Rise and Glory History of Halari Visa Oshwals

Author(s): Rati Dodhia
Publisher: Rati Dodhia

Page 61

CHAPTER 8
INTRODUCTION
History of Cutchh: The State of Cutchh is located in the western part of India, bordered by the Arabian Sea on the west, Rajasthan on the east, Saurastra/Gujarat on the south and Sindh on the north. The spoken language is Cutchhi, which is a mixture of Sindhi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Rajasthani. The written script is Devanagri/Gujarati.
Modern Cutchh is divided into several provinces: Lakhpat, Abadasa, Mandvi, Mundra, Anjar, Bhagau, Rapar, Paccham and Banni. Bhuj is the ancient capital city. There are approximately one thousand villages in Cutchh.
The land of Cutchh means character, adventure and sacrifice. The history of Cutchh goes back to an early age. Three thousand years ago the land of Cutchh was not what it is today. It was a very rich land. In a Jaina agam (scripture) the Bhagwati Sutra there is a shining description of this region:
'Cutchhamsi Cutchhe nadi jal pariveshthite vrikshadi mati pradeshe’: (There are many rivers and lakes in Cutchh with the land covered with trees).
At some time part of the land must have been covered by an ocean, from which it emerged as a permanent desert. Over the centuries from time to time it faced great calamities, floods, earthquakes, and natural disasters, which have changed the geographical face of the land. Beside the natural disasters, repeated invasions by the Muslims also added to the destruction of the region. At some time it was connected with Sindh (now in Pakistan). However, as a result of the natural disasters and human