Nagor
Encyclopedia
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj
Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj
town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India
.
or Mistri
community, as they are known in Kutch. These group of warriors were also skilled architects and have contributed to the erection of many historical monuments of Kutch.
These Mistris first moved in to Saurashtra early 7th century and late in 12th century moved into Kutch 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
, Devaliya, Lovaria, Nagor, Chandiya
, Meghpar and Kumbharia
.
During the years of laying of Railway lines in British India around 1850–1930 many members of Mistri
community moved out and made themselves in to big Railway contractors throughout India. Some of them entered in to Coal mines business as well. The Mistris of these villages have built and developed the old infrastructure around the villages in late 1890 from their earnings during those time. Although it were Mistris who established this village most of them have migrated and settled themselves in various parts of India. But they often visit village as most of them have their Kuldevis temple and "parias" in and around Nagor. However, majority of old houses of Mistris with unique architect were destroyed in the earthquake of 26 January 2001.
(1887–1974), who built Bally Bridge, Yamuna Bridge, Dehri-on-sone bridge, Calcutta Khiddirpore King George Dockyard extension. and was among the top five industrialist in Bombay in 1940s and founder of Allahabd Glass Works at Naini, Bombay Glass Works at Mumbai, Ambica Air Lines. In 1920 he purchased Rajapur Colliery in Jharia
jointly with Manji Jairam Rathod of Madhapar
. He was awarded title of Rai Bahadur in year 1923. In 1932 he built a Bhuj Boarding House for their Mistri & other community students in Bhuj
, Harijan colony and beautiful Public Garden at Nagor, Dharamsala at Jhusi Asharam at Allahbad which are still standing there. He and Rao Shri Khengarji Bawa shared a personal friendship and he had accompined as personal ADC
to Rao of Kutch during Coronation of George VI
in 1937. He was the only person from any community of Kutch to have the privilege and honor of being ADC to King of Kutch and attend the Coronation with him in 1937. It was upon insistence of Jagmal Raja, HH Rao Khengarji Bawa decided to build "Kutch Castle" in Bombay, which was built under supervision of Jagmal Raja & other Mistris of Nagor Village. Jagmal Raja was one of the first persons, who owned car in Princely State of Kutch, apart from Royal family.
Other known Railway Contractor who hailed from Nagor and made it big during thate early years of Railway construction in British India during years 1850–1930 were Raja Narayan, Mulji Meghji, Bhoja Kheema, Mavji Punja,Devshi Raja, Ladhha Punja, Madhavjee Raja, Vishram Pancha, Raghu Govind, Raja Ramjee, Bhanjee Dana, Walji Govind, Kunvarji Ruda, Ratna Murji, Nondha Ratna, Bhimjee Pancha.
, Jadeja
s, Rabari
s, Ahirs
.
After, the devastating earthquake in 2000, many of the 100 years old house were damaged.
The Bhuj-Nagor Road that connects the village has Industrial Area on both sides.
In 2004, Rushey Mead Foundation, has opened a School in Nagor, which has now become a famous landmark of Nagor. The Co-founder of Foundation is Bhaskar Solanki of BBC, London. Please click link below for Photo of School.
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
History
Nagor or Nagher is one of the 19 villages founded by Kutch Gurjar KshatriyasKutch Gurjar Kshatriyas
Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris of Kutch or Kadia Kshatriyas of Kutch, are a Hindu community of the Kutch District of Gujarat state in India...
or Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....
community, as they are known in Kutch. These group of warriors were also skilled architects and have contributed to the erection of many historical monuments of Kutch.
These Mistris first moved in to Saurashtra early 7th century and late in 12th century moved into Kutch and established themselves at Dhaneti
Dhaneti
Dhaneti or Dhanetee is village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is at a distance of about 26 km from Bhuj the Taluka and District Headquarter of Kutch...
. Later from 12th century onwards they moved between Anjar and Bhuj and founded the villages of Anjar
Anjar, India
Anjar is a town and a municipality in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. The country is dry and sandy, and entirely depends on well irrigation for its water supply. The town is situated nearly 10 miles from the Gulf of Kutch. The town was third time made capital of Kachchh on...
, Sinugra
Sinugra
Sinugra or Shinoogra or Sinogra or Sinougra is a village near 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...
, Khambhra
Khambhra
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:...
, Nagalpar
Nagalpar
Nagalpur or Nagalpar is a small village in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. It comes under Anjar taluka.-History:About history of Nagalpar or Nagalpur it is one of the 19 villages established by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris as they are known in Kutch...
, Khedoi
Khedoi
Khedoi is large village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 14 KM from nearest town Anjar.Village is again sub-divided into Nani-Khedoi and Moti-Khedoi...
, Madhapar
Madhapar
Madhapar is a large village located in south western Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. Bhuj is the regional hub of the town where the nearest airport exists...
, Hajapar
Hajapar
Hajapar is village in Bhuj Taluka of Kachchh District of Gujarat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 18 km from Bhuj. One nearby village is Reha.-History:...
, Kukma
Kukma
Kukma or Kookma is a village near the Bhuj town, taluka in Kachchh District of Indian State of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of 16 kilometers from Bhuj, the headquarters of Kachchh District.-History:...
, Galpadar
Galpadar
Galpadar is village in Gandhidham Tehsil of Kutch District of Gujrat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 3 km from Gandhidham, 11 km from Anjar and 51 km from Bhuj.-History:...
, Reha
Reha
Reha is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 15 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:About the history of Reha it is one of the 19 villages founded by Kutch...
, Vidi
Vidi
Vidi or Videe or Virdee is a village near the town Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is at a distance of about 4 km from Anjar, the Taluka Headquarter.-History:...
, Ratnal
Ratnal
Ratnal is a village near the town of Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of about 15 km from Anjar.-History:...
, Jambudi
Jambudi
Jambudi is a village near the Bhuj, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of about 20 km from Bhuj Taluka and District Headquarter of Kutch.-History:...
, Devaliya, Lovaria, Nagor, Chandiya
Chandiya
Chandiya or Chandia is a village near the town Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 18 km from nearest town Anjar.-History:...
, Meghpar and Kumbharia
Kumbharia
Kumbharia or Kumbhariyu is village in Anjar Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is situated at a distance of 14 km from Anjar town & Taluka Headquarter.-History:...
.
During the years of laying of Railway lines in British India around 1850–1930 many members of Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....
community moved out and made themselves in to big Railway contractors throughout India. Some of them entered in to Coal mines business as well. The Mistris of these villages have built and developed the old infrastructure around the villages in late 1890 from their earnings during those time. Although it were Mistris who established this village most of them have migrated and settled themselves in various parts of India. But they often visit village as most of them have their Kuldevis temple and "parias" in and around Nagor. However, majority of old houses of Mistris with unique architect were destroyed in the earthquake of 26 January 2001.
Notable people
The most famous personality to hail from this village was Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja ChauhanRai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan
Jagmal Raja Chauhan , better known as Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja, was an industrialist in Bombay and a railway contractor at the time of Independence of India. He was born in a small village named Nagher, in Kutch and belonged the Kutch Gurjar Kashtriya community...
(1887–1974), who built Bally Bridge, Yamuna Bridge, Dehri-on-sone bridge, Calcutta Khiddirpore King George Dockyard extension. and was among the top five industrialist in Bombay in 1940s and founder of Allahabd Glass Works at Naini, Bombay Glass Works at Mumbai, Ambica Air Lines. In 1920 he purchased Rajapur Colliery in Jharia
Jharia
Jharia is a notified area and one of eight development blocks in Dhanbad district in Jharkhand state, India. More than one town in India shares this name.- City :...
jointly with Manji Jairam Rathod of Madhapar
Madhapar
Madhapar is a large village located in south western Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. Bhuj is the regional hub of the town where the nearest airport exists...
. He was awarded title of Rai Bahadur in year 1923. In 1932 he built a Bhuj Boarding House for their Mistri & other community students in Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
, Harijan colony and beautiful Public Garden at Nagor, Dharamsala at Jhusi Asharam at Allahbad which are still standing there. He and Rao Shri Khengarji Bawa shared a personal friendship and he had accompined as personal ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Rao of Kutch during Coronation of George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
in 1937. He was the only person from any community of Kutch to have the privilege and honor of being ADC to King of Kutch and attend the Coronation with him in 1937. It was upon insistence of Jagmal Raja, HH Rao Khengarji Bawa decided to build "Kutch Castle" in Bombay, which was built under supervision of Jagmal Raja & other Mistris of Nagor Village. Jagmal Raja was one of the first persons, who owned car in Princely State of Kutch, apart from Royal family.
Other known Railway Contractor who hailed from Nagor and made it big during thate early years of Railway construction in British India during years 1850–1930 were Raja Narayan, Mulji Meghji, Bhoja Kheema, Mavji Punja,Devshi Raja, Ladhha Punja, Madhavjee Raja, Vishram Pancha, Raghu Govind, Raja Ramjee, Bhanjee Dana, Walji Govind, Kunvarji Ruda, Ratna Murji, Nondha Ratna, Bhimjee Pancha.
Present status
In present times Nagor is famous for Ahir Embrodiery and one of the main centers for this Kutchi hand embroidery. Sorathiya Ahirs live in Nagor. It is said that Ahirs were shepherds who originated from Gokul-Mathura region and are associated with Lord Krishna. They migrated to Kutch and Saurashtra in Gujarat from there. The other communities are DarbarDarbar
Darbar may refer to:* A term for a court in Urdu from the Persian - Durbar * A surname used in the Indian Subcontinent, it originated during Mughal rule...
, Jadeja
Jadeja
Jadeja belong to the Yaduvanshi rajputs or Chandravanshi rajputs. They are one of the 36 royal dynasties of old tracing their origins to Lord Krishna...
s, Rabari
Rabari
Members of the Rabari or Rewari live throughout the Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Harayana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states in India...
s, Ahirs
Ahirs
Ahir is an Indian caste. The term can be used synonymously with Yadav, as the latter term refers to Ahirs who have identified as Yadavs. The major divisions of Ahirs are: Yaduvanshi, Nandvanshi, and Gwalvanshi.-Etymology:...
.
After, the devastating earthquake in 2000, many of the 100 years old house were damaged.
The Bhuj-Nagor Road that connects the village has Industrial Area on both sides.
In 2004, Rushey Mead Foundation, has opened a School in Nagor, which has now become a famous landmark of Nagor. The Co-founder of Foundation is Bhaskar Solanki of BBC, London. Please click link below for Photo of School.