NAVSARI: The abode of Zorastrians

Navsari, small district based in Gujarat has been often overshadowed by neighboring developing and bigger districts like Surat. But inspite of its shortcomings has tried making a mark of its own by having its own IT association called ITAN (Information Technology of Navsari). Though the association is small it has been involved with the channel in a serious manner.

Background of Navsari 

The town of Navsari is approximately about 2,000 years old. According to writings of Greece history, the famous Egyptian geographist Tolemy had mentioned about Navsari's port in his book written in 150 AD. 

The name of this city kept on changing from Nagavparn, than Navsareh, than Nag Mandar, than Nagsarika and lastly as Navsari. In short it can be said that Navsari was under the administration of different dynasties of Hindu kings in the 13th and 14th centuries AD. The 14th century marked the beginning of Muslim rule in Gujarat and thus Navsari also came under their rule. 

Finally towards the end of the 18th century Navsari came under the King Gaikwad's region. The true prosperity for Navsari or the golden period for Navsari came during Gaikwad's rule as he laid down the strong foundation pillars of today's modern Navsari. An important event that marked Navsari's history was the arrival of the Parsi community in the 12th century. 

Influence of Parsi Culture 

Parsi's have ancestors who were once farmers, weavers or small-time traders in Gujurat. For about three hundred years after landing at Sanjan, Parsis are said to have lived in peace and without molestation. By that time their numbers had greatly increased. Many moved from Sanjan to other parts of India with their families to Cambay, Navsari, Ankleshwar, Variav, Vankaner and Surat in the north and to Thane and Chaul in the south. Pockets of Parsis were also found in Upper India, mentioned by early travelers in Sind, Dehra Dun and Punjab. 

Whenever they left Sanjan to settle elsewhere, they carried a part of the Iranshah with them-the first fire they had consecrated on Indian soil. But not all climes were as hospitable as Sanjan. In Sind, Ibrahim the Ghaznavid perceived the Parsis as a colony of fire-worshippers and attacked them. In Thana, which was ruled by the Portuguese, they were seen as idolaters and put upon by missionaries to convert to Christianity. 

Industrial growth in Navsari 

As per the industrial survey carried out by the Gujarat government in 1999-2000, there were 2,48,164 Small Scale Industries and around 2,000 large and medium units in the state. Of these nearly 1,70,000 were working units and almost 50 per cent of these working units were located in Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surat districts. The industrial sector of the state observed a steady growth of 10 percent per annum and 22 percent at current prices over the last decade contributing over six percent to India's net domestic product and 11 per cent to India's Gross Domestic Product 

This growth has been reflected also in the other districts of Gujurat like Navsari. Here though there are not much of corporates but the home user is becoming IT savvy. With an increasing number of MNCs looking at these growing metros seriously business will start improving in districts like
Navsari. 

Over the years it has become clear that when it comes to industrial growth and revenues, Gujarat stands tall. Problems such as political upheavals lack of government support, and infrastructure bottlenecks that typically plague economic development in other states are unheard of in Gujarat. 

Last year, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which usually routes it's investments through the central government of a country, sanctioned a stupendous $ 1 billion to Gujarat. In fact, the state has attracted a major share of foreign direct investment in India, totaling over $ 35 billion. And in 1996, the state attracted 20 percent of the total direct foreign investment - a highly creditable achievement by any standard. Gujarat has also become the second most industrialized state over just 37 years. 

Yet strangely enough, concurrent development has not taken place in the state's IT segment. While Karnataka and Maharashtra have surged ahead with massive development, Gujarat has lagged far behind. It has always been a very odd feature of Gujarat that IT has never been a priority, as it has with other states. However, things are now changing, although slowly. 

For some reason or the other, IT has always been regarded more as an expense than as a decision making tool by Gujarati users. It isn't that the Gujarati businessman lacks the initiative to invest in technology. Companies like Nirma have been investing in state-of-the-art machinery for its production plant. However, when it comes to IT, there is a certain lack of inertia, which comes from a lack of awareness of the true benefits of such technology. 

Let's take the case of a typical middle-sized Gujarati firm, which is looking at investing in IT. 

First, the company will only think in terms of leveraging IT for routine functions like payroll and accounting. This decision will of course be based on the premose that buying computers for it's accounting department will be cheaper than hiring accountants to do the same job. Not only this, the company will buy an obsolete 486 because 'accounts packages rarely need more that that'. 

What is sad is that this is not a specific case, but an indicator, of the general market outlook. Even giant companies in the region seem to be in no hurry about getting wired and ready to face the onslaught of the next century. 

Another reason that seems to have held back IT growth in the industry is perhaps a sense of complacency. While 'backward' states like Andhra Pradesh saw IT as a vehicle for getting on to the track of quick progress, Gujarati entrepreneurs have possibly preferred investing in their own established area of expertise. With IT - a new segment -- the businessmen in the state probably did not want to take the risk of diversifying into it. 

Again, it seems that few Gujarat - based IT companies are interested in going national. Most players generally look satisfied in guarding their turf. This also appears to be a limiting factor for the growth of the IT industry in the state. Some companies like DDE ORG, are of course national players, but few others seem to be ready to take the trouble of doing so. It is quite baffling to find such a laid back attitude in Gujarat --- the cradle of entrepreneurship in this country. 

Oddly enough, few Gujarati emigres have returned to set up IT companies worth the name in this country have been set up by US returnees, the failure of Gujarat in luring back its sons and daughters from abroad is possibly a small factor in the set of condition that have forced Gujarat to stay in IT wilderness. 

On the whole, however, there is an air of optimism among the vendors. The state government is doing its bit, formulating an IT Policy for the state, and setting up a Software Technology Park in Gandhinagar. This of course came in for a bit of fire from vendors, who felt that setting it up in the more IT-savvy Ahmedabad or the more cosmopolitan Vadodara would have been a better idea. Still, even if in the short run the state has a lot of catching up to do, one can be quite sure the people are more than ready to try for it. 

With the state improving districts like Navsari can also look at a bright future. This will not only be for the population based at Navsari but also the IT traders. With Navsari developing and encouraging more corporates into the city they would get an increased amount of IT business and margins.

Some Resellers>>>>>

Micro-Hard Computers

LG-1-2, Fountain Plaza Fuwara, Navsari 

Tel: 232160

Fax: 248859

E-mail:mhc_ad1@sancharnet.in



Infra-Line Computers

UG-7, First Floor Fountain Plaza Fuwara, Navsari

Tel: 247717

Fax: 246938

E-mail:infra@worldgatein.com



Microtrack Computer Service

Second Floor PM Chamber, Near Sayaji Library Navsari

Tel: 254058, 257882

E-mail:microtrack@rediffmail.com



Bugs Computers & Systems

First Floor Six-O, Avenue Apt Station Road, Navsari 

Tel: 252654

Fax: 281832

E-mail:bigbugs@rediffmail.com



Darshan Computer Media

14-Diamond Place Sattapir, Navsari 

Tel: 252351

E-mail:darshan52351@sify.com



Maa Computers

Vrindavan Society Kabilpore, Grid Road, Navsari

Tel: 98253- 90762

E-mail:maacomputer@rediffmail.com



Hard & Soft Computers

4/Gagandeep Complex First Floor, Chandani Chowk, Navsari 

Tel: 242106

E-mail:hns_service@rediffmail.com



Nitzse Computers

First Floor Dinbai Tower, Near Circuit House Luncikui, Navsari 

Tel: 230815

Fax: 246974

E-mail:nitze@worldgatein.com



Netlink Solutions

U-3, Sule Complex ,Opp Sv Library, Navsari

Tel: 249502

E-mail:netlinksolutions@rediffmail.com



Abhi Enterprise

L-12 Akshar Tower,Opp Dudhia Talav Shopping Centre,Navsari 

Tel: 246724



Fortune Computers

Nirmal Chamber Sattapir, Navsari 

Tel: 281765

E-mail:mahpshah@yahoo.com



Vinayak Tradelink Co

Par Falia Behind Dlord's , Navsari

Tel: 240397



Cellink Computers

202, Pandya Chamber Near Sattapir, Navsari 

Tel: 241486



Enshrine Infotech

First Floor Paradise Tower Station Road, Navsari

Tel: 250103

E-mail:ensinfo@yahoo.com



Kaizen Infotech

101 Ruby Complex, Near KG Hospital, M S Road ,Navsari

Tel: 233533

E-mail:ceo@kaizn.com



Rediant Computer

Shivam Complex, Navsari

Tel: 243986

Fax: 251481



Hard Care Computers & Telecom Engineering

First Floor, Sattapir Main Road, Behind Mehta Stationary, Navsari

Tel: 243397

E-mail:hardcareindia@indiatimes.com



Carryzone Cd World

Shop #1160/1,Sayaji Library,Main Road,Navsari

Tel: 280654

Fax: 246786

E-mail:carryzone_navsari@yahoo.com



Shivam Enterprise

Dargah Road, Navsari

Tel: 246018



Microway Computers

Opp Navsari Peoples Co-Op Bank,Opp Nityanand Apt, Luncikui ,Navsari

Tel: 244547

E-mail:soyeb_drghawala@hotmail.com



Exon Computers

3/305, Rachna Apt.Station Road, Navsari

Tel: 233937

E-mail:icon@worlgatein.com



Sun Media

LG-7, Fountain Plaza Fuvara, Navsari 

Tel: 244439

E-mail:sunmedia@rediffmail.com



Kash Peripherals

Par Falia Behind Dlord's, Navsari

Tel: 230936



Dot Computers

107, Diamond Trade Center Sattapir, Navsari

Tel: 232853

E-mail:nilket_2000@yahoo.com



DYN Infotech Pvt Ltd

508, Hira Panna Apt, Chudiwad, Navsari

Tel: 249001, 234901

Fax: 234902

E-mail:info@dyninfotech.com



V S Shah Institute Of Computer Science

First Floor ,Opp Golwad Gate Police Station Main Road, Navsari

Tel: 246137

Fax: 281323

E-mail:info@vssics.com



Advance System Services

203, Ravi Kiran Apt, Behind Sandhkuva Police Gate, Navsari

Tel: 240589

E-mail:adv_sys_ser@yahoo.com



Sarita Infotech Pvt Ltd

202, Bhavani Chambers, Opp Sattapir, Navsari

Tel: 254615

Fax: 246010

E-mail:saritainfotach@yahoo.com



Mayursoft

16, Ashoka Tower Sandhkuva Gate, Nagtalawadi, Navsari

Tel: 233707

E-mail:mayursoft@hotmail.com



Tycoon Information System Pvt Ltd

Shree Gayatri Nagarwad, Navsari

Tel: 253526

E-mail:info@tis-world.com



Relic Info Networking

Avkar Complex Maroli Bazar, Near Railway Station, Maroli, Navsari

Tel: 273737

E-mail:relicinfo@vsnl.net