Latest revision as of 19:05, 6 January 2017

[edit] Kharaghoda, 1908

Village in the Viramgam of Ahmadabad District, Bombay, situated in 23 N. and 71 degree 50' E., on the border of the Little Rann of Cutch. Population (1901), 2,108. At the time when Ahmadabad passed to the British, the eastern shore of the Little Rann contained five large salt-works in the possession of petty chiefs. These were gradually acquired by purchase between 1822 and 1840, and were subsequently closed in 1875 in favour of a single manufactory at Kharaghoda. This, however, proved unequal to meeting the con- stantly increasing demand for salt; and in 188 1-2 new salt-works were opened at Ooru, which is 6 miles north of Kharaghoda and is con- nected with it by a line of rail. In 1904-5 the total out-turn of salt from these two works was 2,545,521 maunds, of which 2,313,965 maunds were sold. Kharaghoda is the head-quarters of two Assistant Collectors of Salt Revenue, one of whom is in charge of the works and the other of the preventive establishment which patrols a line extend- ing from Dhanduka to Jamaiya. The town contains a dispensary, a library, a dharmsala, and a market; and water is supplied by pipes from a tank built at a cost of 2§ lakhs about a mile to the north of the town.

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.

[edit] Country's oldest mall

The Times of India, December 18, 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

The Bulkley market, located in Surendranagar district, was built in 1905 by Hindustan Salts Limited

This 111-yr-old market is known as the "country's oldest mall". The villagers claim that the market has never been renovated

Nestled in the dusty alleys of Kharaghoda village in Gujarat, a 111-year-old covered market set up the British and called the "country's oldest mall" by locals has been catering to the needs of the villagers besides acting as their meeting point.

The Bulkley market, located in Surendranagar district, was built in 1905 by Hindustan Salts Limited, a company engaged in salt manufacturing.

The company was run by the Britishers before Independence and like the market, it had developed the entire village in a planned manner. It had also built a hospital in the area which remains functional.

The small market complex houses 8-10 shops under one roof. The shops are lined neatly along a passageway and the shopkeepers sit on elevated platforms, where they also display their wares. The market caters to the villagers of Kharghoda, most of whom work in a salt factory nearby. This nucleus of shops stocks items ranging from daily necessities like groceries, vegetables, clothes to bicycle tyres.

The shopping area also serves as a meeting point of the village where the locals gather daily to talk and exchange news. The locals express a sense of pride in the market and most consider it a heritage.

Most shopkeepers have owned the shops in the complex for over 25-30 years and the rest say the shops have been in their families as long as they can remember.

According to an inscription on the facade of the complex, the market was "named after Mr Bulkley who was for many years assistant collector of salt revenue in-charge of Kharaghoda and interested himself greatly in the welfare of the village".