Khambhra
| Khambhra Khambhara | |
|---|---|
| city | |
  Khambhra Location in Gujarat, India | |
| Coordinates: 23°06′00″N 69°58′00″E / 23.10000°N 69.96667°ECoordinates: 23°06′00″N 69°58′00″E / 23.10000°N 69.96667°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Kachchh |
| Panchayat | Gram Panchayat |
| Elevation | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| 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) |
Khambhra or Khamra is a village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is eight kilometres from the nearest town, Anjar.
History
It is one of the 18 villages founded by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris, as they are known in Kutch.[1][2][3][4][5]
Most of the early infrastructure and temples of Khambhra was also constructed by these Mistris or Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas community in late 1890s. Almost all the old majestic houses of Khambhra with unique architect were destroyed in the earthquake on 26 January 2001. The village was rehabilitated with help of Government & NGO help. But the old glory is lost.
Notable People from Khambhra
Among the persons who hailed from this small village and made it big during the years of railway constructions in the years of 1860–1920, the most famous and respected is Lira Raja Bhalsod (Rathor), who built Village Pond, Harijan vaas, and many other charitable activities.[6][7][8][9] Further, there were a number of railway contractors from village.
Ranchhod Pachhan Rathod of village was one of the pioneers, who jumped into Railway Contract lines in 1852-54 and worked in first railway lines between Bori Bunder & Thane. It was due to his pioneering efforts in 1852 that many persons from village moved to Bombay and entered in Railway Contract line.[10][11]
At village Khambhra, Temples, Library, Balwadi, Chabutro, Harijan Vaas and more particularly the Dam with the check dams which could store water for the whole village for years in those drought prone ages were single handedly designed, build and donated by Lira Raja Rathod son of Raja Ruda of Khambhra, who later settled in Kolkata. Lira Raja Rathor of village was a major donor to build Anjar Boarding House for Students. Lira Raja also donated a piece of land and was instrumental in building a Kutchi Kadia Dharamsala at Dwarka.[12][13][14][15]
Also notable was Kalyanji Ramji Rathod, who established himself as mill owner and built cinema talkies, hotels and estates in Raipur.[16]
Famous Gujarati writer Harindra Dave (1930-1995) belongs to Khambhra. He won Sahitya Akademi Award and several other noted literary awards.
Facilities
Kuldevi Temples of many clans of these Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas community are also there in this village.
Villagers enjoy very good drinking water supply, and very good electricity supply with very few power shortages. Village has good amount of telephone penetration and nearly all the houses have televisions and cable supply. Village entrance greets with Welcome gate.
References
- ↑ Kutch Gujar Kshatriyas, History & names of their 18 Villages
- ↑ Press Report after earthquake Giving details of Villages, Art & Skills of Mistris of Kutch Archived 2012-09-30 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Press Report on Houses, History of Mistiris of Kutch Archived 2012-12-20 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas Archived 2011-07-10 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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 in 1998.
- ↑ Nanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi published in Gujarati in year 1999 from Vadodara. It is a diary of Railway Contracts done by KGK community noted by Nanji Govindji Tank of Hajapar/Jamshedpur, compiled by Dharsibhai Jethalal Tank of Nagalpar/Tatanagar. This book was given Aank Sidhhi award by Kutch Shakti at Mumbai in year 2000.Railway Contractors from Nagalpar
- ↑ Ratna Bhagat Ni Chopdi :1930
- ↑ Kadia Kshatriya Abhudaya:1897
- ↑ Kutch Tari Asmita:1925: By K.K.Chauhan
- ↑ Nanji Bapa ni Nondh pothi:1999: Life sketch of Ranchhod Pachhan Rathod of Khambhra
- ↑ Nanji Bapa ni Nondh pothi:1999: Page on Lira Raja Rathod of Khambhra & Calcutta
- ↑ Sansmurti - A Memoir : By Nanalal Amrasinh Chauhan of Bagalkot: Pages on Lira Raja Rathod, Amarsinh Lira & Purshottam Lira Raja of Khambhra & Calcutta
- ↑ Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj Vastipatrak 1972 : Lira Raja
- ↑ KGK Samaj :Calcutta : 1996: Life-sketch Lira Raja, A.L.Raja & P.L.Raja
- ↑ Commercial & general directory of C. P. & Berar. 1941. p. 161.
Rathor, Kalyanji Ramji. The Managing Director, the Raipur Flour Mills Limited. Age 29 years. Belongs to family which came from Cutch first to Bihar in 1914 and did coal business and later established at Raipur in 1934. Has landed properties worth..