Bhrigutirtha - Bharuch

 Bhrigutirtha-Bharuch

Bharuch-Bhrigu Kachchh is the largest city on the banks of the Narmada in Gujarat. An ancient city-predates the Mahabharata period. Munshi says that this is the same Mahishmati. But historians differ. Bhrigupur, Bhrigu Kachchh, Bharuch, and 'Bhadoch' in Marathi and 'Broach' in English were known by many names. But in the end, it was Bharuch. Even today, there is a saying that, Bhangyu Bhangyu to ya Bharuch! Bhrigu Rishi had an ashram here. His descendants were called Bhargavas. Kanaiyalal Munshi has written the glories of Bhrigu.

This city is ancient, important in the history of the Solanki era, but it is difficult to find historical remains here. The embankment of the river bank, the wall of the fort, parts of a temple - that's all. It is possible that due to repeated attacks and due to the river's course, the city was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Bharuch being his hometown, the large embankments built on the river that this writer saw in his childhood are now buried under the silt of the river. It is sad to see a part of a city being buried before your eyes.

In the latter half of the 15th century, Bharuch was a prosperous port of Gujarat. There were large, high-rise buildings here. The port used to handle about 4,000 ships. Goods went from here to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Because of this prosperity, the Portuguese repeatedly plundered it: in 1536, 1547, and 1614. In the second plunder, D. Menezes destroyed Bharuch so much that it became famous in Portuguese history as 'Menezes Bharuch'.

In 1916, Emperor Jahangir allowed Sir Thomas Roe (also from Surat) to trade in Bharuch.

The British were the first to build a fort in Bharuch. Then in 1618, the Valandas also built a fort.

During the time of Aurangzeb, Shivaji plundered Bharuch twice and even after that, there were attacks by the Marathas. In 1772, Muslim rule in Bharuch ended and English rule began.

High-quality cotton was produced around Bharuch. Therefore, it was an important center for the textile industry. Thick fabrics from fine muslin to sail cloth were made here. The Dutch used to take cotton cloth from here to sell to Europe. Colonel William writes that the cobblers here made such good boots and jeans that the Europeans living in Gujarat used to order them from Bharuch. The craft of making silk quilts and sujani is still a specialty of Bharuch. In 1901, when Queen Victoria died, the people of Bharuch raised money and built a tower. It is still remembered as the 'Victoria Clock Tower'.

But like the Narmada flow, the flow of time also erodes itself. The rich Bhandar has been ruined by the changed flow and sedimentation of the river. The permanent construction of the 'Nav Chowkina Owara' on the riverbank, the seats on it, the steps, etc., have been buried by tens of meters in the sediment of time in the last one generation alone. The author is a witness to this. Even in the last forty-fifty years, due to the poor condition of these Owaras, etc., one can imagine that the city must have gradually become mounds and mounds, sinking into the earth. This is how 'Mohan Jodaro' must have been created, right? Well...!

The fort of Bharuch on this bank of Narmada - the sturdy fort built by Gurjarnaresh Kumarpal still bears witness to the ancient glory of this 'Bhangyu Bhangyu Toi Bharuch'. This fort stretches for about two kilometers along the river and parallel to the river. The city is parallel to it. Thus, Bharuch is situated on the banks of the river. Nearby is the 'Golden Bridge', the original railway bridge connecting this bank of the river with the opposite bank. Now motor vehicles also pass over it.

This bridge was built by the British in 1881. At that time, due to the width and depth of the riverbed and deep silt, the construction cost so much that it was named 'Golden Bridge'. As that bridge became old, another bridge was built nearby for the railway and due to the increased traffic in the last decade, a third large bridge has been built near Jhadeshwar, a short distance from Bharuch. National Highway No. 8 passes over it. A bridge connecting Garudeshwar to Rajpipla has also been built above it.

Bharuch is also rich in glorious stories from its modern era.

The pioneers of sports activities in Gujarat are the old brothers of Bharuch. Fifty-sixty years ago, Chhotubhai and Abubhai of Bharuch

This contribution of Purani to the exercise-activity was valuable and is well known. Shri. Chhotubhai's rebellion against the government is well known. Shri Ambubhai later became a leading seeker of Sri Aurobindo's Ashram.

Even today, the school in Rajpipla, Gujarat State, which trains sports teachers, is called Chhotubhai Purani School. His colleague Sama Chandrashankar Bhatt and servant Dr. Chandulal (Chhote Sardar) are brilliant names in national history.

Kanaiyalal Munshi's name has become respected in many fields in modern India and especially as the builder of Gujarat, the promoter of Gujarat's identity. Of course, despite his socio-political or educational institutions like 'Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan' activities, he remained primarily a writer-creator. He is still popular as a senior novelist of Gujarat today. So Balwantrai Thakor from Bharuch has achieved a similar noble position in the field of poetry and criticism. D.B. Krishnalal Zaveri is important in the field of literature in addition to the field of law, but the service he has rendered to Gujarat in three generations is rare Ranchhodlal Zaveri and then his son Mohanlal Zaveri, the leading activists of the beginning of a new era of education, and the third generation Krishnalal.

Apart from literature in the field of culture, Bharuch has given Pandit Omkarnathji in the field of music, whose name is pronounced with reverence in the context of Indian classical music. The ashram of P. Hansdevji on the opposite bank is also worth mentioning. It is the pride of Bharuch.

When the commercial activity of Bharuch port stopped, new development also took place in the industrial sector. A huge fertilizer complex 'Narmada Valley Fertilizer' is booming in Bharuch. This is one of the three big fertilizer complexes of Gujarat. Among the huge industries that have developed in Bharuch itself, the one that stands at the forefront is 'Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizer.' Which has transformed the area around Bharuch and is still in its infancy.

This unique city, inhabited by turbans and with many winding roads, has been torn apart by the saw of history, having suffered many blows even from Mother Rewa, and has been reborn and developed again. Perhaps it is because of this vitality that it has been said, 'Bharuch is broken, broken, and so is Bharuch.' Its history is bright, and its future is also promising.

The area around Bharuch is cotton-growing, but if we go a little south and head east, we can see the old Rajpipla palace, the sports promotion center, forests, and the Karjan river and dam there. This place with hills, forests, and rivers has become a place for shooting many films due to its beauty. If we cross the Narmada from there, we will come across Gurudeshwar.

Ankleshwar, located 12 kilometers south of Bharuch, is known for its mineral oil. The best and most oil-producing oil field in Gujarat is Ankleshwar. The importance of this area has increased significantly with the discovery of oil in the Ankleshwar area. This area, which seemed dormant years ago, is now bustling with activity. The oil extracted from Ankleshwar is sent to the Koyali refinery near Vadodara for purification. So let us also reach Vadodara.