Chijgam is a village located on the coast of the Arabian Sea 160 miles north of Mumbai, India. The village of Dandi, which is famous for Gandhi's salt march, and city of Navsari, which is the birthplace of the founders of TATA (India's largest business group), are located in close proximity of Chijgam. Despite limited resources in Chijgam, many residents of the tiny village become doctors, software engineers, chartered accountants, and the like. Former villagers now reside in the USA, Canada, UK, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and New Zealand.
Chijgam was established around 1850 by Makanbhai Patel and few other families who migrated from Mutwaad. Chijgam and all of its neighboring villages were massive sea salt producing areas for almost 200 years. The area that Chijgam is located on is separated from the Arabian Sea by approximately one mile of land. It is located on Kanai Creek which starts from Toli Talav, north of Navsari and ends up at Arabian Sea.
Salt was mainly traded from the Chijgamis to the Banjaras/Vanzaras (gujrati pronunciation) (the gypsy tribe of traders) for money, materials, essentials, food, and jewelry. Eventually technology advanced, and ships were used to transport salt to Mumbai. Adoption of a railroad transportation system replaced Chijgami dependence on the Vanzaras and their camel fleets. Introduction of a fresh water canal system reduced the amount of salt in the sea (brine level) by 40%. The lack of salt eventually ended the salt business that Chijgam was accustomed to. However, canals were useful in rejuvenating farm crops and mango orchards. Despite the demise of the salt manufacturing business, the improvement of the land’s agriculture is why canals were still used. By 1975, opportunities in the diamond cutting and polishing businesses brought prosperity back to Chijgam. Meanwhile, people started to immigrate to Europe and North America. Today Canada and the Persian Gulf have one of the largest number of residents from Chijgam.
Dandi is the place where Gandhi concluded his salt march in 1930. Chijgam is located 7–8 miles from Dandi and share the area of salt manufacturing farms with Dandi. Gandhi also visited Mutwaad, Abrama, Panaar while he stayed for one month before his arrest.
From the 1920s through the 1940s, several Chijgami residents flourished in the Toddy also known as Palm wine, (a semi-alcoholic drink made from the sap of Palm trees) producing and selling business. Toddy can also be distilled and it is known as arrack everywhere. These Chijgamis traveled as far as Nagpur to run such stores and during the festival of Diwali, would return to Chijgam with great wealth. However, before returning to Chijgam, many of the businessmen would hire musicians from neighboring villages and reenter Chijgam with great fanfare and excitement. They would also hire cooks and hold extravagant celebrations and feasts. Unfortunately for Chijgamis, during the 1930s when Gandhi started his support for liquor prohibition, Taadi stores went out of business. Some Chijgamis went into Shipping business using small clipper ships. They used to transport goods between Goa, Mumbai and Bhavnagar. Advent of trucking business through roads put these families out of shipping business through sea. Farmers have now turned to grow rice, sugarcanes, mangoes & sapodillas (chikoo)
Between 1930 through 1970, about 10% of children from Chijgam attended the only high school in the district: the Dahyabhai Sunderji & Bhagwanji Bhimbhai School in Khara Abrama. It is a commute of 8 miles from Chijgam to the DS&BB school. Lalbhai Patel started primary school around 1930's in Chijgam because kids had really hard time to go to Panaar which was only 3 miles commute but through muddy waterway.
During the late 60’s, Chijgamis became famous for playing Kabaddi and volleyball. Chijgam sent regularly Kabaddi and volleyball teams to compete at state level. During games, Chijgam’s musical themesong, "The Pride of Chijgam" was loudly played by local bands against rival bands during what became known as a musical face-off. The band with the loudest and clearest sound often won the battle.
Chijgamis used to commute 3–6 miles to Abrama & Panar, carrying 30–35kg of dehusked rice over their heads to convert it into puffed rice & flattened rice.
Religion and Beliefs
A majority of Chijgam's population ascends from the Koli tribe and worships the goddess Kali (Kalimata). Ten mile pilgrimages to the Kalimata temple, Masa, during the monsoon season were common journeys made by the Chijgamis. There is also the Wageshwarimata temple and a recently constructed Rama temple. When they inhabited Chijgam, Vanzaras frequented Rupamata and Makhanmata temples.
Kolis from Chijgaam who were also agris ( salt gatherers ) also pray to goddess Mumba. It is fact that Mumbai, the biggest city in India is named after goddess Mumba and Mumba Devi Mandir is one of the most popular temple in Mumbai. Chijgamis make pilgrim to Unnaimata (Oonaimata) temple and enjoy sulfur water spring bath at temple. Groups performing Ramlila was big entertainment for chijgaamis during early part of 20th century.
Juhu is an upmarket neighbourhood of Mumbai. It is most famous for the sprawling Juhu Beach. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, Versova to the north, Santacruz and Vile Parle to the east and Khar to the south. Juhu is among the most affluent areas of the city and home to many Bollywood celebrities. The nearest railway stations are Santacruz, Andheri and Vile Parle on the Western Line and Harbour Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway. The nearest metro station is Versova. There are two minor B.E.S.T bus depots in Juhu.
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, Dandi March and the Dandi Satyagraha, was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The 24-day march lasted from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930 as a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly. Another reason for this march was that the Civil Disobedience Movement needed a strong inauguration that would inspire more people to follow Gandhi's example. Mahatma Gandhi started this march with 79 of his trusted volunteers. Walking ten miles a day for 24 days, the march spanned over 240 miles (384 km), from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, which was called Navsari at that time. Growing numbers of Indians joined them along the way. When Gandhi broke the salt laws at 6:30 am on 6 April 1930, it sparked large scale acts of civil disobedience against the British Raj salt laws by millions of Indians.
Uran is a coastal town and part of Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra state in Konkan division. It lies in the Raigad district, east of Mumbai across the Dharamtar Creek. Uran is primarily a fishing and agriculture village, which has developed into the special economic zone of Uran. The primary languages spoken are Agri and Koli which is a dialect of Marathi-Kokani.
Naigaon is a neighbourhood of Vasai-Virar city of Maharashtra. It is a part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Formerly a part of Thane district, it now comes under Palghar district limits. It is 19 km away from Mumbai city limits i.e. Dahisar Checknaka (Kashimira). Vasai Creek divides Naigaon from Salsette Island on which Mumbai City lies. A decade ago it was a village, but the situation has drastically changed in a few years. It is governed by Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC). Naigaon is approximately 39 km from Mumbai International Airport.
Dandi is a village in the Jalalpore taluka, Navsari District, Gujarat, India. It is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea near the city of Navsari.
Navsari is an administrative district in the state of Gujarat in India, with its headquarters at Navsari city. The district covers an area of 2,211 square kilometres roughly equal to country like Luxembourg and the US state of Delaware, and had a population of 1,329,672 in 2011 roughly equal to country like Estonia and the US state of Hawaii. The district was formed in 1997 after Valsad district was bifurcated into Valsad and Navsari districts.
Navsari is a city, the ninth biggest municipality of Gujarat and the administrative headquarters Navsari District of Gujarat, India, located between Surat & Mumbai. Navsari is also the Twin City of Surat, and only 30 km south of Surat. In 2016, Navsari ranked as the 16th biggest city of Gujarat state of India by population in 2011. It used to rank 10th in 1991 to 2001. Navsari is the 25th "cleanest city of India" according to the Indian Ministry of Urban Development. Navsari is also a famous place due to the great Satyagraha march led by Mahatma Gandhi till the dandi.
Valsad district, historically known as Bulsar district is one of the 33 districts in the Western Indian state of Gujarat. It is bound by Navsari district to the north, Nashik district of Maharashtra state to the east, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli district of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNHDD) union territory and the Palghar district of Maharashtra to the south. The Arabian Sea lies west of the district. The coastal Daman enclave of DNHDD is bounded by Valsad district on the north, east, and south. The district's administrative capital is Valsad. The district's largest city is Vapi.
Mumbra is a city and suburb of Thane district in Western India in the state of Maharashtra, within the Greater Mumbai area.
Devgad is a taluka in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra India consisting of 98 villages. It is located on the Arabian Sea in the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai. Devgad is known globally for its exports of locally grown Alphonso mangoes.
Maharashtra is the third largest state of India. It has a long history of Marathi saints of Varakari religious movement, such as Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Chokhamela, Eknath and Tukaram which forms the one of bases of the culture of Maharashtra or Marathi culture. Maharashtra had huge influence over India under the 17th-century king Shivaji of the Maratha Empire and his concept of Hindavi Swarajya which translates to self-rule of people.
Asoli is a small village in Taluka Vengurla and district Sindhudurg of Maharashtra, India.
South Gujarat, also known as Dakshin Gujarat, is a region in Indian state of Gujarat. The region is one of the wettest regions of India. The western part is almost coastal and is known as Kantha Vistar, and the eastern part is also known as Dungar Vistar, which ranges from 100 to 1000 metres, with the highest peak at Saputara in the Dang district.
Aronda is a village in the Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra state, India. Aronda is famous for coconut cashew nuts, mangoes, jack fruit, Kokum, and rice. Aronda is a port on the boundary of Goa and Maharashtra. Aronda is next to Terekhol River, and has many ancient temples such as the Shri Sateri Bhadrakali Shri Ravalnath and Kulkar temple.
Mumba Devi Mandir is an old temple in the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India dedicated to the goddess Mumbā, the local incarnation of the Devi. Marathi Mumbā derives from Sanskrit While Hindu sects devoted to the goddess Mumbadevi are attested to as far back as the 15th century, it is said that the temple was built in 1675 near the main landing site of the former Bori Bunder creek against the north wall of the English Fort Saint George by a Hindu woman also named Mumba. The creek and fort are now deteriorated to a point at which they are but derelict reminders of the city's past. The temple, on the other hand, is still active.
The Vedaranyam March was a framework of the nonviolent civil disobedience movement in British India. Modeled on the lines of Dandi March, which was led by Mahatma Gandhi on the western coast of India the month before, it was organised to protest the salt tax imposed by the British Raj in the colonial India.
Dandi Beach is one of the prominent beaches located in Dandi village, Gujarat. Dandi beach is one of the cleanest beaches in the Arabian Sea. Dandi Beach is historically prominent as Mahatma Gandhi led the salt sathyagraha from Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad) to Dandi. This is the beach where Mahatma Gandhi broke the salt tax law of the British after the Salt March.
The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial or Dandi Memorial is a memorial in Dandi, Gujarat, India, that honors the activists and participants of the Salt Satyagraha, an act of nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India which was led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930. The memorial is spread over a 15 acres (61,000 m2) and is located in the coastal town of Dandi, where the Salt March ended on 6 April 1930 and the British salt monopoly was broken by producing salt by boiling sea water. The project was developed at an estimated cost of ₹89 crore (US$12 million).
Sadashiv Sathe or Bhau Sathe is an Indian sculptor. His notable works include the 5-metre high statue of Mahatma Gandhi that is part of the main structure of the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial situated at Dandi, Navsari and the 18-foot equestrian statue of Shivaji at the Gateway of India, Mumbai.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
