Variav

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Variav
Town
Variav
Location in Gujarat, India
Coordinates: 21°15′39″N 72°49′14″E / 21.26083°N 72.82056°E / 21.26083; 72.82056Coordinates: 21°15′39″N 72°49′14″E / 21.26083°N 72.82056°E / 21.26083; 72.82056
Country  India
State Gujarat
District Surat
Languages
 • Official Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 394520
Nearest city surat
Website www.variav.com


Variav is a small village situated in Surat District, Gujarat, India. Variav is on the right bank of Tapti River. Variav was recently added to the region of Surat Municipal Corporation, and is now a suburb of Greater Surat.

History

Variav is an ancient town of some historical importance. As early as the seventh century CE it may have been known as a place of migration of Zoroastrians fleeing the fall of the Sassanid Empire. The arrival of Zoroastrians in India is documented in Qissa-i Sanjan, and the date of first arrival is variously interpreted as being 936 AD, 765 AD and 716 AD.

Many centuries later, after Mahmud Begada conquered the partially Parsi city of Sanjan (Gujarat) in the 1480s, Variav was one of many towns and villages that received a further influx of Parsis, along with Navsari, Surat, Wankaner, Ankleshwar, Bharuch and Khambhat to the north of Sanjan and Thane to the south.

According to P. P. Balsara s "Highlights of Parsi History", published in 1963, Variav is renowned for one other historical snippet. Towards the end of the 11th century the Parsi settlement at Variav refused to pay taxes to the Rajput prince of the area. The prince sent a force to the town that arrived while the men were away. The Parsi women fought the Rajputs. One of the women lost her helmet, and the Rajputs, seeing that they were fighting women, rallied. The Parsi women drowned themselves in the river rather than risk capture.[1] This event is still remembered with a ceremony performed in Surat every year.[2]

Demographics & Migration

Variav is home to a mixed population of Sunni Muslim Vohra, Parsi, and various castes of Hindu.

Most of the Sunni Muslim Vohra population migrated to Burma (now Myanmar) where they flourished as a business community, while many maintain significant links back to Variav. In many cases, this included maintenance of houses. It was a similar story for the Parsi community, almost all of whom migrated to Mumbai and other parts of India. Both communities can now be found scattered throughout the world.

From early times Variavwala were interested in trade and commerce and travelled to foreign lands, undertaking long sea voyages. People left Variav in the early 19th century to settle in Burma, where they established many businesses and were great entrepreneurs; a number of them even became advisors to the Burmese rulers.

Then came the migration to England from the 1950s to the 1970s, a number then left for Canada particularly during the period from the 1970s to the 1990s. Similarly for USA, a considerable number of Variavwala migrated to many other countries. They are now in UK, USA, Canada, Burma, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, South Africa etc. and many more.

Despite the fact that Variav is only a small village, its people have made valuable contributions in societies around the world. Variavwala have always been great philanthropists and have set up many Waqfs or Religious Foundations to help poor, needy, disadvantaged and unfortunate members of society, particularly in Burma and in Variav itself.

The largest population of Variavwala outside India is in UK, where the community settled in the 1950s and 1960s.

Amenities

Variav has its own drinking water tank from 1903 AD set up by Ebrahim Madha of the Sunni Vohra community. The actual machinery was imported from Belgium.


In terms of religious establishments, there are four mosques, one madrassa, and one big Jain Derashar, as well as several Hindu temples. Other public facilities include two government-run schools and a library. One reader commented that “Variav Mehfil-e-Nurl-Islam library is the second oldest Library in Gujarat”. The Library is managed by Variav Sunni Vohra Jamat. Variav Library is located on a bank of river Tapi, and has the best view on both sides.


See also

  • Qissa-i Sanjan, an account of the early years of Zoroastrian settlers in India.

References

  1. ↑ P. P. Balsara s "Highlights of Parsi History"
  2. ↑ http://tenets.zoroastrianism.com/snip33.html
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