On Gujarat’s culture spread beyond borders, know about state’s vibrant facts across world

As Thursday marked Gujarat Foundation Day, the railway station at Navapur in Maharashtra — uniquely straddling the border with Gujarat — stands as a historic reminder of the division of the erstwhile Bombay State. 

About 500 metres of this platform lies in Gujarat, and 300 metres in Maharashtra. Since 1961, Gujarat and its Gujarati language have established a diasporic presence in 129 out of the 190 United Nations’ member countries.

Even before the establishment of the state of Gujarat, Gujaratis had ventured across the Arabian Sea for centuries, expanding their presence all the way to European nations. In modern times, Gujarati communities can even be found in Yellowknife, a remote part of northern Canada within the Arctic Circle, where Gujarati is still spoken. In Madagascar, a Gujarati magazine is published and Navratri festivities are celebrated with enthusiasm. Gujaratis have made their homes even in countries rarely visited by tourists.

The question of where Gujarati language is spoken was beautifully answered when astronaut Sunita Williams established a connection with Gujarati students via ham radio from the NASA Space Station in 2012, symbolically linking Gujarat to space. Gujarati is thus a language spoken from NASA’s space station to the Arctic, across 129 countries around the world.

Among the seven crore Gujaratis, there are approximately 5,08,031 distinct surnames. Of these, over 10,000 surnames have blended with various global cultures while still retaining a unique Gujarati identity. Patels have a strong presence in the US, Canada, UK, and European countries. Besides them, many other communities from Gujarat have also become part of the diaspora, establishing their own recognition.

In countries like Fiji, Portugal, Madagascar, and Zanzibar—places known for their distinct identities—Garba music still plays through speakers. In Madagascar, the Khoja community has preserved its Gujarati roots. Homes receive Gujarati souvenirs and magazines, and festivals are celebrated in full Gujarati spirit. Walking through Leicester in the UK, among shops selling fafda-jalebi, one may momentarily feel they are in Gujarat itself. In Kenya, even many native Africans working with Gujarati merchants speak the language.

At one time, Gujarati radio programmes were aired in Portugal. The Vanza tailor community from Saurashtra has built a distinct identity there through their business. 

From its humble beginnings on May 1, 1960, Gujarat now shines in 129 countries across the globe. Gujaratis form 33% of the Indian diaspora. This means that one in every three Indians living abroad is a Gujarati. In countries like the US, UK, Canada, Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, and the UAE, Gujarati language classes are also conducted to keep the culture and language alive.