In what may provide further momentum to BJP president Amit Shah's efforts to drum up Gujarat success story before elections, Ahmedabad on Friday received the certificate for India's first World Heritage City from the UNESCO.
In what may provide further momentum to BJP president Amit Shah's efforts to drum up Gujarat success story before elections, Ahmedabad on Friday received the certificate for India's first World Heritage City from the UNESCO.
Incidentally, Ahmdebad got the prestigious award for having an intercultural amalgamation of Islamic, Hindu and Jain architectures that UNESCO's Director General Irina Bokova described as a hallmark of "preserving intercultural dialogue of tolerance."
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was quick to accuse earlier governments for not making enough efforts in this matter. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's tireless perseverance to get Ahmedabad the coveted award.
"Today is a joyous day for 6.25 crore Gujaratis but it became possible entirely because of Narendra Bhai's efforts who pitched for Ahmedabad as UNESCO's World Heritage City in 2013 and then continued his efforts by digging out important documents, photographs and other testimonies to claim this glorious award," said Rupani speaking at a function where his whole cabinet and corporators of Ahmedabad Muncipal Corporation were present.
Rupani said this would help Ahmedabad shine as a star on the tourist map of not only India but of the world.
Most of the heritage work for which Ahmedabad got the award was accomplished during the reign of Sultan Ahmed Shah in the old city of Ahmedabad in the 15th century from whom the city also derived its present name.
Describing Ahmedabad as a landmark city where Mahatma Gandhi began India's freedom struggle, Ms. Bokova said, "It is important for the symbolism of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. It holds numerous mosques and Hindu and Jain temples through which it bears witness to multi-religious an multi-cultural dialogue as the rich heritage from the Sultanate period."
"The harmony it embraces through its diversity tells the story of religious and cultural exchange underpinned by tolerance," she emphasised.
The key elements that made Ahmedabad a World Heritage City include the 15th century Bhadra Citadel, the Jhulta Minar or swaying minaret and the the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, one of the finest specimens of Indo-Saracenic style.
Spread over in 5.43 sq km area, the walled city is a living heritage having close of 600 Pols (narrow pathways) with clusters of centuries old architecturally beautiful houses and dozens of Vaav (step wells). In all Ahmedabad has 28 historical monuments protected by the Archeological Survey of India.
Among the other major attractions are Teen Darwaza, one of the oldest gateways of the city, Jama Masjid and Qutub Shah's mosque. The city is also home to a number of colonial architectures, including the structure of Ellisbridge and Mangaldas Girdhardas Town Hall.
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