Thapla & Kodvav

 BY: ABDUR RAZZAQ THAPLAWALA

My surname is THAPLAWALA but my parents or elders had not told me the meaning of this surname. After coming to Pakistan, I looked at the maps of Gujrat and saw that Bantva was surrounded by many small villages and many families had their surname linked with these villages including Balagam, Kodvav, Pajod etc. These villages included a village named THAPLA. I had a keen desire to visit & see THAPLA. We left Bantva and started our journey towards these villages. On our way to THAPLA, we passed through Aiklaria and then the Kodvav. I was told that the population of Kodvav was 1500 persons  belonging to Patel community. After seeing Kodvav, We proceeded towards THAPLA. It is a small town with a population of 600 people. At the outside of THAPLA, there was a Mazaar or Chilla of Peer Geban Shah. It was being looked after by a Muslim couple Mr. & Mrs. Fakeer Allah Rakha Qasim. Both  the THAPLA & KODVAV have small schools. The school in THAPLA is known as Study Centre and the school in KODVAV is known as school. I have photographed both schools of THAPLA & KODVAV which may appear in this article.

After seeing THAPLA, we decided to start our return journey. We decided that instead of going back to Junagadh, we should dreictly proceed to Rajkot through Sardargadh & Dhoraji.

68 An education centre in thapla Taluka Manavadr.jpg	69 Dargah of Gebon shah pir in Thapla
72 Pir Gabon Shah's Dargah from inside at Thapla	67 A school in Kodvav
70 A street of Thapla

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