Who’s who meet to plan city’s 600th birthday bash

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) kickstarted plans to organise a gala bash to celebrate 600 years of the founding of Ahmedabad. On Wednesday, many well known faces of the city gathered to discuss the celebrations that will be held on February 26 to mark 600 years of Ahmedabad's existence.

In the meeting hosted by the AMC, suggestions poured in from every one to make the celebrations a memorable affair. Some of the main proposals that came out of the discussions were that the festivities should start in the walled city area.

Other ideas thrown up included a theme based diary for AMC, new photographs of old Ahmedabad in the Sanskar Kendra museum, songs, dances and plays on apnu Ahmedabad and an exhibition on the city's history.

Asutosh Bhatt of Khadia Itihas Samiti suggested that the AMC should compile a book of anecdotes of historic places so that children can know more about their home town. Suggestions were also made for musical events at Sarkhej Roza and other places of interest, visits by schoolchildren to these places and so on.

Former mayors Joitaram Patel, Amit Shah, Bhavna Dave, Malini Atit, former president of GIHED Jaxay Shah, Subhash Bramhbhatt of HK Arts College and others were present at the meeting, apart from AMC bosses.

Besides being the city that Mahatma Gandhi chose to start his independence movement, Ahmedabad has a rich history and culture and was famous for its textile mills. Till new technology took over, it was known as the 'Manchester of India.'