Variav
Encyclopedia
Variav is a small town 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 part of Greater Surat.
, 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. This event is still remembered with a ceremony performed in Surat every year.
, 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 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.
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 bend in the river Tapi, and has the best view on both sides.
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
District, Gujarat, India. Variav is on the right bank of Tapti River
Tapti River
The Tapi River ancient original name Tapi River , is a river in central India. It is one of the major rivers of peninsular India with a length of around 724 km...
. Variav was recently added to the region of Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
Municipal Corporation, and is now part 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 SanjanQissa-i Sanjan
The Story of Sanjan is an account of the early years of Zoroastrian settlers on the Indian subcontinent...
, and the date of first arrival is variously interpreted as being 936 AD, 765 AD and 716 AD.
Many centuries later, after Mahmud Begada
Mahmud Begada
Sultan Abu'l Fath Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah I, popularly known as Mahmud Begada was the most prominent sultan of Gujarat. He was the great-grandson of Ahmad Shah I, the founder of the Muzaffarid dynasty, and of the city of Ahmedabad in the present-day state of Gujarat, India. He was known to be...
conquered the partially Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
city of Sanjan (Gujarat)
Sanjan (Gujarat)
Sanjan is the second railway station in Gujarat on the Western railways just inside the Gujarat-Maharashtra border...
in the 1480s, Variav was one of many towns and villages that received a further influx of Parsis, along with Navsari
Navsari
Navsari is a city and municipality in the Surat Metropolitan Region and also the administrative headquarters Navsari District of Gujarat, India. Navsari is also the Twin City of Surat, and only 37 km south of Surat.-Geography:...
, Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, Wankaner
Wankaner
Wankaner is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Wankaner has thorny plantation in the area !-Geography:Wankaner is located at . It has an average elevation of 81 metres ....
, Ankleshwar, Bharuch
Bharuch
Bharuch , also known as Broach, is the oldest city in Gujarat, situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District and a municipality of more than 1,50,000 inhabitants. As Bharuch is a major seaport city, a number of trade activities have...
and Khambhat
Khambhat
Khambhat , formerly known as Cambay, is a city and a municipality in Anand district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was formerly an important trading center, although its harbour has gradually silted up, and the maritime trade has moved elsewhere...
to the north of Sanjan and Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
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. This event is still remembered with a ceremony performed in Surat every year.
Demographics & Migration
Variav is home to a mixed population of Sunni Muslim VohraVohra
Vohra is a Punjabi tribe and a Khatri clan. The Vohra are settled in Punjab, Pakistan and Punjab, India.- Religion :The Vohras, Wouhras or Worah are Punjabis follow mainly Sikhism and Hinduism and Islam and they travel all around the world...
, Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
, and various castes of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
.
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 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 VohraVohra
Vohra is a Punjabi tribe and a Khatri clan. The Vohra are settled in Punjab, Pakistan and Punjab, India.- Religion :The Vohras, Wouhras or Worah are Punjabis follow mainly Sikhism and Hinduism and Islam and they travel all around the world...
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 bend in the river Tapi, and has the best view on both sides.