED street lamps along the Alor Gajah–Melaka Tengah–Jasin (AMJ) highway, which will improve road safety and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Water supply-related matters in Malacca is administered by Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (Malacca Water Company Limited) which is headquartered at Malacca City. It was established on 1 July 2006 after it was upgraded from its predecessor Malacca Water Corporation ( Malay : Perbadanan Air Melaka ). The company
1776-557: A reputation as merchants, industrialists and business entrepreneurs and have therefore been at forefront of migrations all over the world, particularly to regions that were part of the British Empire such as Fiji , Hong Kong , Malaya , Singapore , East Africa , and South Africa . Diasporas and transnational networks in many of these countries date back to more than a century. In recent decades, larger numbers of Gujaratis have migrated to English-speaking countries such as
1887-561: A spiritual mystic who was honored with the title, ' Koh-i-Noor of Kathiawar ' made literary contributions to Jain philosophy and promoted Ratnatraya . Gujarati theatre owes a lot to bhavai. Bhavai is a musical performance of stage plays. Ketan Mehta and Sanjay Leela Bhansali explored artistic use of bhavai in films such as Bhavni Bhavai , Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam . Dayro (gathering) involves singing and conversation reflecting on human nature. Malacca Malacca ( Malay : Melaka ), officially
1998-533: A strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf , has been the primary focus of trade and commerce for medieval Gujarati merchants for much of its history and Gujaratis, along with various other ethnic groups, founded and settled its capital port city, Muscat . Some of the earliest Indian immigrants to settle in Oman were the Bhatias of Kutch , who have had a powerful presence in Oman dating back to
2109-669: A strong foundation to their kingdom against Siam and other potential enemies. Chinese involvement was crucial for Malacca to grow into a key alternative to other important and established ports. According to Malaccan folklore, to enhance relations, Hang Li Po , a daughter of the Ming Emperor of China, arrived in Malacca, accompanied by 500 attendants, to marry Sultan Mansur Shah who reigned from 1456 until 1477. Her attendants married Malaccans and settled mostly in Bukit Cina . Malacca again sent envoys to China in 1481 to inform
2220-661: A study, 80% of Malayali parents felt that "children would be better off with English", compared to 36% of Kannada parents and only 19% of Gujarati parents. Significant Gujarati communities existed here before 1947 Partition of India. Many of them migrated after the Partition of India and subsequent creation of Pakistan in 1947. These Pakistani Gujaratis belong mainly to the Ismāʿīlī , Khoja , Dawoodi Bohra , Chundrigar , Charotar Sunni Vohra , khatri Muslims Kutchi Memons and Khatiawari Memons ; however, many Gujaratis are also
2331-692: A total installed generation capacity of 1,490 MW. On 16 December 2013, the Malacca State Government unveiled the draft 8,000 hectares special area called the Melaka World Solar Valley in Rembia, Alor Gajah applying solar energy as the primary alternative in all municipal activity sectors. By 2020, the government-run 7,248ha Melaka World Solar Valley aims to power most of the daily activities of manufacturers, housing developers, farmers, and other stakeholders. Recently,
SECTION 20
#17327881070732442-570: A water supply agreement in 1993 and additional water supply agreement in 2013. Another water supply agreement is planned to be signed with Negeri Sembilan in the future. Malacca International Airport (IATA: MKZ, ICAO: WMKM) (formerly known as Batu Berendam Airport) is an airport located in Batu Berendam, Malacca, Malaysia. The airport serves the state of Malacca, as well as northern Johor, with links to Singapore provided by Scoot since October 2024. Kuala Lumpur International Airport
2553-399: Is also a small, but vibrant Gujarati-speaking Parsi community of Zoroastrians present in the country, dating back to the bygone era of Dadabhai Navroji , Shapurji Saklatvala and Pherozeshah Mehta . Both Hindus and Muslims have established caste or community associations, temples, and mosques to cater for the needs of their respective communities. A well known temple popular with Gujaratis
2664-464: Is also divided into three administrative districts of Alor Gajah, Jasin and Melaka Tengah. Each district is headed by a district officer. The lands and district office in each district deals with land administration and revenue. Thus, it differs from the local governments that oversee the provision and maintenance of urban infrastructure. Malacca signed sister state relationship memorandums with China's Jiangsu Province and Guangdong Province . From
2775-665: Is also responsible for the maintenance and delivery infrastructure of clean water in the state. Currently, there are three dams located in Malacca supplying its residents with water, which are Durian Tunggal Dam in Alor Gajah , Jus Dam and Asahan Dam in Jasin . The fourth dam, Jernih Dam , will be constructed in Taboh Naning in Alor Gajah and expected to be completed by 2018. There are three major retention basins in
2886-733: Is among the largest designated Ship-to-ship cargo transfer areas in Malaysia . Sungai Udang houses the PETRONAS Malacca Refinery Complex consisting of two refining trains, established in 1994 and 1999 and owned by PETRONAS Penapisan (Melaka) Sdn. Bhd. and Malaysian Refining Company Sdn. Bhd. respectively. The total capacity of the refinery is 270,000 barrels of oil per day. The Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh which opened in June 2003
2997-482: Is an exclave of the state, situated on the coast of Negeri Sembilan which it borders to the north. The major rivers within Malacca include the Malacca, Linggi and Kesang Rivers. Malacca River (Sungai Melaka) runs roughly north to south down the middle of the state, Linggi River acts as the western border of Malacca with Negeri Sembilan , while Kesang River acts as the eastern border of Malacca with Johor . Malacca has 17 islands off its coast, with Besar Island being
3108-629: Is located at Seri Negeri complex in Ayer Keroh . It houses the chief minister's office, the State Legislative Assembly , the state secretariat office and the official residence of the governor. Malacca is further divided into four municipalities, one of which is a city-level municipality, each administered by a local government . The local governments exercise power in areas such as planning and development control, public housing, public spaces, waste disposal, business licensing, markets, local transport, and municipal roads. Malacca
3219-598: Is no geographical overlap between the species. Another account on the origin of the naming of Malacca claims that during the reign of Muhammad Shah (1424–1444), Arab merchants called the kingdom 'Malakat' (Arabic for 'congregation of merchants') because it was home to many trading communities. One theory suggests, as mentioned in the Suma Oriental by Tomé Pires , that it is derived from the Javanese terms melayu or mlayu (to steadily accelerate or to run), to describe
3330-924: Is the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London. A popular mosque that caters for the Gujarati Muslim community in Leicester is the Masjid Umar . Leicester has a Jain Temple that is also the headquarters of Jain Samaj Europe. Gujarati Hindus in the UK have maintained many traditions from their homeland. The community remains religious with more than 100 temples catering for their religious needs. All major Hindu festivals such as Navratri , Dassara, and Diwali are celebrated with
3441-618: Is the governor ( Malay : Yang di-Pertua Negeri ), who is appointed by the King of Malaysia . Ali Rustam is the current Governor of Malacca, having assumed office on 4 June 2020. In practice, the Governor's role is largely symbolic and ceremonial. This includes the authority to appoint the head of government and approve legislation that has been passed by the state's legislature. The Malacca state government has its own executive council and legislature, but their powers are limited compared to
Ambani - Misplaced Pages Continue
3552-491: Is the leading commercial centre and the centre for meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE) which plays an important role in the development of trade in Malacca. On 20 October 2010 an event was held to announce that Malacca had met the benchmark of 'Developed State' as set out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and a declaration of "Melaka Maju 2010" (Progressive Malacca 2010)
3663-566: Is the unicameral 28-seat State Legislative Assembly , the highest authority in the state which decides on policy matters. The State Executive Council is responsible to the assembly and comprises members who are appointed every five years by the political party or coalition in power. The state government is headed by the chief minister , appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri from among the State Legislative Assembly members of
3774-655: Is tiny but nevertheless contributed to progress and growth of Hong Kong over the years. The Hong Kong University: In 1911 a Gujarati Parsi businessman in Hong Kong, Sir Hormusjee Naorojee Mody donated HK$ 150,000 towards the construction and HK$ 30,000 towards other costs to build the Hong Kong University . Star Ferry: Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala founded of the Kowloon Ferry Company in 1888 for transporting passengers and cargo (especially bread) between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The company
3885-683: The East Africa coast in towns such as Kilwa , Bagamoyo , Mombasa and Malindi . International trade by Gujarati merchants increased with the advent of the Gujarat Sultanate at the beginning of the 1400s. The trade involved gold, ivory and slaves from Africa in exchange for cotton and glass beads from India. The important Gujarati traders active in the Indian Ocean trade at different periods of history included Jains; Hindu Bhatias and Lohanas; Muslim Khojas, Memons, and Bohras; and
3996-547: The East India Company in a war from 1831 to 1832, which resulted in a decisive British victory. It formed part of the Straits Settlements , together with Singapore and Penang . Malacca went briefly under the rule of Empire of Japan between 1942 and 1945 during World War II . After the war, Malacca was placed under a military administration until 1946. Subsequently, the Straits Settlements
4107-867: The Gujarati language and follow Shia Islam and the Memon people speak the Memon language and they follow the Sunni Hanafi Islam . The United States has the second-largest Gujarati diaspora after Pakistan. The highest concentration of the population of over 200,000 is in the New York City Metropolitan Area , notably in the growing Gujarati diasporic center of India Square in Jersey City , New Jersey , and Edison in Middlesex County in Central New Jersey . Significant immigration from India to
4218-591: The Historic State of Malacca ( Malay : Melaka Negeri Bersejarah ), is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula , facing the Strait of Malacca . The state is bordered by Negeri Sembilan to the north and west and Johor to the south. The exclave of Tanjung Tuan also borders Negeri Sembilan to the north. Its capital is Malacca City , which has been listed as
4329-664: The Malaysian federal government . According to the Constitution of Malaysia , the state may legislate on matters pertaining to Malay customs, land, agriculture and forestry, local government, civil and water works, and state administration, whereas matters that fall under the joint purview of both state and federal authorities include social welfare, wildlife protection and national parks, scholarships, husbandry, town planning, drainage and irrigation, and public health and health regulations. Parliament Malacca's state legislature
4440-579: The Portuguese colony during the first four decades of the seventeenth century. The first attack took place in 1606 under the command of Dutch Admiral Cornelis Matelief de Jonge who laid siege to the town with the help of his ally, the Johor Sultanate . He engaged the Portuguese armada which had been sent from Goa to offer armed relief to the besieged port. On 14 January 1641, the Dutch defeated
4551-613: The Rivonia Trial , and many became martyred fighting to end racial discrimination. In the second half of the 1800s, many Gujarati Hindus belonging to the Vaniya community migrated to the South of Mozambique , in particular to the provinces of Inhambane and Lourenço Marques to run businesses. This was followed by migration of Hindus of various artisan castes from Diu to the region. Later in 1800s, immigration restrictions imposed by
Ambani - Misplaced Pages Continue
4662-582: The Titiwangsa Mountains proper, which end near the border with Negeri Sembilan at the neighbouring towns of Pulau Sebang and Tampin , the hills are composed of Titiwangsa granite . The southernmost known Titiwangsa granite outcrop is known to be in Besar Island , off the coast of Jasin District . The 512-metre-tall Bukit Gapis, also known as Gunung Melaka, is the state's highest point. The peninsula of Tanjung Tuan (formerly known as Cape Rachado)
4773-714: The Uganda Railway that started in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa and ended in Kisumu on Kenyan side of Lake Victoria . Most of the surviving Indians returned home, but 6,724 individuals decided to remain in the African Great Lakes after the line's completion. Many Asians, particularly the Gujaratis, in these regions were in the trading businesses. They included Gujaratis of all religions as well many of
4884-663: The United Kingdom , Australia , New Zealand , Canada and the United States . In anthropological surveys conducted in India about 60% of the people claim that their community is a migrant to their state or region. In Gujarat that number is around 70%. In the state, 124 Hindu communities out of 186 claim a migrant past. For example, the Audichya Brahmins claim migration from present day Uttar Pradesh. With Muslims in Gujarat, 67 out of 86 communities claim
4995-444: The 16th century. At the turn of the 19th century, Gujaratis wielded enough clout that Faisal bin Turki , the great-grandfather of the current ruler, spoke Gujarati and Swahili along with his native Arabic and Oman's sultan Syed Said (1791-1856) was persuaded to shift his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar , more than two thousand miles from the Arabian mainland, on the recommendation of Shivji Topan and Bhimji families who lent money to
5106-413: The 1990s. Canada, just like its southern neighbour, is home to a large Gujarati community. As per the 2021 Canadian census , Gujarati Canadians number approximately 210,000 and account for roughly 0.6% of Canada's population. The majority of them live in Toronto and its suburbs - home to the second largest Gujarati community in North America, after the New York Metropolitan Area . Gujarati Hindus are
5217-597: The Chinese emperor in person. In 1431, when a Malaccan representative complained that Siam was obstructing tribute missions to the Ming court, the Xuande Emperor dispatched Zheng He carrying a threatening message for the Siamese king saying "You, king should respect my orders, develop good relations with your neighbours, examine and instruct your subordinates and not act recklessly or aggressively." The early kings of Malacca—Parameswara, Megat Iskandar Shah , and Sri Maharaja —understood that they could gain Ming China's protection through skilful diplomacy and thereby could establish
5328-442: The Chinese that, while Malaccan envoys were returning to Malacca from China in 1469, the Vietnamese attacked the Malaccans, killing some of them while castrating the young and enslaving them. The Malaccans reported that Vietnam was in control of Champa and also sought to conquer Malacca, but the Malaccans did not fight back, because they did not want to fight against another state that was a tributary to China without permission from
5439-507: The Chinese. They requested to confront the Vietnamese delegation to China which was in China at the time, but the Chinese informed them since the incident was years old, they could do nothing about it, and the Emperor sent a letter to the Vietnamese ruler reproaching him for the incident. The Chinese Emperor also ordered the Malaccans to raise soldiers and fight back with violent force if the Vietnamese attacked them again. In April 1511, Afonso de Albuquerque set sail from Goa to Malacca with
5550-464: The East. Many traders anchored in Malacca, especially traders from Arabia , China and India, traded at the port of Malacca and from there were born many of the descendants and tribes that exist in Malacca to this day. A great diversity of races and ethnicities have long existed among the local community reflecting its history. Malays , Chinese , Indians , Baba Nyonya , Kristang , Chitty , Temuan and Eurasians are significant ethnic groups living in
5661-399: The Gujarati Arya Kshatriya Mahasabha-UK. Endogamy remains important to Gujaratis in UK with the existence of matrimonial services specifically dedicated to their community. The Gujarati Muslim society in the UK have kept the custom of Jamat Bandi, literally meaning communal solidarity. This system is the traditional expression of communal solidarity. It is designed to regulate the affairs of
SECTION 50
#17327881070735772-426: The Gujarati immigrant generation have also made high levels of advancement into professional fields, including as physicians , engineers and politicians. The third largest overseas diaspora of Gujaratis, after Pakistan and United States, is in the United Kingdom. At a population of around 600,000 Gujaratis form almost more than half of the Indian community who live in the UK (1.2 million). Gujaratis first went to
5883-502: The Gujarati propensity for business enterprise, a number of them opened shops and motels. While they may make up only around 0.1% of the population in the United States, Gujarati Americans control over 40% of the hospitality market in the country, for a combined net worth of over US$ 40 billion and employing over one million employees. Gujaratis, especially the Patidar samaj, also dominate as franchisees of fast food restaurant chains such as Subway and Dunkin' Donuts . The descendants of
5994-539: The Gujarati traders were Muslims but there were Hindu and Jains too despite religious prohibitions. Gujarati merchants operating in Southeast Asia were primarily involved exporting India cotton to Southeast Asia in exchange for spices from the islands which were then exported to Persia. Surat was the principal port for this trade. Gujaratis played a big part in the Indian ocean trade. The Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama noted presence of Muslim and Hindu navigators and merchants from Gujarat in Zanzibar and Pemba and along
6105-449: The Indian diaspora worldwide and can be found in 129 of 190 countries listed as sovereign nations by the United Nations . Non Resident Gujaratis (NRGs) maintain active links with the homeland in the form of business, remittance , philanthropy , and through their political contribution to state governed domestic affairs. Gujarati parents in the diaspora are not comfortable with the possibility of their language not surviving them. In
6216-431: The Kenyan coast for hundreds of years prior to that. The immigrants who arrived with the British were the first ones to open up businesses in rural Kenya a century ago. These dukanwalas or shopkeepers were mainly Gujarati (Mostly Jains and Hindus and a minority of Muslims). Over the following decades the population, mainly Gujarati but also a sizable number of Punjabi, increased in size. The population started declining after
6327-416: The MV West Scent became the first container vessel to dock at the port. The Port of Kuala Sungai Linggi , commercially known as Linggi International Floating Transshipment & Trading HUB (LIFT-HUB), is a transshipment area for liquid bulk transshipments and break-bulking located offshore of Linggi River in the Strait of Malacca . It was gazetted in 2006, covers an area of 154 km (45 sq mi) and
6438-425: The Parsee communities. The Jains were active during the Solannki period trading with Arabian and Red sea ports. The Portuguese also preferred Jains to the Arab traders. Orthodox Gujarati society, which was mercantile by nature, was historically organized along ethno-religious lines and shaped into existence on the strength of its Mahajan (" guild assemblies"), and for its institution of Nagarsheth ("head of
6549-410: The Portuguese in an effort to capture Malacca, with the help of the Sultan of Johor . The Dutch ruled Malacca from 1641 to 1798 but they were not interested in developing it as a trading centre, placing greater importance on Batavia ( Jakarta ) and Java as their administrative centre. However they still built an administrative building called, Stadthuys , which is now a landmark. In the Dutch era
6660-436: The South African Gujarati diaspora include high amounts of Southern Gujaratis and a disproportionately high amount of Surti Sunni Vohra and Khatiawari Memons . Post apartheid, a sizeable number of new immigrants have settled in various parts of South Africa, including many Gujarati. Indians have played an important role in the anti-apartheid movement of South Africa. Many were incarcerated alongside Nelson Mandela following
6771-410: The State of Malacca in the present day. The state's name dates to a popular legend surrounding the founding of the Malacca Sultanate by Parameswara , who sought a new location to establish a kingdom after fleeing a Majapahit invasion of Singapura . As the story goes, Parameswara was resting under a Malacca tree ( Malay : pokok melaka ) near a river during a hunt, when one of his dogs cornered
SECTION 60
#17327881070736882-419: The Sultan. In modern times, business tycoon Kanaksi Khimji, from the famous Khimji family of Gujarat was conferred title of Sheikh by the Sultan, the first ever use of the title for a member of the Hindu community. The Muscati Mahajan is one of the oldest merchants associations founded more than a century ago. Gujaratis had a flourishing trade with Southeast Asia in the 15th and 16th centuries, and played
6993-432: The UK in the 19th century with the establishment of the British Raj in India. Prominent members of this community such as Shyamji Krishna Varma played a vital role in exerting political pressure upon colonial powers during the Indian independence movement . Gujaratis in Britain are regarded as affluent middle-class peoples who have assimilated into the milieu of British society. They are celebrated for revolutionizing
7104-500: The United States started after the landmark Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 . Early immigrants after 1965 were highly educated professionals. Since US immigration laws allow sponsoring immigration of parents, children and particularly siblings on the basis of family reunion, the numbers rapidly swelled. A number of Gujarati are twice or thrice-migrant because they came directly from the former British colonies of East Africa or from East Africa via Great Britain respectively. Given
7215-461: The agricultural sectors. Malacca has successfully opened itself up to foreign investors since the early 1970s. By 1997, the state has registered a total investment of over MYR16 billion. In 2014, the state achieved a total MYR4.4 billion worth of investment, in which MYR1.8 billion came from foreign investors. In 2013, Malacca had a GDP of MYR22,646 million with a GDP per capita of MYR34,109. It had 3.2% GDP growth in 2013. The inflation rate in 2012
7326-605: The arrival of the first sultan , the area that's now Malacca was a fishing village. Malacca was founded by Parameswara , also known as Iskandar Shah. He found his way to Malacca around 1402 where he found a good port—it was accessible in all seasons and on the strategically located narrowest point of the Strait of Malacca . In collaboration with his Proto-Malay privateers allies, called the Orang Laut ("sea-people"), he established Malacca as an international port by compelling passing ships to call there, and establishing fair and reliable facilities for warehousing and trade. In 1403,
7437-405: The building was white, the current red paint was from a later date. Malacca was ceded to the British in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 in exchange for Bencoolen on Sumatra. From 1824 to 1942, Malacca was under the rule of the British, first by the East India Company and then as a crown colony . Due to dissatisfaction with British jurisdiction over Naning , Dol Said , a local chief, fought
7548-407: The castes and Quoms. Since the representation of Indians in these occupations was high, stereotyping of Indians in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika as shopkeepers was common. A number of people worked for the British run banks. They also worked in skilled labor occupations, as managers, teachers and administrators. Gujarati and other South Asians had significant influence on the economy, constituting 1% of
7659-467: The centre of the spice trade , Malacca attracted many colonial powers that engaged in wars to control it. The Port of Tanjung Bruas, located in Tanjung Kling , was constructed in the late 1970s and commenced operations in the early 1980s to provide port facilities and services to the local business communities and to handle the exportation of hinterland goods as well as the importation of raw materials. Container ship handling services began in 2019, with
7770-490: The city. As of 2012 350 diamond firms in Hong Kong were owned by Gujaratis. There estimated around 31,500 Gujarati in Malaysia. Most of this community work as traders and settled in the urban parts of Malaysia like Melaka, George Town, Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh. Gujaratis in Fiji represent an important trading community within the large Indian population. Kavi Kant , Kalapi and Abbas Abdulali Vasi are Gujarati language poets. Ardeshar Khabardar , Gujarati-speaking Parsi who
7881-480: The colonial authorities in neighboring South Africa and the Boer republic made Mozambique the preferred destination for many Gujarati Hindus from the Saurashtra (namely, Rajkot and Porbandar) and Surat regions. The 1961 takeover of Portuguese Goa by India made life difficult for the Indian population in the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. The independence of Mozambique like in other African countries led to many Gujaratis to move to Portugal. Oman , holding
7992-545: The community and apply sanctions against infractions of the communal code. Gujarati Muslim communities, such as the Ismāʿīlī , Khoja, Dawoodi Bohra , Sunni Bohra , and Memon have caste associations, known as jamats that run mosques and community centers for their respective communities. Two Gujarati business communities, the Palanpuri Jains and the Kathiawadi Patels from Surat, have come to dominate
8103-403: The community is far smaller than before 1972 when Ugandan ruler Idi Amin expelled most Asians, including Gujaratis. In the late 19th century, mostly Sikhs , were brought on three-year contracts, with the aid of Imperial British contractor Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee to build the Uganda Railway from Mombasa to Kisumu by 1901, and to Kampala by 1931. Some died, while others returned to India after
8214-520: The corner shop, and energising the British economy which changed Britain's antiquated retail laws forever. Demographically, Hindus form a majority along with a significant number of Jains and Muslims, and smaller numbers of Gujarati Christians . They are predominantly settled in metropolitan areas like Greater London , East Midlands , West Midlands , Lancashire and Yorkshire . Cities with significant Gujarati populations include Leicester and London boroughs of Harrow , Barnet and Brent . There
8325-635: The diamond industry of Belgium . They have largely displaced the Orthodox Jewish community which previously dominated this industry in Belgium. The 1961 takeover of Portuguese Goa by India made life difficult for the Indian population in the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. The independence of Mozambique like in other African countries led to many Gujaratis to move to Portugal. Many Hindu Gujaratis have moved from Portugal to Great Britain since
8436-407: The edges of the city proper in suburbs which include Ayer Keroh, Batu Berendam, Cheng, Taman Tasik Utama and Tanjung Kling. While outside Malacca City, industrial areas include Alor Gajah and Sungai Udang. There are around 500 factories in the state which come from Germany, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, United States etc. For small and medium-sized enterprises , a number of estates have been established by
8547-658: The end of their contracts, but few chose to stay. They were joined by Gujarati traders called "passenger Indians", both Hindu and Muslim free migrants who came to serve the economic needs of the indentured labourers, and to capitalise on the economic opportunities. After the 1972 expulsion, most Indians and Gujaratis migrated to the United Kingdom. Due to the efforts of the Aga Khan , many Khoja Nizari Ismaili refugees from Uganda were offered asylum in Canada. Indians have
8658-670: The fate of a class of Indian indentured labourers who were transported to work on the sugarcane plantations of Natal Colony in dire conditions. Passenger Indians, who initially operated in Durban, expanded inland, to the South African Republic ( Transvaal ), establishing communities in settlements on the main road between Johannesburg and Durban. After wealthy Gujarati Muslim merchants began experiencing discrimination from repressive colonial legislation in Natal , they sought
8769-466: The first official Chinese trade envoy led by Admiral Yin Qing arrived in Malacca. Later, Parameswara was escorted by Zheng He and other envoys in his successful visits. Malacca's relationships with Ming China granted it protection from attacks by Siam and Majapahit . Malacca officially submitted to Ming China as a protectorate . This encouraged the development of Malacca into a major trade settlement on
8880-500: The governing party or coalition. The chief Minister presides over a meeting of State Executive Council ministers weekly at the chief minister's office. The Chief Minister's Department is responsible for the overall administration of the state, as well as its political interest. The current chief minister is Sulaiman Md Ali of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). The administrative complex
8991-737: The guild assembly"); a 16th-century Mughal system akin to medieval European guilds which self-regulated the mercantile affairs of multi-ethnic, multi-religious communities in the Gujarati bourgeoisie long before municipal state politics was introduced. Historically, Gujaratis belonging to numerous faiths and castes , thrived in an inclusive climate surcharged by a degree of cultural syncretism , in which Hindus and Jains dominated occupations such as shroffs and brokers whereas, Muslims , Hindus and Parsis largely dominated sea shipping trade. This led to religious interdependence , tolerance, assimilation and community cohesion ultimately becoming
9102-1165: The hallmark of modern-day Gujarati society. The Gujarati people are predominantly Hindu . There are also minority of Muslims , Jains , Christians , Sikhs , Buddhists , Parsis , Jews , and followers of the Baháʼí Faith . The major communities in Gujarat are farmers and livestock herders (such as oad Patidar , Koli , Rabari , Bharvad , Ahir ), traders (such as Bania , Bhatia , Soni ), sailor and seafood exporters (such as Kharwa ), artisan and business communities (such as Prajapati , Varaiya , Mochi ), Brahmin communities (such as Joshi , Anavil , Nagar , Modh , Shrimali ), genealogists (such as Barot ), Kshatriya communities (such as Koli Thakor , Bhanushali , Karadia , Nadoda , Jadeja , Dabhi , Chudasama , Maher , Lohana ), Tribal communities (such as Bhils , Meghwal , Gamit , Konkani , varli ) and Devipujak (such as Dataniya, Dantani, Chunara , Patni ). The majority of Gujarati Muslims are Sunni Muslim . Minority communities include Twelver , Nizari Ismailis, Daudi Bohra , Khoja , Pathans, Shaikhs, Maliks. Gujaratis have
9213-566: The help of one young lawyer, Mahatma Gandhi to represent the case of a Memon businessman. Umar Hajee Ahmed Jhaveri was consequently elected the first president of the South African Indian Congress . Indians in South Africa could traditionally be bifurcated as either indentured labourers (largely from Tamil Nadu, with smaller amounts from UP and Bihar) and merchants (exclusively from Gujarat). Peculiarities of
9324-410: The independence of Kenya in the 1960s. At that time the majority of Gujaratis opted for British citizenship and eventually moved there, especially to cities like Leicester or London suburbs. Famous Kenyans of Gujarati heritage who contributed greatly to the development of East Africa include Thakkar Bapa , Manu Chandaria , There is a small community of people of Indian origin living in Uganda, but
9435-528: The independence of Malaya on 31 August 1957. On 16 September 1963, Malaysia was formed with the merger of Malaya with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, and Malacca became part of it. The state capital, Malacca City , with a variety of architectures inherited from its colonial days, was declared a historical city on 15 April 1989 and granted city status on 15 April 2003 by the Federal Government of Malaysia . The city's historical core has been listed as
9546-457: The island. The Indian community in South Africa is more than a 150 years old and is concentrated in and around the city of Durban . The vast majority of immigrant pioneer Gujaratis who came in the latter half of the 19th century were passenger Indians who paid for their own travel fare and means of transport to arrive and settle South Africa, in pursuit of fresh trade and career opportunities and as such were treated as British subjects , unlike
9657-431: The largest. The climate of Malacca is hot and humid throughout the year with abundant rainfall, highest between September and November. Daytime high temperatures range between 31 and 33 °C (88 and 91 °F) and nighttime lows around 23 °C (73 °F). Despite being in a location without any significant natural resources, the economy of Malacca dates back more than 500 years, due to its strategic location. As
9768-464: The late 1880s. Great number of Gujarati Muslims migrated after the Partition of India in 1947 . These communities are well known for their social welfare activities in Sri Lanka. In addition, Gujarati Muslims have shown their excellence in business and various trades by developing large enterprises in Sri Lanka. Few of them are: Expolanka and Brandix . Members of these community maintain their Indian Gujarati culture in their everyday life. Bhoras speak
9879-653: The late 2000s to late 2010s, two bungalows in the town of Peringgit housed galleries which display and promote foreign artwork and culture. Among these were Casa Cuba , which was established by the embassy of Cuba and the Macau Gallery , which was established by the Government of Macau . A gallery promoting the state was also established in Jakarta , Indonesia . The state of Malacca covers an area of 1,775 km (685 sq mi). It located on
9990-502: The local monarchy was abolished when the Portuguese conquered it in 1511. The head of state is the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or Governor, rather than a sultan . Malacca is noted for its unique history and it is one of the major tourist destinations in Malaysia. With a highly strategic state position for international trade routes, Malacca was once a well-known international trade centre in
10101-605: The medieval and early modern period, ports in Gujarat such as Diu , Surat , Mandavi , Cambay , and Porbandar became important. Gujarati merchants operating from these ports operated not only in India Ocean but also in Southeast Asia. It is estimated that there were 1000 Gujarati merchants resident in Malacca in fifteenth century with a thousand others operating in the Bay of Bengal and Indonesian archipelago . Most of
10212-537: The national-level figure of RM42,228. The State Socioeconomic Report 2017 published on 26 July 2018 reported that Malacca was the state that recorded the lowest unemployment rate in 2017 with only 1.0 percent. Malacca houses three power stations, namely the 330 MW Tanjung Kling Power Station in Tanjung Kling and 440 MW Telok Gong Power Station 1 and 720 MW Telok Gong Power Station 2 in Telok Gong , with
10323-470: The population while receiving a fifth of the national income. For example, in Uganda, the Mehta and Madhvani families controlled the bulk of the manufacturing businesses. Gated ethnic communities served elite healthcare and schooling services. Additionally, the tariff system in Uganda had historically been oriented toward the economic interests of South Asian traders. One of the oldest Jain overseas diaspora
10434-783: The second largest linguistic/religious group in Canada's Indian community after Punjabi Sikhs , and Toronto is home to the largest Navratri raas garba festival in North America. The Muslim Ismaili Khoja form a significant part of the Canadian diaspora estimated to be about 80,000 in numbers overall. Most of them arrived in Canada in the 1970s as either refugees or immigrants from Uganda and other countries of East Africa . Religious breakdown of Gujarati Canadians (2021) Former British colonies in East Africa had many residents of South Asian descent. The primary immigration
10545-511: The southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula opposite Sumatra , with the state of Negeri Sembilan to the north and west and Johor to the east. Malacca is situated roughly two-thirds of the way down the west coast, 149 km (93 mi) south of Kuala Lumpur and has a central position on the Strait of Malacca . With the exception of some of its small hills , Malacca is generally a lowland area with average elevation of less than 50 metres above sea level. While being relatively isolated from
10656-473: The state government. In 2016, Malacca became the safest place to live in Malaysia. The state crime rates dropped by 15.5 per cent in 2017 with 3,096 cases recorded compared to 3,663 in 2016. Malacca recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 8.1% in 2017, the second highest in the country after Sabah. Services sector remained the main contributor to the state’s economy at 44.8% of GDP. The GDP per capita also expanded 11.2% to RM46,015 in 2017, surpassing
10767-465: The state, which are Kesang Satu Lake, Kesang Dua Lake and Ayer Keroh Lake . Raw water is supplied from the Malacca River , Kesang River and Gerisik River. Daily water consumption for Malacca is 500 million litres and each resident consumes 220 litres per day, higher than the national average of 180 litres per day. The Malacca State Government signed an agreement with Johor State Government on
10878-617: The strong current of a river in Sumatra that today bears the name Sungai Melayu ('Melayu river') which was later possibly adopted to be Melaka as denoting a place for the fleeing prince. [REDACTED] Portuguese Malacca 1511–1641 [REDACTED] Dutch East India Company 1641–1795 [REDACTED] Dutch East Indies 1818–1825 [REDACTED] British Straits Settlements 1825–1946 [REDACTED] Crown Colony of Malacca 1946–1957 [REDACTED] Federation of Malaya 1957–1963 [REDACTED] Malaysia 1963–present Before
10989-466: The trade route between China and India, the Middle East , Africa and Europe. During the early 15th century, Ming China actively sought to build in Malacca a commercial hub and a base of operation for their treasure voyages into the Indian Ocean . Malacca had been a relatively insignificant region, not even qualifying as a polity prior to the voyages according to both Ma Huan and Fei Xin , and
11100-467: The virtue of their works, for they never do to others what they would not do unto them. In 1790 and 1791, an epidemic devastated numerous parts of Gujarat during which 100,000 Gujaratis were killed in Surat alone. An outbreak of bubonic plague in 1812 has been claimed to have killed about half the Gujarati population. Ports on the western coast of India have been engaged in trade for millennia. During
11211-716: The writing on the wall and started moving either to UK or India. However, restrictive British immigration policies stopped a mass exodus of East African Asians until Idi Amin came to power in 1971. He exploited pre-existing Indophobia and spread propaganda against Indians involving stereotyping and scapegoating the Indian minority. Indians were stereotyped as "only traders" and "inbred" to their profession. Indians were labelled as "dukawallas" (an occupational term that degenerated into an anti-Indian slur during Amin's time), and stereotyped as "greedy, conniving", without any racial identity or loyalty but "always cheating, conspiring and plotting" to subvert Uganda. Amin used this propaganda to justify
11322-482: Was 1.6%. As of 2015 , the Malacca State Government has an outstanding MYR861.7 million of loan to the federal government . In 2014, the state government's reserve amounted to MYR206.61 million. The unemployment rate in 2014 was 0.9% or around 3,500 people. The state has a relatively well-educated population, with a youth literacy rate of 99.5% as reported by Malaysia Millennium Development Goals Report 2015. Currently there are 23 industrial areas which are centred along
11433-589: Was a vassal region of Siam . In 1405, the Ming court dispatched Admiral Zheng He with a stone tablet enfeoffing the Western Mountain of Malacca as well as an imperial order elevating the status of the port to a country. The Chinese also established a government depot (官廠) as a fortified cantonment for their soldiers. Ma Huan reported that Siam did not dare to invade Malacca thereafter. The rulers of Malacca, such as Parameswara in 1411, would pay tribute to
11544-719: Was abolished, as the British sought to consolidate the various political entities in British Malaya under a single polity named the Malayan Union . The now separate Crown Colony of Malacca was consequently merged into the Malayan Union, which was then replaced by the Federation of Malaya in 1948. The declaration of independence was made by the first Prime Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman , at Padang Pahlawan on 20 February 1956, which eventually led to
11655-425: Was made. As of 2012 , service sector had the largest share of Malacca's economy at 46.9%, followed by manufacturing at 43.5%, agriculture at 6.5%, construction at 2.9% and mining at 0.1%. In terms workforce numbers, as of 2013 , there were 275,000 people working in the industrial sectors, 225,000 people working in the service sectors, 35,000 people working in the entrepreneurship sectors and 12,300 people working in
11766-468: Was mainly from Gujarat and to a lesser extent from Punjab. They were brought there by the British Empire from India to do clerical work in Imperial service, or unskilled and semi-skilled manual labour such as construction or farm work. In the 1890s, 32,000 labourers from British India were brought to the then British East African colonies under indentured labour contracts to work on the construction of
11877-646: Was of Gujarat. Their number was estimated at 45,000 at the independence of the East African countries in the early 1960s. Most members of this community belonged to Gujarati speaking Halari Visa Oshwal Jain community originally from the Jamnagar area of Saurashtra . The countries of East Africa gained independence from Britain in the early 1960s. At that time most Gujarati and other Asians opted to remain as British Subjects. The African politicians at that time accused Asians of economic exploitation and introduced
11988-432: Was president of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad was a nationalist poet. His poem, Jya Jya Vase Ek Gujarati, Tya Tya Sadakal Gujarat (Wherever a Gujarati resides, there forever is Gujarat) depicts Gujarati ethnic pride and is widely popular in Gujarat. Swaminarayan paramhanso, like Bramhanand, Premanand, contributed to Gujarati language literature with prose like Vachanamrut and poetry in the form of bhajans . Kanji Swami
12099-463: Was renamed in 1898 to Star Ferry , which today transports passengers throughout Hong Kong. Ruttonjee Hospital: Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee born in a Gujarati Parsi family in Mumbai moved to Hong Kong in 1892 to join his father. Ruttonjee donated a great deal of money to build Ruttonjee Sanatorium, now Ruttonjee Hospital , to fight against tuberculosis. Gujaratis also dominate the diamond trade in
12210-585: Was severely hampered by administrative and economic difficulties. Rather than achieving their ambition of dominating Asian trade, the Portuguese had disrupted the organised network that had existed. The centralised port of exchange of Asian wealth was now gone, as was a Malay state to police the Strait of Malacca which had made it safe for commercial traffic. Trade was now scattered over a number of ports that fought amongst each other. The Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier spent several months in Malacca in 1545, 1546, and 1549. The Dutch launched several attacks on
12321-609: Was taken as a basis for the species Phyllanthus emblica named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 through Latinising its original Sanskrit name आमलक ( āmalaka ), to which the species have since been planted as ornamentals in various state attractions. However, some researchers like those of the Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia speculate that the legendary name-giving tree may have been the species Phyllanthus pectinatus more endemic to Malay Archipelago forests which superficially resemble P. emblica . There
#72927