Variav

History

Variav is an ancient town of some historical importance. As early as the seventh century CE it may have been known as a place of migration of Zoroastrians fleeing the fall of the Sassanid Empire. The arrival of Zoroastrians in India is documented in Qissa-i Sanjan, and the date of first arrival is variously interpreted as being 936 AD, 765 AD and 716 AD. Others have noted a gradual period of immigration between the 10th and 12th centuries

The Sacrifice of Parsi Women at Variav

The Parsis landed as refugees in Sanjan but they worked very hard and prospered as agriculturists and artisans. Gujarati had become the native language of the community, and the sari was now the traditional garment of Parsi women. While they adapted to the land, they still kept their religion and customs alive. By the end of the 10th century the Parsis began to settle all over Gujarat and spread to Bharuch, Variav, Cambay, Navsari and Ankleswar. Variav is a settlement near Surat on the Tapti river, and the story of the heroism of the Parsi women of Variav is sung in Garbas (Gujarati folk songs) till this day.

The Parsis had prospered through their hard work and the rich earth of Gujarat yielded fruitful returns. They grew different types of flowers and all types of grains and cereals. Their prosperity made the Raja of Ratanpur jealous. Towards the end of the 11th century he demanded a huge tribute from the Parsis. The Paris refused to pay and the king sent troops to enforce his law. The Parsis, who were law abiding, now gathered together to resist this unjust tax. The king’s troops had to retreat in defeat.

The king got even angrier and began plotting the downfall of the settlement. He came to know through his spies that the men of the community were going to be away at a ghambar (seasonal festival and feast) in the village of Tena near Surat. All adult men would be busy attending the festivities and the land would be easy to capture and destroy.

As the troops gathered outside the village, the brave village women of Variav decided that they could not give up their homes and fields without a fight. One of the women had a plan. She quickly gathered all the women and persuaded them to put on the clothes and armour of their men folk. They hid their long hair under the metal helmets of the men. When the king’s troops attacked Variav they were surprised to find a large army of men facing them across the fields. The battle was long and fierce, the women had just started chasing the Ratanpur troops out of their land when a sudden blow to a woman’s helmet dislodged it and the helmet fell to the ground.

From under the helmet the woman’s long hair escaped. The fleeing soldiers saw that it was women they were fighting, and the cry went up that women would not defeat them. The soldiers turned back and fought fiercely. The women were tired now and had lost hope of victory. They decided that they would never surrender to injustice and raced across the fields to the Tapti river. They flung themselves into the river and drowned, preferring death to dishonour.

The ghambar over, the men returned at night from Tena. The Raja of Ratanpur’s army was waiting in ambush and as the men came home from the feast they were quickly overcome and massacred. The soldiers did not even spare the children of the village and by the next morning the prosperous settlement of Variav had been completely destroyed.

Till today the courage of the Variav women is remembered in special prayers held in their memory at the Fire Temples of Navsari.

Demographics & Migration

Variav is home to a mixed population of Sunni Muslim Vohra, Parsi, and various castes of Hindu.

Most of the Sunni Muslim Vohra population migrated to Burma (now Myanmar) where they flourished as a business community, while many maintain significant links back to Variav. In many cases, this included maintenance of houses. It was a similar story for the Parsi community, almost all of whom migrated to Mumbai and other parts of India. Both communities can now be found scattered throughout the world.

From early times Variavwala were interested in trade and commerce and travelled to foreign lands, undertaking long sea voyages. People left Variav in the early 19th century to settle in Burma, where they established many businesses and were great entrepreneurs; a number of them even became advisors to the Burmese rulers.

Then came the migration to England from the 1950s to the 1970s, a number then left for Canada particularly during the period from the 1970s to the 1990s. Similarly for USA, a considerable number of Variavwala migrated to many other countries. They are now in UK, USA, Canada, Burma, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, South Africa etc. and many more.

Despite the fact that Variav is only a small village, its people have made valuable contributions in societies around the world. Variavwala have always been great philanthropists and have set up many Waqfs or Religious Foundations to help poor, needy, disadvantaged and unfortunate members of society, particularly in Burma and in Variav itself.

The largest population of Variavwala outside India is in UK, where the community settled in the 1950s and 1960s.

Amenities

Variav has its own drinking water tank from 1903 AD set up by Ebrahim Madha of the Sunni Vohra community. The actual machinery was imported from Belgium.

In terms of religious establishments, there are four mosques, one madrassa, and one big Jain Derashar, as well as several Hindu temples. Other public facilities include two government-run schools and a library. One reader commented that “Variav Mehfil-e-Nurl-Islam library is the second oldest Library in Gujarat”. The Library is managed by Variav Sunni Vohra Jamat. Variav Library is located on a bank of river Tapi, and has the best view on both sides.