CS Knowledge Base

Kheda is a city and a municipality in the Indian state of Gujarat. Kheda was known as Kaira during the British Raj. It was the former administrative capital of Kheda district. The city is known for tobacco farming. The nearest railway station is Mahemadavad Kheda Road and the nearest airport is Ahmedabad Airport.

The name Kheda originated from the Sanskrit term Kshetra (lit. 'land or field'). The area has a long documented history, evolving from an ancient regional territory into a prominent urban center. The earliest linguistic reference to the region dates back to the Ganapatha (c. 2nd century BCE), an appendix to Pāṇini's Sanskrit grammar treatise, which records Khetaka as a geographical name of the broader region. The region is also mentioned as Divyanagar in 133rd chapter of Padmapurana. The regional identity persisted into the early medieval period. 7th- and 8th-century copperplate grants issued by the Maitraka dynasty of Valabhi explicitly designate Khetaka as a major administrative division (mandala or vishaya).

From the 12th through the 17th centuries, Khetaka maintained its prominence, now as a recognized, well-defined town and urban settlement. Copperplate grants from the Rashtrakuta Empire identify Khetaka as a major Rashtrakuta-controlled town and a prominent center of Brahmin settlement, with 750 villages under its jurisdiction. The town is also mentioned in the Nimbavati story of the Dashakumaracharita, Ācārāṅga Sūtra, Merutunga's Prabandhachintamani (1305 CE), Puratana-prabandha-sangraha (compiled before the 15th century by multiple authors) and Jinaprabha's Vividh-tirtha-kalpa (c. 1332 CE).^[1]

It was under Chaulukya and Vaghela dynasties from 10th to the start of the 14th century, after which it was brought under the Gujarat Sultanate.^[1] The town of Kheda passed to the Babi Dynasty (of Pashtun descent) early in the eighteenth century and remained with them until 1763, when it was taken by the Marathas under Damajirao Gaekwad. It was during Babi rule that Mahmad Khan Babi built the town's fort.^[1] The Marathas under Anandrao Gaekwad ceded the district to the British in 1803, and it became part of the Bombay Presidency of British India.^[1] Even so, Kaira was still entitled, at least as late as 1901, to a tribute of 488 rupees from the Koli petty princely state of Ghorasar. Kheda was a large military station until 1830, when the cantonment was moved to Deesa.

Kheda is also where, on 22nd March 1918, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Satyagraha campaign against oppressive British taxation during a famine.

The Koli Rebellion Of Kheda was raised by Koli Patels and koli Thakors against East India Company in 1803. The EIC claimed the kheda and surrounding villages and made his rules for peoples. But kolis refused to obey their rules. Koli chiefs (Thakors and Patels) declared the end of Company rule. First koli chiefs filed petitions in Court of Law in Kheda stating that Company government have no authority over kolis but koli chiefs were ignored. The koli chiefs started raiding and plundering the British territories. In 1808, koli chieftains started raids in cities and villages, stealing the crops, animals and other possessions. The town of Dholka Taluka was main target of kolis. The armed kolis numbering one hundred and fifty attacks at dholka and respectfully returned into their villages. East India Company was unable to control the raids of koli chiefs.^[2]

Kheda is located at 22°45′N 72°41′E / 22.75°N 72.68°E / 22.75; 72.68.^[3] It has an average elevation of 21 metres (68 feet). Kheda is on the banks of Vatrak and Shedhi rivers.^[1]

There is one temple of Meldi Mata in Kheda, which holds an annual fair in February. Around 100,000 people visit Kheda for this event.^[1]

Tobacco farming is widespread.^{[citation needed]}

The city is 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Ahmedabad. The National Highway No. 48 connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai passes through Kheda. The nearest railway station is Mahemadavad Kheda Road. All types of state bus and local transporter are available.