Geography | Area, Population & Literacy | Social Structure | Culture | Language | Literary Tradition
Music | Folk Dance | Ras and Garba
In Indian Union, Gujarat has a colorful profile and the age-old cultural heritage of its own. Its land is fertile, beautiful and prosperous.
Gujarat is situated on the Western Indian coast between 20.6 and 24.42 degrees north latitude and 68.10 and 74.28 degrees east longitude having a 100 kms. long Arabian sea-coastline almost 1/3 of the total sea-coast of India Its total area consists of 1,96,000 sq. kms. (6.10% of that of the Indian Union) from Katchchh in the West to Daman in the South - the hilly tract from Arravlli in the East to the Western hills with lush green forests, thick and thin rivers as well as the plains in the middle. Gujarat State administratively consists of 19 districts divided into 184 talukas with about 8,114 villages.
Geography
Gujarat ranks 10th in population and 9th in area among the states of India. According to the provisional results of 1991 census, the population of Gujarat is 4.12 crores, forming 4.88% of the country's population and is predominantly rural (65.6% rural and 34.4% urban) The state ranks fourth in urbanization amongst the states of the Union. Its density of population is 210 persons per sq. km. As against 2-7 persons per sq. km. for the country. The decadal growth of population in Gujarat declined from 27.7% during 1971-31 to 20.8% in 1981-91, which is lower than the decadal growth rate of 23.5% for the country. The live birth rate and death rate were 35.0 and 13.0 in 1980, which have reduced to 29.5 and 8.9 in 1990 respectively. The infant mortality rate has gone down from 113 in 1980 to 72 in 1990. In literacy, Gujarat ranks ninth among the states of India. The literacy rate in the state has increased from 52.21 % in1981 to 60.91% in 1991. Among males, it has increased from 65.14% in 1981 to72.54% in 1991. Among females, it has gone up from 38.46% in 1981 to 48.50 % in 1991. About 44.8 % of the total population in rural areas and 64.8 % in urban areas are literate.
Social
StructureAgriculture continues to be the
primary occupation of the large majority of its people. After the formation of the new
State, industrial development has also taken rapid strides. Business acumen, industry and
thrift are the principal characteristics, which distinguish the residents of this part of
the country. Trade and long coastline have enabled Gujaratis to carry on brisk maritime
trade with foreign countries since ancient
times. Ports like Camay, Dholera, Bharuch, Surat, Rander and Somnath were once great
center of foreign trade. Even now many people from this part of the country have settled
for business reasons in other parts of the country and abroad. Today, Gujaratis are in
good number in the countries of East and South Africa, Aden, Newzeland, U. K and U. S. A,
In view of these connections the residents here have a cosmopolitan and liberal outlook.
Geography | Area, Population & Literacy | Social Structure |
Culture |
Language | Literary Tradition
Music | Folk Dance | Ras and Garba