# Rander

Rander (also known as Rahe Neer or the City of Mosques) is a town in Surat district in the state of Gujarat, India. Located on the bank of the Tapti River, it is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the city of Surat.

## History

There are some historic indications that Rander was an important port of Western Hind in the ancient era that conducted trade with the Arabian heartlands, Egypt, Sudan and beyond. During the rule of Samprati in 200 AD, Jain, an important trading community in India worked here and built their temples in and around Rander.
It is believed that the Jain settlement dates back to earlier than 1200 AD when Rander was a small prosperous village that formed the hinterland of Suvali. Suvali was a thriving port town back then that had connections with the Middle East owing to the trade of crockery, silver articles, wooden artefacts and furniture. Also, Rander became a principal commercial centre, which had trading connections with many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Burma. Also, ships laden with spices, silk, benzoin and porcelain from as far as Sumatra and China docked in Rander.
The earliest recorded mention of Rander was in the year 1050 in the book Kitab al Hind by Al Biruni.
Nawayath Arabs, who settled in the area by 1225, were the main traders. It was in 1225 A.D. that the Arabs came from Kufa, overpowering the existing Jain population whose traces can be observed in the old temples such as Manibhadra temple, Kanch nu Derasar (Mirror hall temple).
By the late medieval period, it had become an important port in western India, though smaller than ports such as Broach in Gujarat.
In 1514, the Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa wrote:
   Ranel (Rander) is a good town of the Moors, built of very pretty houses and squares. It is a rich and agreeable place ...... the Moors of the town trade with Malacca, Bengal, Tawasery (Tannasserim), Pegu, Martaban, and Sumatra in all sort of spices, drugs, silks, musk, benzoin and porcelain. They possess very large and fine ships and those who wish Chinese articles will find them there very completely. The Moors of this place are white and well dressed and very rich they have pretty wives, and in the furniture of these houses have china vases of many kinds, kept in glass cupboards well arranged. Their women are not secluded like other Moors, but go about the city in the day time, attending to their business with their faces uncovered as in other parts.
Thus according to Barbosa, the Moors of Rander did not observe the Islamic purdah. However the piety of Navayat Arabs is evident by the many mosques and durghas they built. By 1225, Arab merchants and sailors settled in the area after displacing the local Jain rulers. In 1874, the Hope Bridge was built across the river that connected Rander to villages on the other side of the river.

## Rander Eid-Gah

Mughal emperor Jehangir and his companions, on their way to Ahmedabad, stopped at this historic place near Jehangirpur which is now called Rander Eid-Gah.
Jehangir accepted the invitation (dawat) from the mayor of Rander, Malik Tujjar. Malik Tujjar was one of the richest businessman of his time. To honour and welcome the emperor Jehangir, red carpet was laid from the Mayors palace to Jehangirpur. The dinner was served in golden plates. After the dinner was over, the plates were given to the charity.
Jehangir offered Friday prayer at the Jumma Masjid Rander and Eid Salah at Eid-Gah.

## Rander Mehfil-e-Islam

The Rander Mehfil-e-Islam Kutub Khana is a charity society of Muslims that was established and registered in 1888 and 1913 respectively. Mehfil-e-Islam has 17 trusts.

## Rander/Surat City this millennia, post Islamic influence

In 1194, Qutb ud-Din Aibak, a general under Muhammad of Ghor, led a raid on Rander and Surat. By 1225, Arabs from Kufa had settled in Rander, marking a significant moment in the region's history. In 1373, Surat faced devastation as Muhammad bin Tughluq sacked and plundered the city. This pattern of conflict continued when, in 1391, Masti Khan was appointed as the Governor of both Surat and Rander.
The early 15th century saw further political changes when Muzaffar Shah I became the Governor of Surat in 1411, although his son, Masti Khan, rebelled and was ultimately suppressed. The period from 1496 to 1521 was notable for the prominence of Gopi Malik, a renowned Hindu trader in Surat. However, the city again faced turmoil in 1512 when the Portuguese plundered and burnt Surat. Despite this, Gopi Malik managed to befriend the Portuguese by 1514.
The Portuguese returned in 1530, led by Antonio da Silveira, to plunder Surat once more. In 1531, they launched a third attack on both Surat and Rander. Amidst these invasions, Khudawand Khan completed the construction of the Castle of Surat in 1546. The city continued to be a focal point of conflict and power struggles. In 1573, the Mirzas rebelled against Akbar, prompting the Mughal emperor to march on Surat, lay siege, and capture it. Akbar appointed Kalij Khan as the Commander of the Castle. That same year, Raja Todarmal conducted a survey of the Surat Aththavisi Parganas.
The Portuguese attempted another seizure of Surat in 1583. By 1590, Surat was hailed as the emporium of the world and had become a first-class port. The early 17th century marked the arrival of the English, with the first English ship reaching the mouth of the Tapi River in 1608, followed by a second ship in 1609, which was wrecked off the coast, with its crew landing at Gandevi. In 1610, Malik Ambar plundered the Surat Aththavisi. The same year saw a significant conflict between the English and the Portuguese at the mouth of the Tapi River, resulting in an English victory in 1612.
From 1612 to 1615, Thomas Aldsworth served as the President of the English factory in Surat. In 1613, the English secured a trade charter from the Mughal Emperor. The Portuguese faced another defeat at the hands of the English in 1615. During the period from 1615 to 1623, Thomas Kerridge was the president of the English factory. In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe reached Surat, and in 1616, the Dutch were given provisional permission to establish a factory. In 1618, Mukrab Khan, the Governor of Surat, was recalled, and Prince Khurram, later known as Shah Jahan, became the Governor of Surat. The same year, the Dutch negotiated a Treaty of Commerce with Prince Khurram.
The French made several attempts to gain a foothold in Surat between 1620 and 1642. In 1623, Pietro Della Valle visited Surat, and from 1623 to 1626, Thomas Rastell served as the President of the English factory. In 1628, Mir Arab was appointed as the Governor of Surat, followed by Moiz-ul-Mulk in 1630, and Jam Kuli in 1635. Johan Albrecht de Mandelslo visited Surat in 1638, and Muhammad Khan became the Governor in 1639. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier visited the city in 1642, and Mowazaz Khan was appointed Governor in 1644. By 1648, Mazi-ul-Zaman had taken up the position of Governor, followed by Jamkuli in 1651, Mustafa Khan in 1653, Muhammad Sadak in 1655, and Roshan Zamir in 1657.
In 1664, Shivaji launched his first attack on Surat. The Siddis of Janjira secured the admiralty of the Mughal fleet in Surat in 1669. Shivaji led a second attack on the city in 1670, and in 1672, his general demanded Chauth from Surat. The Marathas captured the fort of Parnera in 1676. Surat experienced a severe outbreak of plague in 1684, and in 1690, Ovington visited the city.
By 1699, Khanderao Dabhade succeeded in collecting Chauth from Surat. Maratha raids on the city continued in 1706, with disturbances led by Pilaji Rao Gaekwad in the Surat Aththavisi Parganas. In 1723, Pilaji established himself in Sonpura, and the following year, he vanquished Bairam Khan, occupying the territory around Surat. In 1730, Durjan Singh, the ruling chief of Mandvi, was deprived of his possessions by Damaji Rao Gaekwad. Nawab Teg Bakht Khan was appointed governor in 1733.
The English negotiated with Teg Bakht Khan in 1733 for the transfer of the fleet subsidy from the Sidis to the English, but this attempt was in vain. The English stopped merchant ships from coming to the bar of Surat in 1734, prompting the merchant community to threaten Nawab Teg Bakht Khan with relocating to Bombay. A dispute between Teg Bakht Khan and the Sidis of Janjira regarding the payment of the Sidi's Tankha occurred in August 1735. The English mediated to settle the dispute, leading to the release of merchant ships by the Sidis. Dayaram, Teg Bakht Khan's Dewan, settled the dispute of the Nawab's revenue of Aththavisi with Damaji Rao in 1735.

## Notable people

* Goolam Hossen
* Cassam Ajum Piperdy
* Asim Randeri
* Zar Randeri
* Nuruddin ar-Raniri