Welcome to Nadiad City

There is a belief that the old name of Nadiad was Natpur or Natpadra, and this city was settled by Nat people. Who would deny that the idol of Rupa Parekh's Pol Derasar of Nadiad has the name Natpadra, which shows that Nadiad existed under the name Natpadra from 746 to 1297 AD. Around 858 AD, the remains of this city have been found near the Bhairav temple on the Dakor road. The author of 'Narasanda Darshan' has named Nadiad as "Naginabad". In the year 1007 AD, Muslim historians call Nadiad “Islamabad”.

If any Gujarati anywhere in the world hears the word "Saksharbhumi", he will definitely understand the mention of Nadiad. Why did a medium-sized city like Nadiad get such a prestigious title, leaving aside other big cities of Gujarat? There were nine literates here, meaning that there were no writers as many as Nadiad in other cities? In the second half of the 19th century, i.e. between 1850 and 1900 AD, Nadiad was becoming the center of literary and cultural activities in Gujarat. In 1818 AD, English rule was established in Gujarat, and higher education in universities started. In this way, due to contact with English education, English language and English culture, Gujaratis, especially those from Surat, started a reformist movement. At this time, Nadiad became the center for preserving Indian culture and tradition. In that era of princely states, the four friends here, Manasukhram Tripathi, Manibhai Jashbhai, Haridas Viharidas Desai (Bhau Saheb) and Ranchodram Udayram, enjoyed power in many princely states from Mumbai to Kutch by virtue of their skills, studies and diplomacy. In this way, the literates of Nadiad, shining with the triple brilliance of Lakshmi, Saraswati and Rajasata, studied Indian and English culture as thoroughly as anywhere else in Gujarat during that period. Thus, as a result of the work that Nadiad did to preserve Aryan culture, it is also gaining the glory of a literate land today. In Nadiad, nine literates hoisted their literary flag all over Gujarat at once. With Govardhanram Tripathi's novel Saraswatichandra, Gujarati literature has taken a step in world literature. Apart from this, Manasukhram Tripathi, Zaverilal Umiyashankar Yagnik, Dolatram Kriparam Pandya, Balashankar Ullasram Kanthariya, Manilal Nabhubhai Dwivedi, Chhaganlal Harilal Pandya, Ambalal Bulakhiram Jani, Champshankar Narmadashankar Pandya and Mulshankar Maneklal Yagnik earned great fame as the nine literates of Nadiad. In addition, for Nadiad, which has nine lanes, nine gates, and nine lakes, Gujarat poet Nhanalal has rightly said that the whole of Gujarat was searching for literacy in the courtyard of Nadiad.

More than 240 writers whose birthplace, work, or homeland was Nadiad have been here on this land. Perhaps there have been no other such and so many writers in the middle-class towns of Gujarat. It is also noteworthy that not only the Desais, Nagars, Brahmins, Patels, and merchants, but also the number of writers from Christian brothers, Bra Samaj, and other communities has remained large in this land. The popular song of Mughal Azam, Pankit Mohe Pandhat Pe Nandlal, was written by Radhunath Brahmabhat, a poet of Nadiad. So, Nadiad is the birthplace of Vitthalbhai Patel, the poet of the song "Jooth Bole Kaua Kaate" in Raj Kapoor's famous creation Bobby. Gujarat's legendary humorist Bakul Tripathi, famous poet-writer Pururaj Joshi and famous storyteller Ivadev are also from Nadiad. This land has given the gift of many creators like Indulal Yagnik, Jaswant Thakar, Maganbhai Desai, D.B. Govindbhai Desai, Desaibhai Nathabhai Patel, Prabodh Parikh, Pujya Mota, Mahesh Champaklal, Krishnashankar Shastri (Pujya Dadaji). Of these 225 to 250 writers, 26 creators are found passing through the same road, besides this, the fragrance of many other great creators is lingering in the alleys of Nadiad. Whose introduction will be found in books like Nadiadno Akshardeh and in the permanent exhibition held at A.Sau. Dahilakshmi Library.

Apart from Saksharbhoomi, another identity of Nadiad is as the village of Jai Maharaj. Because 180 years ago from today, Yogiraj Avadhut Santram Maharaj, in the form of Dattatreya Swarup, lived here and spread the light of divine light. This Santram Maharaj has composed the best poems of Gnanbhakti under the pseudonym of Sukhsagar and many other poets of his saintly tradition have also given the best poems. In addition, the land of Nadiad has also given birth to the brave Vitthalbhai and the architect of a united India, Sardar Patel.