Thehistory of Gujarat began with Stone Age settlements followed by Chalcolithic and Bronze Age settlements likeIndus Valley Civilisation.^[1]Gujarat's coastal cities, chieflyBharuch, served as ports and trading centers in theNanda,Maurya,Satavahana andGupta empires as well as during theWestern Kshatrapas period. After the fall of the Gupta empire in the 6th century, Gujarat flourished as an independent Hindu-Buddhist state. TheMaitraka dynasty, descended from a general of the Gupta empire, ruled theKingdom of Valabhi the 6th to the 8th centuries, although they were ruled briefly byHarsha during the 7th century. TheArab rulers ofSindh sacked Vallabhi in 770, bringing the Kingdom of Valabhi to an end. In 775, the firstParsi (Zoroastrian) refugees arrived in Gujarat fromGreater Iran.

Following the fragmentation of Gujarat into numerous principalities during the ninth century, theChaulukya dynasty reunited the region and established the Kingdom of Gujarat. From 1297 to 1300,Alauddin Khalji, theTurkicSultan of Delhi, destroyedAnhilwara and incorporated Gujarat into the Delhi Sultanate. AfterTimur's sacking ofDelhi at the end of the 14th century weakened the Sultanate, Gujarat's governorZafar Khan Muzaffar asserted his independence and established theGujarat Sultanate; his son, SultanAhmad Shah I (ruled 1411 to 1442), restructuredAhmedabad as the capital. In the early 16th century theRana Sanga invasion of Gujarat weakened the Sultanate's power as he annexed northern Gujarat and appointed his vassal to rule there, however after his death, the Sultan of Gujarat recovered the kingdom and even sackedChittor Fort in 1535.^[2] The Sultanate of Gujarat remained independent until 1576, when theMughal emperorAkbar conquered and annexed it to the Mughal Empire as aprovince.Surat had become the prominent and main port of India during Mughal rule.

Later in the 18th century, parts of Gujarat came under control of theBaroda State, a kingdom within theMaratha Confederacy. TheBritish East India Company wrested control of much of Gujarat from the Marathas during theSecond Anglo-Maratha War. Many local rulers, including theGaekwads ofBaroda, made peace with the British and acknowledged British sovereignty in return for retaining local self-rule. Gujarat was placed under the political authority of theBombay Presidency, with the exception ofBaroda state, which had a direct relationship with theGovernor-General of India. From 1818 to 1947, most of present-day Gujarat, includingKathiawar, Kutch, and northern and eastern Gujarat were divided into hundreds ofprincely states, but several districts in central and southern Gujarat were ruled directly by the Bombay Presidency.Mahatma Gandhi, considered India's "father of the nation", was aGujarati who led theIndian Independence Movement againstBritish rule.^[3]

Gujarat was formed by splitting Bombay state in 1960 on linguistic lines. From 1960 to 1995, theIndian National Congress retained power in theGujarat Legislative Assembly while other political parties ruled for incomplete terms in the 1970s and 1990. TheBharatiya Janata Party has been in power since 1998.

The cultural history of Gujarat begins from theMiddle Pleistocene. The lands of Gujarat has been continuously inhabited from theLower Paleolithic (c. 200,000 BP) period. Several sites of Stone Age are discovered in riverbeds ofSabarmati,Mahi River and lowerNarmada rivers of Gujarat.^[4][5]

TheMiddle Paleolithic sites are found from Kutch, Jamnagar, Panchmahals, Hiran valley in Saurashtra and Vapi and Lavacha of Valsad district. TheUpper Paleolithic period sites from Visadi, Panchmahals, Bhamaria, Kantali, Palanpur and Vavri are also explored.^[4] TheMiddle (c.45,000–25,000 BP) and LatePalaeolithic artifacts include hand-axes, cleavers, chopping tools, borers, points, and scrapers.^[6] The sites in Kutch and Bhadar riverbeds in Saurashtra has also yielded Stone Age tools. Bhandarpur near Orsang valley is rich in Palaeolithic tools. Some of other such sites are Hirpura, Derol,Kapadvanj,Langhnaj andShamlaji.^[7]

More than 700 sites are located in Gujarat which indicateMesolithic/Microlithic using communities dated to 7000 BC to 2000 BCE divided in Pre-Chalcolithic and Chalcolithic period.^[8] Some Mesolithic sites include Langhnaj, Kanewal, Tarsang,Dhansura,Loteshwar, Santhli, Datrana, Moti Pipli and Ambakut. The people of the Mesolithic period were nomadic hunter-gathers with some managing the herds of sheep-goat and cattle.^[4][9]Neolithic tools are found at Langhnaj in north Gujarat.^[10]

Total 755chalcolithic settlements are discovered in Gujarat belonging to various traditions and cultures which ranged from 3700 BCE to 900 BCE. Total 59 of these sites are excavated while others are studied from artifacts. These traditions are closely associated withHarappan civilization and difference between them is identified by difference in ceramics and findings of microliths. These traditions and cultures includeAnarta Tradition (c. 3950–1900 BCE), Padri Ware (3600–2000 BCE), Pre-Prabhas Assemblage (3200–2600 BCE), Pre Urban Harappan Sindh Type Pottery (Burial Pottery) (3000–2600 BCE),Black and Red Ware (3950–900 BCE), Reserved Slip Ware (3950–1900 BCE), Micaceous Red Ware (2600–1600 BCE). Prabhas Assemblage (2200–1700 BCE) and Lustrous Red Ware (1900–1300 BCE) are some late material cultures. The few sites associated withMalwa Ware andJorwe Ware are also found.^[8]

Gujarat has a large number of archaeological sites associated with theIndus Valley civilization. A total of 561 Classical Harappan (2600–1900 BCE) and Sorath Harappan (2600–1700 BCE) sites are reported in Gujarat.^[8] The sites inKutch, namely,Surkotada,Desalpur,Pabumath andDholavira are some major sites of Urban period. The sites of the post-Urban period includeLothal B,Rangpur IIC and III,Rojdi C,Kuntasi, Vagad I B, Surkotada 1C, Dholavira VI &VII.^[4] It has been noted that in Gujarat, urban cities quickly expanded rather than the slow evolution of urbanism in the northwest.^[11]

During the end of the Indus Valley Civilisation, there was a migration of people from Sindh to Gujarat forming theRangpur culture.^[12][13]

The post-Harappan culture continued at several sites. Pastoralism was also widespread and served as trade-links between the sites.^[14][15] There is no mention of Gujarat inVedic literature.^[16]Bharuch was the major port town of Iron Age.^[17]

The Early Historic material culture of Gujarat include the presence ofNorthern Black Polished Ware, continued dominance ofBlack-and-Red Ware, slow introduction and later domination ofRed Polished Ware, occurrence ofRoman Amphorae,Rang Mahal Ware (100–300), introduction of glass and lead, followed by gradual conquest of iron, an agriculture-based economy, shell industry, development of script, rise of the urban settlements, brick structural remains, monumental buildings, international trade and development ofJainism,Buddhism, andVaishnavism.^[4][18]

The excavated sites of the Early Historic period include Dhatva, Jokha,Kamrej,Karvan,Bharuch, Nagal, Timbarva,Akota from South Gujarat; Nagara from central Gujarat;Vadnagar,Shamlaji,Devnimori from north Gujarat andAmreli,Vallabhi, Prabhas Patan, Padri and Dwarka from Saurashtra.^[4]Bharuch was the major port town of Iron Age.^[17]

Candragupta Maurya's rule over present-dayGujarat is attested to by theJunagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman. Under his rule, the provincial governor Puṣyagupta, aVaiśya, started the construction of the Sudarśana lake by damming the Suvarṇasikatā and Palāśinī rivers which flowed from Mount Ūrjayat (modernMount Girnār). The dam was completed under the reign ofAśoka by theYavana kingTuṣāspha. What is now Gujarat comprised two provinces,Ānarta (northern mainland Gujarat and northernKathiawar), and Surāṣṭra (southern Kathiawar).^{[19][20][21][22][23][24]}

According to thePettavattu andParamatthadīpanī, a ruler of Suraṭṭha, Piṅgala became a king in 283 BCE. He was converted to "Natthika diṭṭhi" (anihilistic doctrine) by his general, Nandaka, and attempted to convert the emperor Aśoka, but was himself converted to Buddhism.^[21][25]

According toKauṭilya, theKṣatriyas and Vaiśyas of Surāṣṭra belong to various Śreṇīs "corporations or guilds". The Śreṇīs were devoted to the "possession of arms" or "agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade" respectively.^[21][26]

There was a Greek trading presence at the port ofBarugaza (Bharuch).^[27][28][29]

For nearly 300 years from the start of the 1st century CE,Saka rulers played a prominent part in Gujarat's history. The weather-beaten rock at Junagadh gives a glimpse of the RulerRudradaman I (100 CE) of the Saka satraps known asWestern Satraps, or Kshatraps. Mahakshatrap Rudradaman I founded the Kardamaka dynasty which ruled from Anupa on the banks of the Narmada up to Aparanta region which bordered Punjab. In Gujarat several battles were fought between the south IndianSatavahana dynasty and the Western Satraps. The greatest ruler of the Satavahana Dynasty wasGautamiputra Satakarni who defeated the Western Satraps and conquered some parts of Gujarat in the 2nd century CE.^[30]

The Gupta EmperorSamudragupta defeated the Indo-Scythian rulers in battle and had then admit their submission to him. Samudragupta's successor,Chandragupta II, finally conquered the Western Satraps and occupied Gujarat. Chandragupta II assumed the title of "Vikramaditya", in celebration of his victory over the Western Satraps.^[31] During the Gupta reign, villagers and peasants were put into forced labour by the Gupta army and officials.^[32] During the reign ofSkandagupta, Cakrapālita was the governor of Surāṣṭra.^[33]

Towards the middle of the 5th century the Gupta empire started to decline. Senapati Bhatarka, the Maitraka general of the Guptas, took advantage of the situation and in 470 CE he set up what came to be known as the Maitraka state. He shifted his capital from Girinagar to Valabhipur, nearBhavnagar, on Saurashtra's east coast.Maitrakas ofVallabhi became very powerful and their rule prevailed over large parts of Gujarat and even over adjoiningMalwa. Maitrakas set up a university which came to be known far and wide for its scholastic pursuits and was compared with the famousNalanda university. It was during the rule of Dhruvasena Maitrak that Chinese philosopher-travelerXuanzang visited in 640 CE.^{[citation needed]}

In the early 8th century some parts of Gujarat was ruled by the south IndianChalukya dynasty. In the early 8th century the Arabs of theUmayyad Caliphate established an Empire which stretched from Spain in the west to Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east. The Arab rulers tried to expand their Empire in the 8th century and invaded Gujarat but the Arab invaders were defeated by theChalukya generalPulakeshin. After this victory the Arab invaders were driven out of Gujarat. Pulakeshin received the title Avanijanashraya (refuge of the people of the earth) by Vikramaditya II for the protection of Gujarat. In the late 8th century the Kannauj Triangle period started. The 3 major Indian dynasties the northwest IndianGurjara-Pratihara dynasty, the south IndianRashtrakuta Dynasty and the east IndianPala Empire dominated India from the 8th to 10th century. During this period the northern part of Gujarat was ruled by the north IndianGurjara-Pratihara Dynasty and the southern part of Gujarat was ruled by the south IndianRashtrakuta Dynasty.^[35] Southern Gujarat was ruled by the south IndianRashtrakuta dynasty until it was captured by the south Indian rulerTailapa II of theWestern Chalukya Empire.^[36]

TheChaulukya dynasty^{[note 1][38]} ruled Gujarat from c. 960 to 1243. Gujarat was a major center of Indian Ocean trade, and their capital atAnhilwara (Patan) was one of the largest cities in India, with population estimated at 100,000 in the year 1000. In 1026, the famousSomnath temple in Gujarat was destroyed byMahmud of Ghazni. After 1243, the Chaulukyas lost control of Gujarat to their feudatories, of whom theVaghela chiefs ofDholka came to dominate Gujarat. In 1292 the Vaghelas became tributaries of theYadava dynasty ofDevagiri in theDeccan. Karna of theVaghela dynasty was the last Hindu ruler of Gujarat. He was defeated and overthrown by the superior forces ofAlauddin Khalji from Delhi in 1297. With his defeat Gujarat not only became part of the Delhi Sultanate but the Rajput hold over Gujarat lost forever.

Before 1300, Muslims had little presence in Gujarat. The occasional was mainly either as sea-farers or traders coming from Arabian Sea. They were allowed to establish two small settlements inCambay (now Khambhat) andBharuch. Gujarat finally fell underDelhi Sultanate followingrepeated expeditions underAlauddin Khalji around the end of the 13th century. He ended the rule ofVaghela dynasty underKarna II and established Muslim rule in Gujarat. Soon theTughluq dynasty came to power in Delhi whose emperor carried out expeditions to quell rebellion in Gujarat and established their firm control over the region by the end of the 14th century.^[39]

FollowingTimur's invasion of Delhi, the Delhi Sultanate weakened considerably so the last Tughluq governorZafar Khan declared himself independent in 1407 and formally establishedGujarat Sultanate. The next sultan, his grandson Ahmad Shah I founded the new capitalAhmedabad in 1411. The prosperity of the sultanate reached its zenith during the rule ofMahmud Begada. He subdued most of the Rajput chieftains and built navy off the coast ofDiu. In 1509,the Portuguese wrested Diu from Gujarat sultanate following theBattle of Diu (1509).

In 1520Rana Sanga ofMewar invaded Gujarat with his powerfulRajput confederacy of 52,000Rajputs supported by his three vassals. Rao Ganga Rathore of Marwar too joined him with Garrison of 8,000Rajputs, other allies of Rana were Rawal Udai Singh of Vagad and Rao Viram deva of Merta. He defeated the Muslim army of Nizam khan and chased them as far asAhmedabad. Sanga call off his invasion 20 miles before reaching the capital city of Ahmedabad. He plundered the royal treasuries of Gujarat.^[41] Sanga successfully annexed Northern Gujarat and appointed one of his vassals to rule there.^[42]

Mughal emperor Humayun attacked Gujarat in 1535 and thereafterBahadur Shah was killed by the Portuguese while making a deal in 1537. The decline of the Sultanate started with the assassination of Sikandar Shah in 1526. The end of the sultanate came in 1573, whenAkbar annexed Gujarat in his empire. The last rulerMuzaffar Shah III was taken prisoner to Agra. In 1583, he escaped from the prison and with the help of the nobles succeeded to regain the throne for a short period before being defeated by Akbar's generalAbdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana.^[43]

This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Akbar (1542–1605) set out on his first campaign of Gujarat fromFatehpur Sikri on 2 July 1572 arriving inAhmedabad on 20 November 1572.^[44] He then reorganized the government of Ahmedabad under the charge of his foster brotherMirza Aziz Koka, the Khan-i-Azam^[45] and quelled the rebellion led by the Mirzas by laying siege to the castle ofSurat.^[46] Akbar then embarked on a second campaign of Gujarat on 23 August 1573 to assist Mirza Aziz Koka against a rebellion from the combined forces of Muhammad Husain Mirza and Ikhtiyar-ul-Mulk.^[47] Following Akbar's second campaign, Gujarat was organized into a province (subah) of theMughal Empire^[48] governed by viceroys (subahdars ornazims) responsible for the executive and military branches as well as treasurers (diwans) responsible for the financial branch.^[49]

Gujarati ports with significant trade and financial importance now came into the possession of the Mughal Empire and were organized as special districts directly under the authority of theDelhi government.^[50] UnderJahangir (1605–1627) and following the advent of theBritish East India Company, Surat gained importance as a center of oceanic trade between India and Europe;^[51] a factory was established there in 1612.^[52] The nobles of the former Sultanate and the Hindu chiefs that rebelled and protested were subdued by the viceroys and officers of the Mughal Empire.^[53] UnderShah Jahan (1627–1658), Ahmedabad saw an exodus resulting from officials extracting money from citizens—both the rich and the poor—without the royal permission.^[54] Viceroys under Shah Jahan saw to expansion efforts south,^[55] taking up of arms against the incursions from theKoli andKathi tribes,^[56] and the implementation of a hardline stance on collection of tribute from theRajput chiefs ofSaurashtra.^[57]

The reign ofAurangzeb (1658–1707) was characterized by incidents of drawn-out conflict and religious disputes. As a viceroy, he had previously converted the Chintamani Jain temple at Saraspur into a mosque.^[58] His rule included enforcement of Islamic laws,^[59] discriminatory laws and taxes against Hindu merchants,^[60] and acapitation tax on all non-Muslims.^[61] Aurangzeb's viceroys retaliated against the Khachars and other Kathi tribes,^[62] destroyed the Temple of the Sun while attacking and storming the fort of Than,^[63] razed the Temple atVadnagar,^[64] and engaged in a drawn out conflict with theRathores ofMarwar.^[65]

During the next three emperors (1707–1719) who had brief reigns, the nobles became more powerful due to instability in the Delhi. The royals of Marwar were appointed viceroys frequently. During the reign of the emperorMuhammad Shah, the struggle between the Mughal and Maratha nobles were heightened with frequent battles and incursions.

When the cracks had started to develop in the edifice of theMughal empire in the mid-17th century, the Marathas were consolidating their power in the west,Chhatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler, attacked Surat twice first in 1664 and again in 1672. These attacks marked the entry of the Marathas into Gujarat.

Later, in the 17th century and early 18th century, Gujarat came under control of theMaratha Empire. Most notably, from 1705 to 1716,SenapatiKhanderao Dabhade led the Maratha Empire forces in Baroda.Pilaji Gaekwad, first ruler ofGaekwad dynasty, established the control over Baroda and other parts of Gujarat.

Starting withBajirao I in the 1720s, thePeshwas based inPune established their sovereignty over Gujarat includingSaurashtra. After the death of Bajirao I, PeshwaBalaji Bajirao removed the control theDabhades and Kadam Bande from Gujarat. Balaji Bajirao collected taxes through DamajiGaekwad. Damaji established the sway of Gaekwad over Gujarat and madeVadodara his capital.^[66]

The Marathas continued to grow their hold and the frequent change of viceroys did not reverse the trend. The competing houses of Marathas,Gaikwars andPeshwas engaged between themselves which slow down their progress for a while. They later made peace between themselves. During the reign of the next emperorAhmad Shah Bahadur (1748–1754), there was nominal control over the nobles who acted on their own. There were frequent fights between themselves and with Marathas.Ahmedabad, the capital of province, fell to the Marathas in 1752. It was regained by noble Momin Khan for a short time but again lost to the Marathas in 1756 after a long siege. Finding opportunity, the British captured Surat in 1759. After a setback atPanipat in 1761, the Marathas strengthened their hold on Gujarat, especially during the reign ofMadhavrao.^[67]

Maratha control of Gujarat slowly waned in the 1780s and 1790s due to rivalries between different ruling Maratha houses as well within the Peshwa family. The BritishEast India Company fully exploited this situation to expand its control of Gujarat and other Maratha territories.^[68] The company also embarked upon its policy ofSubsidiary Alliance. With this policy they established their paramountcy over one indigenous state after another. AnandraoGaekwad joined the Alliance in 1802 and surrendered Surat and adjoining territories to the company. In the garb of helping the Marathas, the British helped themselves, and gradually the Marathas' power came to an end, in 1819 in Gujarat. Gaekwad and other big and small rulers accepted the British Paramountcy.^[69]

In the 1600s, the Dutch, French, English andPortuguese all established bases along the western coast of the region. Portugal was the first European power to arrive in Gujarat, and after theBattle of Diu andTreaty of Bassein, acquired several enclaves along the Gujarati coast, includingDaman and Diu as well asDadra and Nagar Haveli. These enclaves were administered byPortuguese India under a single union territory for over 450 years, only to be later incorporated into theRepublic of India on 19 December 1961 by military conquest.

TheEnglish East India Company established afactory inSurat in 1614, following the commercial treaty made with Mughal Emperor Nuruddin SalimJahangir, which formed their first base in India, but it was eclipsed byBombay after the English received it from Portugal in 1668 as part of the marriage treaty ofCharles II of England andCatherine of Braganza, daughter ofKing John IV of Portugal. The state was an early point of contact with the west, and the first English commercial outpost in India was in Gujarat.^[70]

17th-century French explorerFrançois Pyrard de Laval, who is remembered for his 10-year sojourn in South Asia, bears witness accounts that the Gujaratis were always prepared to learn workmanship from the Portuguese, also in turn imparting skills to the Portuguese:^[71]

I have never seen men of wit so fine and polished as are these Indians: they have nothing barbarous or savage about them, as we are apt to suppose. They are unwilling indeed to adopt the manners and customs of thePortuguese; yet do they regularly learn their manufactures and workmanship, being all very curious and desirous of learning. In fact, thePortuguese take and learn more from them than they from thePortuguese.

The East India Company wrested control of much of Gujarat from the Marathas during theSecond Anglo-Maratha War in 1802–1803. Many local rulers, notably the Maratha Gaekwad Maharajas ofVadodara, made a separate peace with the British and acknowledged British sovereignty in return for retaining local self-rule.

Gujarat was placed under the political authority of theBombay Presidency, with the exception ofBaroda state, which had a direct relationship with theGovernor-General of India. From 1818 to 1947, most of present-day Gujarat, includingKathiawar, Kutch and northern and eastern Gujarat were divided into hundreds ofprincely states, but several districts in central and southern Gujarat, namelyAhmedabad, Broach (Bharuch), Kaira (Kheda),Panchmahal andSurat, were governed directly by British officials.In 1812, an epidemic outbreak killed and wiped out half the population of Gujarat.^[72]

Under British rule, the administration of Gujarat was differentiated based on function, most notably the Revenue Department, Police Department, and Department of the Administration of Justice. The bureaucratic system developed by the British was based on the principle of “legal-rational” authority, where specific duties and powers were assigned to fixed meritocratic positions, in which power could not be arbitrarily exercised. These positions had clear systems of regular salaries, promotions, pensions, and transfers. The British also created a new legal system that was divorced from religion and traditional customs that uniformly applied to all citizens regardless of status, which also necessitated the creation of legislative organs and the legal profession itself. A new tax system was developed that centred mainly on land tax, where agricultural land was taxed on the assessed production capabilities of that land, with payments having to be paid in cash rather than in kind. The native Gujaratis who worked in the political system tended to be of upper castes. Criticism was also found of the British government, where Gujaratis complained about racial discrimination, an excessive and expensive bureaucracy, and overtaxation.^[73]

In rural Gujarat, the land tax system was based on the ryotwari system. In this system the agricultural land was assigned a quality of soil which determined the productive capabilities of the land which the farmer would be taxed at, rather than the actual amount of produce grown. The system allowed land to be transformed into a commodity which could be bought, sold, and mortgaged, which hurt the traditional power of collective communities. Additionally since the land revenue had to be paid in cash, this transformed village economies into cash markets. Non-cultivating groups who held proprietary tax rights over agricultural land were also accommodated into the system where they were given land tenures which turned the cultivators into tenants and the tribute gatherers into absentee landlords. These changes slowly deprived upper caste tribute gatherers of their powers and led to mass transfers of land. The production of cash crops, namely cotton, exploded. The status of village artisans also declined.^[74]

Under British rule, large numbers of Gujarati trading groups moved to Bombay, which led to the decline of some Gujarati towns such as Surat and Broach, whereas Ahmedabad gained industrial importance after the linkage of railways. In urban areas the production of native handicrafts declined due to the British rulers not being interested in luxury goods, as well as the westernization of Gujaratis themselves who eschewed Indian jewellery and fashions. The British also intentionally sought to destroy the native export market in order to develop Britain’s industrial production through duty-free imports, which became cheaper and of higher quality than native Gujarati goods. The growth of western-style factories in Gujarat itself also dealt a death-blow to traditional handicraft makers. The production of cotton boomed in such factories, which created new opportunities for wealth creation among enterprising groups. New business organizations such as joint-stock companies developed.^[75]

Under British rule a new organized educational system developed with a hierarchic-bureaucratic structure which had fixed rules regarding appointments and salary. Classes in this era ranged from primary schools to specialized higher learning institutions in which education was secularized. British-style education led to decline of the monopoly on traditional education by Brahmins and was open to a more diverse body of students however, caste still played a factor in education and upper castes were dominant in receiving it. A new educated class of Gujaratis emerged that led various literary and reform movements as well as economic and political reforms. The British sought to create a job-oriented educated class of Gujaratis who could work in the new politico-economic framework as well as and who would be active supporters of British imperial rule. The growth of a new educated class as well as politico-economic factors led to the rise of local Gujarati journalism whose newspapers printed views on social and political matters. In this era arose modern Gujarati literature which heralded the coming of prose and the novel, and writers explored new themes such as social reform, individualism, patriotism while continuing the themes of nature and religion. Despite these changes in Gujarat barely 5% of the population was educated and most printed works were in English.^[76]

See Also:Freedom fighters from Gujarat

The people of Gujarat were the most enthusiastic participants in India's struggle for freedom. Leaders likeMahatma Gandhi,Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,Morarji Desai,K.M. Munshi,Narhari Parikh,Mahadev Desai,Mohanlal Pandya andRavi Shankar Vyas all hailed from Gujarat. It was also the site of the most popular revolts, including theSatyagrahas inKheda,Bardoli,Borsad and theSalt Satyagraha.

TheIndian Home Rule movements ofAnnie Besant andBal Gangadhar Tilak aroused national sentiment in India, including Gujarat, but did not yet have a specific goal or method of action. During this period theGujarat Sabha and Gujarat Political Conference were engaged in spreading national awareness and building the roots of political action against the British. Gandhi's arrival in Gujarat marked the start of the modern age of newspapers; print journalism in this period supported and was often founded by theIndian independence movement. Many institutions were opened to further national education, such asGujarat Vidyapith. Native exercise institutions emerged to improve the physical fitness of the youth in the context of the agitation for independence.^[77]

Gandhi introduced the method ofSatyagraha to the Indian independence movement, which was used in this period by nationalists to fight injustices caused by the British government. In theViramgam satyagraha (1915-19), Gandhi successfully petitioned the British government to end the practice of officials extorting tax from travellers at the Viramgam train station. In the Millworker'sHartal (1918), Gandhi served as an arbitrator between the millworkers and millowners of Ahmedabad, nonviolently agitating for a 35% increase in the millworkers' wages; this event earned the loyalty of the working class to theIndian National Congress. In 1918 the Kheda government began seizing the land, cattle, and property of cultivators who were unable to pay the yearly revenue due to crop failure; in theKheda Satyagraha led by Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel, the cultivators refused to pay and eventually the collector ordered that prosperous districts in solidarity could pay for the lost revenue of Kheda. In the Borsad Satyagraha (1923-24), the government imposed a tax on the residents of Borsad for the maintenance of police officers posted to combat increased robberies in the district; under the leadership of Patel, the people of Borsad non-violently refused to pay the tax and the government was forced to withdraw the levy. In theBardoli Satyagraha (1928), Patel led farmers in refusing to pay the yearly revenue which had been increased beyond justification; the government agreed to reduce the tax to its previous level.^[78]

This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(June 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

AfterIndian independence and thePartition of India in 1947, the new Indian government grouped the former princely states of Gujarat into three larger units;Saurashtra, which included the former princely states on theKathiawar peninsula,Kutch, andBombay state, which included the former British districts of Bombay Presidency together with most of Baroda state and the other former princely states of eastern Gujarat. In 1956, Bombay state was enlarged to includeKutch,Saurashtra, and parts ofHyderabad state andMadhya Pradesh in central India. The new state had a mostly Gujarati-speaking north and aMarathi-speaking south.Mahagujarat Movement led byIndulal Yagnik demanded splitting ofBombay state on linguistic lines. On 1 May 1960, Bombay state bifurcated into Gujarat andMaharashtra. The capital of Gujarat wasAhmedabad.^[79]

Kutch was hit by theearthquake in 1956 which destroyed major parts ofAnjar town.Gandhidham, Sardarnagar and Kubernagar wererefugee settlements established for the resettlement ofSindhi Hindu refugees arriving from Pakistan after partition.

Members of legislative assembly were elected from 132 constituencies of newly formed Gujarat state.Indian National Congress (INC) won the majority andJivraj Narayan Mehta became the first chief minister of Gujarat. He served until 1963.Balwantrai Mehta succeed him. DuringIndo-Pakistani War of 1965, Mehta flew on aircraft to inspect Kutch border between India and Pakistan. The aircraft was shot down byPakistan Air Force. Mehta was killed in the crash.^[80][81]Hitendra Kanaiyalal Desai succeeded him and won assembly elections. In 1969,Indian National Congress split intoCongress (O) headed byMorarji Desai andCongress (I) headed byIndira Gandhi.^[82] At the same time, the Hindu nationalist organizationRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had established itself deeply in Gujarat around this period. Theriots broke out across Gujarat in September to October 1969, resulting in large number of casualties and damage to properties. Desai resigned in 1971 due to split of INC andPresident's rule was imposed in Gujarat. LaterGhanshyam Oza became chief minister when Indira Gandhi led Congress (I) won majority in parliament after1971 Indo-Pakistani war.Chimanbhai Patel opposed Oza and became chief minister in 1972. The capital of Gujarat moved from Ahmedabad toGandhinagar in 1971 but legislative assembly building was completed in 1982.^[83]

Navnirman Andolan, the "Navnirman movement" started in December 1973 due to price rise and corruption in public life. People demanded resignation of Chief Minister Patel.^{[84][85][86][87]} Due to pressure of protests,Indira Gandhi asked Patel to step down. He resigned on 9 February 1974 and President's rule imposed.^[84][86] The governor suspended the state assembly and President's rule was imposed. Opposition parties led stepped in with demand for dissolution of state assembly.^[85]Congress had 140 out of 167 MLAs instate assembly. 15Congress (O) and three Jan Sangh MLAs also resigned. By March, protesters had got 95 of 167 to resign.Morarji Desai, leader ofCongress (O), went on an indefinite fast in March and the assembly was dissolved bringing end to agitation.^[84][85][86] No fresh election held untilMorarji Desai went on indefinite hunger strike in April 1975.^[85] The fresh elections were held in June 1975.Chimanbhai Patel formed new party named Kisan Mazdoor Lok Paksh and contested on his own.Congress lost elections which won only 75 seats. Coalition ofCongress (O),Jan Sangh, PSP andLok Dal known asJanata Morcha won 88 seats andBabubhai J. Patel became Chief Minister.Indira Gandhi imposed theemergency in 1975.^[85] Janata Morcha government lasted nine months and president's rule imposed in March 1976 following failure of passage of budget in assembly to opposition of coalition partners.^[86] LaterCongress won elections in December 1976 andMadhav Singh Solanki became Chief Minister.^[85][86] A year later Madhav Singh Solanki resigned and again Babubhai Patel ledJanata Party formed the government. He shifted his cabinet toMorbi for six months during1979 Machchhu dam failure disaster which resulted in large casualties.^[88]

Janata Morcha government was dismissed and president's rule was imposed in 1980 even though it had majority. Later Madhav Singh Solanki led INC won the election in 1980 and formed the government which completed five years in office.Amarsinh Chaudhary succeeded him in 1985 and headed government till 1989. Solanki again became chief minister until INC lost in 1990 election followingMandal commission protests. Chimanbhai Patel came back to power in March 1990 as the head of aJanata Dal -Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government. Coalition broke just few months after in October 1990 but Chimanbhai Patel managed to retain majority with support of 34 INC legislatures. Later Patel joined the INC and continued till his death in February 1994.Chhabildas Mehta succeeded him and continued till March 1995. In 1994plague endemic broke out inSurat resulting in 52 deaths.^[89]

Following the rise ofBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at centre,Keshubhai Patel led BJP won in 1995 assembly election. Keshubhai Patel became the chief minister of Gujarat in March but resigned eight months later as his colleagueShankersinh Vaghela revolted against him. BJP was split as Rashtriya Janata Party was formed by Vaghela who became the Chief Minister by support of INC. Assembly was dissolved in 1998 as INC withdrew its support. BJP returned to power led by Patel in 1998 assembly elections and he became the chief minister again.^[90] In 1998, asevere tropical cyclone hitKandla port and Saurashtra and Kutch regions.^[91]

Gujarat was hit with a devastating earthquake on 26 January 2001 which claimed a staggering 20,000 lives, injured another 200,000 people and severely affected the lives of 40 million of the population. Patel resigned as chief minister in October 2001 due to his failing health. Allegations of abuse of power, corruption and poor administration; as well as a loss of BJP seats inby-elections and mismanagement of relief works during the aftermath of the2001 Bhuj earthquake; prompted the BJP's national leadership to seek a new candidate for the office of chief minister. He was replaced byNarendra Modi.^{[92][93][94][95]}

TheGujarat Riots of 2002, was a three-day period of inter-communal violence in Gujarat between the Hindus and Muslims, characterized by mass murder, loot, rape, and destruction of property, affecting thousands of people, mostly Muslims. Though officially classified as acommunalist riot, the events of 2002 have been described as apogrom by many scholars. Scholars studying the 2002 riots state that they were premeditated and constituted a form ofethnic cleansing, and that the state government and law enforcement were complicit in the violence that occurred.^{[96][97][98][99][100][101][102]} However, Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by theSupreme Court of India, rejected claims that the state government had not done enough to prevent the riots.^[103]

In September 2002, there was aterrorist attack on Akshardham temple complex atGandhinagar.^[104] Modi led BJP wonDecember 2002 election with majority. In 2005 and 2006, Gujarat was affected byfloods. In July 2008, a series of 21 bomb blasts hit Ahmedabad, within a span of 70 minutes. 56 people were killed and over 200 people were injured in the attack.^{[105][106][107]}2009 Gujarat hepatitis outbreak resulted in 49 deaths. In July 2009, more than 130 people died inhooch tragedy.^[108]

In 2006, Gujarat became the first state in India toelectrify all villages of the state.^[109]

Narendra Modi led BJP retained power in2007 and2012 assembly elections.Anandiben Patel became the first women Chief Minister of Gujarat on 22 May 2014 as Modi left the position following win in2014 Indian general election.^[110] He was sworn in as the second Prime Minister ofGujarati origin afterMorarji Desai in May 2014. Heavy rain in June and July 2015 resulted inwidespread flooding in Saurashtra and north Gujarat resulting in more than 150 deaths. The wild life ofGir Forest National Park and adjoining area was also affected.^{[111][112][113]} Starting July 2015, the people ofPatidar community carried out demonstrations across the state seekingOther Backward Class status which turned violent on 25 August and 19 September 2015 for brief period.^[114] The agitation continued and again turned violent in April 2016.^[115] In late 2016,Dalits protested across Gujarat in response to an assault on Dalit men inUna.^[116][117] Following heavy rain in July 2017, the state, especially north Gujarat, was affected by thesevere flood resulting in more than 200 deaths.^[118] In October 2018, a rape incident had triggered theattacks on the Hindi-speaking migrants in Gujarat leading to exodus.^[119] In 2019,Vadodara was flooded^[120] while there was a fire in a commercial complex atSurat causing death of 22 children.^[121] DuringCOVID-19 pandemic, more than 1,00,000 cases and 3100 deaths were reported in Gujarat between March and September 2020.^[122] In 2020, the industrial explosions atDahej andAhmedabad resulted in five and twelve deaths respectively.^[123][124]

TheNarendra Modi Stadium ofMotera became the world's largest stadium following the renovation in 2021.^[125]

• Commissariat, M.S. (1938).A History of Gujarat. Vol. I From AD 1297-8 to AD 1573. Longmans, Green & Co. Ltd.
• Commissariat, M.S. (1957).A History of Gujarat. Vol. II The Mughal Period: From 1573 to 1758. Orient Longmans.
• Campbell, James Macnabb (1896)."Chapter III. MUGHAL VICEROYS. (A.D. 1573–1758)". InJames Macnabb Campbell (ed.).History of Gujarát. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Vol. I. Part II. Musalmán Gujarát. (A.D. 1297–1760.). The Government Central Press. pp. 266–347. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
• Nussbaum, Martha Craven (2008).The Clash Within: Democracy, Religious Violence, and India's Future. Harvard University Press.ISBN 978-0-674-03059-6.
• Shani, Ornit (2007).Communalism, Caste and Hindu Nationalism: The Violence in Gujarat. Cambridge University Press.ISBN 978-0-521-72753-2.

• Chaube, J. (1975).History of Gujarat Kingdom, 1458-1537. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers.ISBN 9780883865736.
• Hooja, Rima (2006).A History of Rajasthan. Rupa & Company.ISBN 978-81-291-0890-6.
• Sharma, Gopi Nath (1954).Mewar & the Mughal Emperors (1526-1707 A.D.). S.L. Agarwala.
• Edalji Dosabhai.A History of Gujarat (1986) 379 pp.full text online freeArchived 17 December 2014 at theWayback Machine
• Padmanābha, ., & Bhatnagar, V. S. (1991).Kanhadade Prabandha: India's greatest patriotic saga of medieval times : Padmanābha's epic account of Kānhaḍade. New Delhi: Voice of India.
• Yazdani, Kaveh.India, Modernity and the Great Divergence: Mysore and Gujarat (17th to 19th C. (Leiden: Brill, 2017. 669 pp.ISBN 978-90-04-33079-5online review

• History of Gujarat

• CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list
• Webarchive template wayback links
• CS1: long volume value
• CS1 Gujarati-language sources (gu)
• All articles with dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from August 2024
• Articles with permanently dead external links
• Pages containing links to subscription-only content
• CS1: unfit URL
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from October 2019
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021
• Articles with hatnote templates targeting a nonexistent page
• Articles needing additional references from October 2017
• All articles needing additional references
• Articles needing additional references from June 2016
• Source attribution