Meghpur, Bhuj

Geography

Meghpur is located 18 km south from Bhuj, the neighbouring villages are Naranpur and Godpur. Meghpur is reached by State Highway 47 (Bhuj to Mandvi) and State Highway 48 (Bhuj to Mundra).

As you turn into the road leading to the town from State Highway 47, you come across a garden created by the villagers with donations from overseas and the Gujarat Government. As you enter the village itself, you come to the Meghpur Primary school followed by the town center square (bhathaan). The bus stop is located in the square were there are shops, tea stalls and Shankar Mandir (Temple).

There is a river alongside the old and new Meghpur and with the partnership of the Indian Government and the private sector 9 check dams have been built to converse water. The village enjoys a constant water supply with the old well and main supply tanks located behind the primary school. The new borehole has had to be located 3 km on the other side of the river due to the reduction in water following the 2001 Gujarat earthquake that struck the region with frightening accuracy.

Meghpur was not harshly affected by the 2001 Gujarat earthquake that had caused severe damage in the region.

History

The old Meghpur was actually located approximately half a mile from the present-day town centre, by the side of the river. Meghpur is approximately 600 years old and once used to have its own fort. The area was governed from the fort and ruins of the fort are all that remains today. In the olden times Meghpur used to host the 24 Gaam Samaj meetings and was very active in all Samaj activities.

People

The main religion of the villagers is Hinduism who follow the Swaminarayan Sampraday philosophy.

Meghpur is inhabited by various groups and communities. Many of these have reached this region after centuries of migration from neighbouring regions of Marwar (Western Rajasthan), Sindh, Afghanistan and further.

Majority of the inhabitants are Leva Patel, Rabaris and Meghvals. There are almost no houses of original founders, the Mistri community in the village.

Leva Patel

The Leva Patel group of Kanbi's have 24 Ghams (villages) in Kutch. The Leva Patel community migrated out of Meghpur in the 1970s and came to England; many Meghpurians have settled down in Wembley, Kensal Rise, Harlesden, Kingsbury, Harrow, Edgware, Kenton, Queensbury and Cardiff. The Leva Patel's are commonly referred to as 'Kutchi' as a community, this is a misconception because the Kutchi people are a complete different community with a their own Kutchi language.

The Leva Patel community has formed a huge active society: Shree Kutch Leval Patel Community SKLPC

A number of Meghpurians migrated to Africa, especially Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in the early 1960s. Today Meghpurians can be found in the United States and as far as Australia.

The Halai, Vaghjiani and Hirani clans make up the majority of Leva Patel families in Meghpur.

Food

The staple food is Rotlas made of Bajri (millet) which the local relish with butter milk or 'chhas', butter and jaggery or 'gud'.'khichhdi' made of rice and dal (pulses) is liked by everyone.

The usual cuisine consists of roti or rotlas, curd, butter milk, dal, curry, vegetables, papad, kachumbar. Dry rotlis or theplas and khakras and sev (of gram flour) are made and stored as food during travelling etc.

Nowadays, food values are becoming more tasty and palatable than nutritious. The main delicacies in food items are-Dokla, Gathia, Undhia, Muthia, Raita, Dahi Wada, Kachori, Bhajia, Bhaji made of brinjal and lady's finger as a change from normal food, Dabeli, Puri Shak, Pav Bhaji and Papdi.

There are many varieties of sweets like Mohanthal, Pendas, Halwa, Gulab Jamun and Jalebi. Seeds of Dhaniya or Dhana dal, Betal Leaf or Paan with Supari is eaten after food as the last item.

Tea which was unknown 60 years ago has become the universal drink among all classes of people (reference required). Often villagers are seen late afternoon drinking tea and socialising in the main square (bhathaan).

Languages

The languages spoken predominantly in Meghpur is Gujarati. Kutchi is also spoken, it draws heavily from its neighbouring language groups: Sindhi, Punjabi and Gujarati. Script of Kutchi language has become extinct reducing it to a dialect, occasionally written in the Gujarati script.

Education

Meghpur has 2 schools within the village.

Bal Mandir

This is a school for young children aged 4 and younger, like a nursery. It was built in 1990 with a beautiful garden in front and samajwadi by the side of it. The land for this school was donated by a local inhabitant based in Kenya.

Primary School

Meghpur Primary School was originally built in 1971. With the aid of Meghpurians living in the United Kingdom the school was rebuilt in 1992 and now consists of 16 teaching rooms with modern teaching facilities including 4 computers which, 3 have been funded by a government grant and 1 has been funded by a Meghpurian NRI.

Economy and Industries

Meghpur's major industry is farming and agriculture, there are many farmers in the village producing raw Cotton, Mangos, Sugar Cane and Coconuts for exporting internationally.

There is a huge flow of money coming in from the United Kingdom, Kenya, Australia and the Gulf Region due in a large part to the non-resident Indians who have emigrated from the village during the last fifty years, who bring money and business to the village.

Transport

The only airport serving Meghpur is Bhuj Airport, this is an Indian Military airbase where daily flights operate to Mumbai.

Bhuj is connected to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and other major cities of India by trains.

Motor vehicles registered in Kutch district have their registration Number starting with GJ-12.