URBAN UPHEAVAL IN INDIA: THE 1974 NAV NIRMAN RIOTS IN GUJARAT

Abstract

FOR THE FIRST ten weeks of 1974, the Indian state of Gujarat faced an emergency of locally unprecedented proportions. Waves of riots and political agitation swept through its cities and towns, causing over one hundred reported deaths, many more serious injuries, massive arrests, and the destruction of huge amounts of public and private property. The Nav Nirman (social reconstruction) movement spread like a firestorm throughout urban Gujarat in January, continued in the face of Army intervention, and subsided only after the leaders secured key political objectives. The most important of these was the overthrow of the state government, partially realized on February 9 when the Chief Minister resigned under pressure from Delhi and President's Rule was clamped on the state, and completed on March 15 when the Prime Minister reluctantly acceded to dissolution of the Gujarat legislative assembly.' The upheaval has since had major repercussions on Indian national politics. The Gujarat riots, together with the anti-government