51st Milestone
25th August, 1934 is considered as one of the most
important day in the history of Gondal. This was the day when
Bhagvatsinhji completed his 50 years of golden rule. The people of
Gondal celebrated this day with great pleasure and happiness. They
conducted grant ceremonies for celebrating this day.`
On this day Maharaja Bhagvatsinhji was weighted with gold.
This occasion is termed as “Suvarna Tula Vidhi”. The amount of
gold was then used up for the welfare of
the people of gondal.
In the history of India after Shivaji, Bhagvatsinhji was the
second person to be weighted in gold. For this occasion one momento
was made with various sorts of decorations. Our Gondal was decorated
with flowers, lights, tree plantation etc. Sweets and good food was
given to the kids and the poor people.
On this day his Highness Maharaja Bhagvatsinhji declared that
‘In my state no
person will live under imprisonment, all are free to live’. As a
result of this, 150 persons were relieved from the jail. Out of
these 45 were those who were given lifetime imprisonment. Later the
whole jail was washed with milk.
Besides, in the premises of Gondal ‘Shikar’ was
permanently banned. Also compulsory education for women, which was
started before half a century, was stressed again. According to
Bhagvatsinhji, the women of Gondal should not live under stress or
illiteracy. They ought to get the best education. He even gave a
slogan ‘Stri Jati nu hit a Samagra jati nu hit che !. ‘ That
means women’s best aptitude is whole caste’s aptitude.
He always stressed on
educating the mother. How right he was ! If the mother is educated
she will surely educate her children. He also inserted English
alphabets along with Gujarati in the course schedule. His best and
the most important work is ‘Free and compulsory education for
women”.
Our gondal is considered to be lucky enough for having such
an efficient rule. 50 years of continuous rule commenced with hard
work, intelligence and feeling of uplifting gondal at any cost has
engraved Bhagvatsinhji in the hearts of the people of gondal.
For immortal
remembrances of his day of Gondal had affixed various bronze Sheets,
moments, photographs and other such things, at almost all the places
such as school, public places, houses, etc. These things can even be
found in one of the museums of Dhoraji and Upleta. All the farmers
of this State has given ‘char anna’ i.e., 4 anna from their tax
for such remembrances.
According to one
remarkable incidence, it is said that on this occasion Maharaha
Bhagvatsinhji relieved the farmers from one-year tax. The Suvarna
Tula Viddhi was conducted at the workshop of Gondal. The whole
premises were decorated grandly. Efficient sculptures from Dhoraji
were invited for making the ‘Suvarna Trajva’. Maharaja
Bhagvatsinhji weighted 134 ser and 27 tola. i.e., about 67 kg. He
was weighted with 100% gold marked national banks gold biscuits.
That gold counted about to Rs. 1,85,515 at that time.
A particular revenue
stamp was published on this occasion. Various newspapers such as
‘The Times’, ‘Times of India’, ‘Indian States Gazette’,
‘The Elestrade Weekly of India’, etc. made a noble reference on
this occasion. Thus the Golden Jubilee function has made a history
in History of Gondal.
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