1. SOCIAL SCIENCE PROJECT
WORK
INFORMATION OF GUJARAT AND
MAURITIUS
Presented By
Utkarsh Verma
VIII ‘C’

2. INFORMATION OF MAURITIUS
Area: 2040 sq km (788 sq miles).
Population: 1,159,729 (1998).
Population Density: 589.0 per sq km.
Capital: Port Louis. Population: 147,131
(1998).
Geography: Mauritius, a volcanic and
mountainous island in the Indian Ocean,
lies 2000km (1240 miles) off the
southeastern coast of Africa, due east of
Madagascar. The island-state stands on
what was once a land bridge between
Asia and Africa called the Mascarene
Archipelago. From the coast, the land
rises to form a broad fertile plain on
which sugar cane flourishes. Some 500km
(310 miles) east is Rodrigues Island, while
northeast are the Cargados Carajos Shoals
and 900km (560 miles) to the north is
Agalega.
Government: Republic. Gained
independence from the UK in 1968. Head
of State: President Cassam Uteem since
1992. Head of Government: Prime
Minister Aneerood Jugnauth since 2000.
Language: English is the official language.
The most widely spoken languages are
French, Creole, Hindi and Bhojpuri. Urdu

3. and Chinese are also among the
languages spoken.
Religion: 51 per cent Hindu, 31 per cent
Christian, 17 per cent Muslim.
Time: GMT + 4.
Telephone:. Country code: 230. There are
no area codes. Outgoing international
code: 00. There are a limited number of
public telephone booths, mainly at the
airport and in major hotels.
Internet/E-mail: There are a number of ISPs in Mauritius; they include Telecom
Plus, Mauritius Network (MNS), MauriNet and Mauritius Telecom
(http://mt.intnet.mu). There are cyber cafés in Phoenix, Vaoas and other main
towns. Most hotels offer internet facilties.
Telegram: Messages can be sent from the Mauritius Telecommunications
Service offices in Cassis and Port Louis. There are also facilities at Overseas
Telecoms Services Ltd, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis.
Postal: Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0815-1115 and 1200-1600; Sat 0800-
1145.
TRAVEL
AIR: The national airline of Mauritius is Air Mauritius (MK). Air Austral,
Air Europe, Air France, Air Madagascar, Air Seychelles, Air Tanzania, Air
Zimbabwe, British Airways, Condor, Singapore Airlines, South African
Airways and Swissair also fly to Mauritius.
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Mauritius (MRU) (Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam) is
48km (30 miles) southeast of Port Louis. Taxis are available to the city (travel
time - 45 minutes to 2 hours). Airport facilities include duty-free shops,
banks/bureaux de change, snack bar, post office, shops and car hire (Avis,
Europcar and Hertz). A new terminal has recently been built.
SEA: Port Louis is the main port. It is primarily commercial but there is a
limited passenger service to Réunion and Rodrigues Island.

4. PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months from date of entry required by
all. Passports issued by the government of Taiwan are not recognised. The
holders of such documents can apply for an entry permit to the Passport and
Immigration Officer (address below).
INFORMATION ABOUT GUJARAT
Gujarat State Information
Capital : Gandhinagar
Districts :25
Languages: Gujarati, Hindi, English
Introduction to Gujarat
Gujarat has seen a succession of races, settlers as well as conquerors, and
amalgamated their cultures into its own. The result has been a wonderful
fusion of new ideas and old world traditions. Rich in crafts, history and
natural beauty, this home state of Mahatma Gandhi continues to attract
artists, scholars, intellectuals and businessmen from the world over.
Geography of Gujarat
Gujarat is situated on the western coast of the Indian Peninsula. The state is
bound by the Arabian Sea on the west, Pakistan and Rajasthan in the north
and northeast, Madhya Pradesh in the southeast and Maharashtra in the
south. Based on physiology and culture, Gujarat can be divided into several
regions like Kutch, Saurashtra, Kathiawad, and Northeast Gujarat.
In the north is Rann of Kutch, a salt marsh and in the south is Little Rann of
Kutch. Between Saurashtra and Khambhat is Kathiawad with a maximum
altitude of 180 meters and it is flanked by sandstones in the north. The Central
Kutch region extends to Northeast Gujarat and the region has low hills and
small plains. Southeast Gujarat is an extension of the Western Ghats and
receives the highest rain in the state. The forest cover in Gujarat is relatively
little with 9.61% area covered with forest, it still supports more than 40 species
of animals including the rare Asiatic Lion, wild ass and blackbuck. An

5. assortment of birds and reptiles completes the tally of wildlife this state
supports.
Brief History of Gujarat
The name of the Gujarat state is derived from Gujjaratta, which means the land
of the Gujjars. It is believed that a tribe of Gujjars migrated to India around the
5th century AD. Many Indus Valley and Harappan centers have been
discovered in the state like Lothal, Dholavira, Rangpur, Lakhabaval, Amri,
and Rozdi and established the earliest known history of Gujarat to around 3000
BC to 2200 BC. At that point of time, Lothal was the main port of this
civilization. With the advent of the Yadava tribe led by Lord Krishna, some
3,500 years ago, came the glorious days for Gujarat. It was followed by 100
years of Lord Krishna's rule. It is believed that Ashoka, the Mauryan king
extended his kingdom to Gujarat. The fall of the Maurya Empire led the small
kingdoms to establish their power in this state from time to time.
The state achieved a high level of prosperity during the time of Solankis from
the 9th century. In the 12th century AD, Allauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi
defeated the Waghela king of Gujarat and a long era of Muslim rule over
Gujarat started. The Marathas ended the Muslim rule in the 18th century only
to be handed over to the British in the early 19th century. Surat was the center
of the first factory of the East India Company in India and after the First War
of Independence in 1857, the region came under the British monarchy along
with the rest of the country.
Districts of Gujarat
Gujrat has 25 districts: Ahmedabad, Amelia, Banskantha, Bharuch, Narmada,
Bhavnagar, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Kuchchh, Kheda,
Anand, Mehsana, Patan, Panchmahal, Dahod, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surat,
Surendranagar, Valsad, Navsari, Vadodara and Dang
Economy of Gujarat
Gujarat is the most industrialized states in India. It attracts the cream of
domestic and multinational investment in the leading sectors of the economy.
The important minerals produced into the state are agate, bauxite, dolomite,

6. fireclay, fluorite, fuller's earth, kaolin, lignite, limestone, chalk, calcareous sea
sand, perlite, petroleum and natural gas, and silica sand.
The state is the main producer of tobacco, cotton, and groundnut in the
country. Gujarat also contributes inputs to industries like textiles, oil and soap.
Agriculture in Gujarat forms a vital sector of the state's economy. It has to
provide the required food grains for the state's population and raw materials
for most of the agro-based industries. The state produces a large variety of
crops and its cropping pattern reflects the spatial variations in climate and
topography.
Rivers of Gujarat
The major rivers flowing through the state include Narmada, Sabarmati, and
Mahi in central and northern Gujarat; Mithi, Khari, Bhadar, Shetrunji and
Bhogavo in Saurashtra and Tapi, Purna, Ambika, Auranga and Damanganga
in the southern part of the state.
Education in Gujarat
Gujarat had an overall literacy rate of 69.97% as per census 2001. The male
literacy rate is 80.50% while the female literacy rate is 58.60%. Gujarat
government is very serious about improving the education level in the state
and has started several programs to achieve full literacy such as
universalisation of elementary education,
The status of higher education in the state is very good. Gujrat is home to many
premier educational institutes such as Indian Institute of Management,
Ahmedabad, Nirma Institue of Technology and Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of
Information and Communication Technology. The total number of universities
in the state including the deemed universities and institutes of national
importance is 15. The premier research institutes in the state include Institute
for Plasma Research, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL).
Food of Gujarat
Gujarati food is a vegetarian gourmand's dream come true. It is a vegetarian
wonder with complete nutrition derived from leafy vegetables prepared in
innumerable variations and subtly flavored with spices. Simple, practical,
down-to-earth and wholesome, Gujarati food truly reflects the heart of the state.
Gujarati food is primarily vegetarian, the main reason for which is the Jain

7. and Buddhist influences. However, the goodness of millet, yogurt, buttermilk,
coconut, groundnut, sesame seeds and jaggery makes sure that this non-meat
food is not lacking in proteins.
Arts & Culture of Gujarat
There are four groups of people who came to inhabit this land at different
points of time and now form the majority here. Jats came from a place in Iran
called Half (to be known latter as Jat) and they were herders by occupation.
Around five hundred years ago they came to Kutch and Sind in search of new
grazing pastures and settled there. Those who joined agriculture called
themselves Garasia Jats and those who continued their ancestral occupation
were known as Dhanetah Jats, and those who chose to study the Koran became
Fakirani Jats.
Crafts in Gujarat are a way of life, a process that transforms even the most
mundane object of daily use into a thing of beauty. The skill of the Gujarati
craftsperson-be it a weaver or a metalworker, a woman who embroiders for
herself or a potter who creates pieces of art out of clay-is bound to leave one
spellbound.
Wood carving is another important craft in Gujarat, evident in the many
elaborately carved temples, havelis (mansions) and palaces as well as objects of
daily and ritual use. Utensils are another area where the craftspersons of
Gujarat have excelled.
Gujarat is also famous for its terracotta work, especially votive terra-cotta
figurines which one can find by the hundreds at small shrines built in forests,
along roads, outside villages, on lonely hill-tops and under large trees, especially
in south Gujarat.
Jewelry is yet another fascinating craft in Gujarat
Dance & Music of Gujarat
Gujarat has a rich tradition of song, dance and drama. Ras, Garba, and Bhavai
that are popular Gujarati folk dance forms, have their origin to the ancient
period of Lord Krishna. The Ras dance is actually a form of Ras Leela in which
different childhood antics of Krishna at Gokul and Vrindavan are enacted.
Dandia Ras is performed during the Navratri Festival and men and women
both join in a dance circle with small sticks known as dandia. Usha, the

8. granddaughter of Lord Krishna, is considered as the first dancer of the form
called Lasya or Garba.
Festivals of Gujarat
Navratri is celebrated for the 10 days preceding the festival of Dussehra
usually in October. The most eagerly awaited festival of the year, which
celebrates harvest time, Navratri is an occasion when both rural and urban
Gujarat worship the nine incarnations of the Mother Goddess, Shakti, denoting
cosmic energy.
Other festivals of Gujarat include the Bhavnath fair, Dang Darbar, Saputara
Summer Festival, Madhavrai fair, and Desert Festival.