History of Surat

 Surat is the commercial capital city of Gujarat state.During Mahabharata period Lord Krishna Once stayed in Surat while going to Dwarka from Mathura. The city was under western Chalukyas rule in 610 AD and was under Hindu rulers till 12Th AD. When Qutub-uddin- Aibak over took the rulings. The Parsis made it their home during 12Thcentury and added to the prosperity of the city. During those days Surat was the gate way to Mecca for central India. During Mogul period Surat was a popular sea port, the charm was lost to Bombay from British Rule onwards. Surat has a history of tragedies struck on it during various occasions. In 1512 and 1530 the city of Surat was burned and destroyed by Portuguese. The British won Surat from Portuguese in 1615 after winning battle of Swally. In 1664 The Maratha king Shivaji conquered the city and looted both Mughal as well as Portuguese trading centers.  In 1662 Surat was surrendered to British as a part of dowry for Catherine (The Braganza Princess) on her wedding with Prince Charles II, this was a real blow to the prosperity of the city.          

Further downfall of Surat’s economy occurred when British opened their first mill in Bombay in 1668.  In 1670 Shivaji Maratha again attacked Surat and looted it. By 1800 AD Surat again came under of British control. There was a relative calm during British rule even during 1857 revolt for India’s Independence the city was at peace. In 1837 A great fire and Floods afterwards destroyed the city. A wealthy family ‘Bawamia family’ helped develop the city by increasing exports and investments in Diamond trade. By 20Th century the city was on the top of trading and manufacturing activities. Cotton Mills, Ginning and Pressing mills, Rice cleaning Mills, paper mills, cotton weaving hand looms, special silk and Gold Embroidery etc were the business flourishing then. 

In 1992 a worst kind of Hindu Muslim roits took place in Surat causing a large damage to property and men. In 1994 a very heavy rainfall with blocked drainage caused havoc in the Surat town when the city was submerged under water for weeks. Dead animals and public waste was not removed for days causing epidemic to spread in the town causing heavy damages. The cleaning of the city was undertaken by the then municipal commissioner S.R.Rao with the help of residents of the city.  

Even after so many calamities and destructions in history, today Suryapur or Surat (The present name of the Town) is the commercial capital of the Gujarat state in India. It stands second in Gujarat and Thirteenth in India for its population count; it also stands third among the clean cities of India.  92% diamond cutting and Polishing in the world is done in Surat. Recently Diamond Studded Gold jeweler manufactured in Surat is gaining popularity in the world. The GDP of Surat is about 12% which is almost double than the GDP of India.