The Gujarat chief minister said the residents of Ahmedabad should "own up" their city and make its presence felt in the world.
Gujarat's chief minister Narendra Modi today said the citizens of Ahmedabad should "own up" their city and make its presence felt in the world.
At a function organised to commemorate 600 years of the city's founding, he said, "Today we are celebrating 600 years of the city after being named Ahmedabad, but the history of this great city dates long back to the age of Rishi Dadhichi."
"I had asked people of all cities in the state to find out about their city's birth date, and suggested to them to make it a tradition to celebrate it every year," the BJP politician said.
"I think it is time that people here own up their city and make a global mark," he said.
Modi said that besides a year-long programme to celebrate the city's birthday, he would like the civic authorities to conduct essay competitions on the theme of 600 years of Ahmedabad in each and every school of the city.
"I want all children to write an essay on different issues of Ahmedabad after research," he said. "The best essays could
be awarded and used to highlight the city."
As part of the celebration of 600 years of Ahmedabad, a small run for the city was organised at the Sabarmati riverfront where a number of citizens took part.
A photo exhibition has been kept open for the citizens, which depicts the many faces of the city of Ahmedabad over the years.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has planned year-long celebrations for the 600th anniversary bash of the city which was founded by Ahmed Shah in 1411.
Ahmedabad was built in an open and spacious plain in the immediate vicinity of Ashaval city (now Asarwa) on the east bank of the Sabarmati.
It then comprised a small fort known as the Bhadra Fort. The city was enclosed in 1487 by a fort wall six miles in circumference and containing 12 gates, 189 bastions, and over 6,000 battlements. The wall was built by Mohammed Begdo, grandson of Ahmed
Shah, to protect the city from invaders.
The city was planned according to the ancient Indo-Aryan tradition of a royal capital with main roads, thoroughfares, and subsidiary roads.
Over the six centuries, the city has impressed many world-famous travellers, including a Russian czar and the Mughal emperor Akbar. Some travellers compared it to Vienna and London.
Moghul architecture is visible both inside the walled city and outside, which includes the Jumma Masjid, Sidi Sayyed ki Jali, Swinging Minarets, Sarkhej Roza, 12 gigantic city gates, and others.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}