________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
19 groups comprise, the Vala Kathi. The other Khuman Kathi have nine main divisions like Chandu, Chandsur, Mangari, Man, Motiar, Jamaniyar, Jogia, Lunasar, Valand. Morcover, there are five groups of Khachar Kathi such as Ramani, Rakhani, Godakha, Thebhani and Mokani.
The other ruler community in Gujarat is of Rajput with its own subdivisions. The Rajputs of modern Gujarat are distinguishable on the basis of their claims of descendence from the former ruling dynasties such as Chavda, Chudasama, Chauhan, Gohil, Jadeja, Jhala, Parmar, Solanki, Rathord, Vaghela etc. In the matter of life styles and handicrafts the various groups share some commonalities yet maintain distinctions which reinforce their identities. A visit to the Shreyas Muscum is an enlightening experience. Besides the ruling communities, the museum also deals with the material culture of the pastoral communities of Gujarat like Rabari, Bharvad, Charan and Ahir in addition to the communities of Banni and Paccham are also dealt with in the museum. In addition to these groups, there is a satisfactory presentation of material belonging to farming communities like Kanbi, Sathvara, Mer, Bhansali, Koli, Ahir, Kharak, Aboti, Sagar. The main Kanbi group has subdivisions like Leva, Kadva, Anjana, Uda and Pirana. One can appreciate the unique work of the Shreyas Muscum by visiting it again and again to add to one's cultural insights into the indigenous communities of Gujarat. Its example should inspire young muscologists to explore new directions of muscum development.
The Department of Museology was established in the year 1952. It was the first specialized department in Indian universities to serve the purpose of muscum development. It is an evidence of the foresight of the educational leadership in Gujarat. Muscology cannot be equated to training for muscum jobs. Muscology also deals with the philosophy of muscum work in social context. The Department of Muscology of the M.S. University of Baroda was expected to deal with the present problems of museums and to provide new concepts and ideals for the future museums. The underlying assumption of muscology is that each object in a museum tells a story far beyond its own limited existence. Museum collections provide evidence of civilizational changes and evolutionary processes. It is to the credit of the Department of Muscology that unlike in other Indian states, it experimented with new ideas. The department was not satisfied with training in muscum techniques. It wanted muscologists with vision of new kinds of museums in the service of society.
One of the students who had his training in Muscology at Baroda created a unique museum in Ahmedabad devoted to the subject of Kites and Kite Flying. He collected specimens of Kites of various kinds. The Kites had wonderful colours and designs. He had a very large collection of these Kites which represented a unique heritage of Gujarat. Not only lacs of Rupees are spent every year on kites but it has become an annual festival for celebrations. Men and women of all ages revel the competitions of kite flying. Many explanations are given about the cause
પથિક♦ દીપોત્સવાંક - ઓક્ટો.-નવે.-ડિસે., ૨૦૦૧ ૨ ૮
For Private and Personal Use Only
