Vahelal Village (gamtal)

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Marked on the map by nayan:

Brief History of Vahelal - Posted by Kantilal D Patel (originally from Kanisa, Khambhat Taluko, Anand Jillo - Gujarat) presently of New Zealand on 10 September 2008

The following is based on description by Bhailalbhai Ashabhai Patel of Vahelal in his Booklet -" Vahelal - Aitiyasik Rooprekha" written in Gujarati during 1977 CE and witch is included by Kantilal in his book - “History of Leuva Patidar of Kanisa" currently being compiled by him.

Origin of Vahelal

Based on record of Vahivancha Barot and a booklet in Gujarati - "Vahelal - Aitiyasik Rooprekha" (a “Brief History of Vahelal”) by Bhailalbhai Ashabhai Patel of the village Vahelal published during 1977 CE, a Rabari (shepherd) named Vela established Vahelal during 519 CE and was so named after him.

As a legend goes, before the establishment of Vahelal, that location was a wooded pastureland and cowherds from adjacent places came to graze their animals. Further more, around then one of the cows of a cowherd regularly dribbled milk at a particular spot. Puzzled by this, the cowherds cleared the site when they uncovered ruins of a Shivalay including a Ling. They then built huts and established a settlement around that spot. Eventually on the spot of their find they built a new Shivalay and named it, “Varneshwar Mahadev". Renovated at different times in the past, the Shivalay still stands to day in the midst of the village.

During 1146 CE, when three Leuva Kanbi (Patidar) families first arrived here from Dabhoda (Vadodara) to settle, Narshipura Vania dominated Vahelal.

Three generations (around 1210 CE) after the arrival of the first group of Patidar another Leuva Patidar group (presently known as "Trija Bhagna" because it is made up of descendants of three sons of their ancestor Amin Pragdas) arrived and settled in Vahelal. This "Trija Bhagna" group is sub grouped in three groups namely-
1 "Chotha Bhagna" - those descending from Hathibhai the eldest son of Pragdas
2 "Vitthalbhaino Alias Jino Bhag" - those descending from Pragdas' second son Vitthalbhai
3 "Vallabhdasno Bhag" - those descending from Pragdas' third son Vallabhdas

Over and above this, a family of Savdas, the son of the daughter of Hathibhai’s great grandson, descending from Lalaji linage from Oad, came and settled here. His descendants are therefore known as "Oadia".

Around 1825 CE, another group from the neighbouring Bharkhudia Village moved in for their safety. Its descendants are known as "Bharkhudia".

A third family related to one of the Nani Khadki family also moved in. However, two or three descending families from it, to day identify themselves with the Nani Khadki group. In the interim there were also two Kadva Patidar families in settled in Vahelal who had no male issues and are therefore extinct.Thus, today all the Patidar of Vahelal are Leuva Patidars only.

Over several centuries, Patidars have been in majority and have held an upper hand in Vahelal. At the beginning of twentieth century there were round 150 Patidar Houses(with ???? families living jointly) increasing today to around 200 houses (????? families living jointly).

Over and above this today, there are several monocular families residing at Amdavad, Naroda and various other cities of Gujarat and other States. Ten to fifteen monocular families also reside in foreign lands but mostly in the USA.

As Vahelal lies on the way to Marva via Kapadvanj from Amdavad, in olden days Jain Sadhus, (ministers) had established a Derasar (monastery) here. As always, Patidars of Vahelal jointly with Jains of the village have continued to welcome visiting Jain Ministers for their religious discourses.

By later half of the nineteenth century, a population of around 2000 of Vahelal could not support a proportionally large population of Vania. As a result, in time most of the Narshipura Vania as well as Dasha Shrimali and Mevada Vania who came and settled at a later stage in Vahelal gradually moved out and settled in Amdavad and Chhani near Vadodara. Most of the Narshipura Vania went and settled at Chhani.

In the interim period, brave, principled and enterprising Rajputs of several castes including Bihola, Solanki, Parmar, Chavada, Makawana, and Dodia also lived in Vahelal. They held land in partnership and maintained a social relation of give and take with Patidar. In the early to mid twentieth century, a Rajput Madhusingh and his sons Magansingh and Pratapsingh have held very high posts in Police Department, Pratapsingh being a Crime Branch Deputy D S P. However, over the period due to their financial decline, most of the Rajput families have moved out of Vahelal.
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Coordinates:   23°4'43"N   72°45'34"E

Comments

  • Nayan, My ancestor was from Nani Khadki in Vahelal. I have visited Vahelal only once in 2004 for a couple of hours only. I presume you are from Vahelal. If so you will know where Nani Khadki is . If so, could you please mark it on the map as well as the Gam Darvajo. I would like to share with you some history about Vahelal and at the same time learn more about it from you.So please contact me by E-mail: kantipushpa@orcon.net.nz Kantilal Dahyabhai Patel from New Zealand
  • I would like to contact any one of Nani Khadki in Vahelal to learn more about Vahelal. Has any one got Vahivancha kept Vaushavali of Patidar of Vahelal? My E-mail Address is:- kantipushpa@orcon.net.nz
  • hi! you have given the interesting details!
  • I am really thankful to you for these details. Please provide me more details if you have at vijay6713@gmail.com
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