Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 59

rulers and the unsurpassed skill of the native craftsman. "These Gujarati workmen introduced a naturalistic clement into the decoration of Muslim buildings throughout the North."
In 1573 A.D., Gujarat became a proviace of the Mughal Empire under Akbar and Abmedabad retained its importance under the sale of Mughal governors. The Emperor Aurangzeb took interest in promoting trade and commerce of Gujarat rand especially at Ahmedabad and Surat. Customs duty levied at the sea ports of Gujarat continued to be a great source of income. No mulec. of India in those days could afford to ignore this income from seaborn trade with the whole world. At that time, the coastal towns of Gujarat were famous throughout the known world as commerciat centres, and many foreign travellers used to visit Gujarat with the sea traders, who came on business.
As a result of this prosperity and the richness of the land, Gujarat, became known for its cultural activities, its contact with the actual world on account of trade and commerce, its development of various industries, its great trade guilde or "Mahajanas', which controlled social and economic life as well as its encouragement of arts such as architecture, woodwork, painting on palm leaves, paper and cloth, music, dance. Ahmedabad and Surat were among the richest cities of India, the foreign tranvellers all agreed in describing Ahmedabad as one of the biggest, richest and most handsome cities in the East.
While today the city is characterised by rapidly expanding uncontrolled urban development, the picture of early Ahmedabad would have been very different : a city contained by splendid gates and fortifications on the bank of the Sabarmati rising up out of a flat scrubby landscape. By using water from the river, wells and reservoirs, gardens containing plants from all parts of the country could be maintained.
Sultan Mahmood Begda, who ruled Gujarat from 1459 A.D. to 1511 A.D., was the first ruler to take great interest in the development of gardens of this city. During his reign, beautifully decorated palatial buildings were built and large gardens were laid out around the city. The number of gardens of rulers and of noblemen increased and, during this period, lakes also were constructed.
Many European travellers visited this city during the 16th and 17th centuries. They were, among others, Whitington, Edward. Terry, Sir Thomas Howard, Albert de Mendelslo, Barbosa, Sir Thomas Ros, and William Hawkins.2
Barbosa of Lisbon, who visited Gujarat 2-3 years after the death of Sultan Mahmoob Begda, has written about Ahmedabad: "These towns (Champaner and Ahmedabad) are well embellished with good streets and houses of stone and whitewash, with roofs in our fashion, and they have large courts and much water in wells and pools,... and many orchards and gardens."
The French traveller Jean be Thevenot describes the city of Ahmedabad as follows:
Ahmedabad : An Islamic Garden City 1
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