Revolution in Kutch and Rule of twelve brothers

   Without going into the history of this revolution, let us go into the details of the common man of Kutch, the rulers of Kutch and the brethren of Kutch who have in the face of struggle united together to show their integrity.

Before this also to face Gulamshah Kalora in the battle of Zara in the year 1762 Kutch had shown unparalleled chivalry to combat the vast army of the foreigners. But this was the time of internal strife and the throne of Kutch with all its culture, religion, tradition and the very existence was in danger.

In this time of difficult decision making in the year 1786 the army and that also the own army of Kutch took the ruler in its custody. The out of control religious blindness and violence of Rao Raydhan was curtailed by the steps initiated and taken by Anjar’s Meghji Sheth. Jamadar Dosalven and Jamadar Fateh mohamad who showed their pure integrity and loyalty to secularism were responsible for this bloodless coup. In the society of Kutch, secularism, non-violence and democracy are the key words and the people of Kutch believe in this tradition. The ideal examples are the army leader Fateh Mohamad Notiyar and his many companions. This was the time when, for a while Meghji Sheth in his mind in the year 1845 had the concept of the twelve brothers. The twelve brothers was a congregation of power. In this 3 members of the brothers, 3 Mahajans, 3 Muslims, 1 Miyana’s, 1 of Gara sadar, 1 of the army and like this there were thirteen members. This twelve brother concept shows the time frame of the particular period and was the witness of an ascending power situation and its formation shows the equation of numbers and its knowledge among the people of Kutch.

Secular army leader Fatehmohamad

Of this period of Kutch’s revolution, Kutch character and the reality of Kutch is the true representative Jamadar Fateh Mohamad ! This illiterate Notiyar muslim has surprisingly shown political expertise, foreign relations, army settlement and management on many occasions calls for a special mention of this different personality ! Kutch’s Yaduvanshi rulers were brought together without much struggle, much bloodshed, and violence which seemed an impossible task’ Besides all this, this army leader Fateh Mohamad has kept the Kutch rulers united. There was another person in the same period by the  name of Sunderji, the merchant, who belonged to the     village of Gundiali in Kutch.

He was the favourite of  the kings, princes, palaces, Nawabs, Emperors and the cream of the society. As a connoisseur of good breed horses, and a trader of suchorses,he mediated  between many kings and rulers and communities and settled their disputes and became famous all over India. He played sword fighting and made people play sword fighting. He gave donations of lacks.

       He supplied horses and ammunitions, cash, money and equipment to the Peshwas, Gaikwads, British and Nawabs. He arranged for pilgrimage to Badrivishal and Kedarnath. In the history of Kutch people like Fateh Mohamad, Sunderji Saudagar, Jagdusha Datar makes eyes sparkle. Service to humanity and the seekers of power are people like Mekan Dada, Kutch’s industrial fore father Ramsinh Malam and such people have in this period of 150 years shined in their own way.

The Swaminarayan sect starts with the ascendance of Swami Sahajanand. Kutch’s foremost army leader Fatehmohamad descended from his horse and touched the feet of Swami Sahajanand. His influence in Kutch Saurashtra and Gujrat and initially the Vaishnav thought process has now reached the entire globe. In Kutch this sect has made a difference in its social, economical and spiritual and other fields and taught them the glory of labor, valor, and the power of Shree and gave them a special life concept.